This is the spirit of the `60s that I remember and probably my favorite band. When the corporate media seek to dismiss us who were hippies as all hedonists and drug-crazed (sure, there were some like that) they have to deny the existence of this spirit. This spirit brought so much good to the world: return to respect for and love of nature, healthy food and medicine, rejection of the socio-economic system that has now brought us to near extinction, and the efforts to create new, better societies. Also, an enormous sense of what might be possible and the will to go there.
in 1968 I was 16. I was a hippy who never did drugs. Made my clothes, made my own bread, hung the laundry. when one opens the senses, nature comes alive. When the imagination is willing, music and poetry is a rich feast! 70 now - and feel the same way.
@@lucycorey9468 To kindly echo: Made my clothes, the bread, ground the wheat..watched ducks on a pond. touched nature and lived with it...seeing the ISB was so very powerful.
we had a golden dream back then of a healed world ecosystem, justice and equality, and peace. a world where all could express their best potential. the music such as this was an inspiration and an ideal.
The meaning of life may be found in their lyrics.....("the opposite is also true"!)... I (still) love this band...from the age of 15 to now at 65....so glad to be born into a generation when such music was created. So often, the ISB music has lifted me up and out of many miserable maya moments.
@@johnwilkinson9136 Hello John. Thank you for your reply. Great to know that there's someone out there still who can relate! May the long time sun shine upon you. 😊
You only had a few friends who listened to the Incredible String Band, they were too close to 'some other world' even back in the day. When I play their music now, I often skip the tracks because I know most people just scratch their heads. I love their music so much.
I saw Robin last week, we were talking about this performance and he said that he had met up with Julie recently. Both are now in their mid-seventies and still making great music..................................
Do you have a link to any of that stuff, their current music? would love to hear thier current work and I know a lot of people who would love to as well.
When I saw this performance for the first time it changed my life. I now have every string band cover on my walls, and I found my eternally favorite band.
Who moved the white Castle? Who moved the black Queen When Gimel and Dalet were standing between? And out of the evening, was growing a veil, That pined for the pine woods and ached for the sail.. There's something forgotten I want you to know - The freckles of rain they are telling me so - Oh, it's the half remarkable question: What is that we are part of? And what is it that we are? An elephant madness has covered the sun, And the judge and the juries still play for the fun. They've torn all the roses and washed all the soap, And the martyr who marries them dares not elope. Oh, it's the never realised question... What is it that we are part of And what is it that we are? Oh long; oh long e're yet my eyes Braved the gate's enormous fire, And the body folded 'round me, And the person in me grew... The flower and its petal, The root and its grasp, The earth and its bigness, The breath and its gasp. The mind and its motion, The foot and its move, The life and its pattern, The heart and its love... Oh, it's the old forgotten question! What is it that we are part of What is it that we are?
@@A_Pa-Plainjane You're very welcome, A Pa! Just a cut and paste from the interwebs, IIRC, with punctuation and verse divisions I added to help make the meaning(s) clearer and bring out the shape of the poetry - hopefully..! :-)
Well, i do appreciate it. I tend to take it for granted that so much is at our fingertips, and i forget it takes a deliberate effort. (Which may seem easy to you, but may not be easy for my Aunt Bettie, may her great soul rest in peace, who never learned to cut and paste) i feel like the great arrogance of our era is we know everything. We can search it and all info is available and i don't believe that is true.
The Incredible Stringband. From 1966 - 1968 they where among the greatest artist in the music of the 60s. First Album. 5000 spirits .... The Hangman´s Beautiful Daughter. Wee Tam. 4 albums - and then it all changed. I still enjoy these 4 Albums. I can´t live without them💚💙💜
This brings me back to a beautiful place. "There's something forgotten I want you to know. The freckles of rain they are telling me so." So grateful we have this recorded live testimony. This moment in time proves it was real and true. Thanks for posting!
The first truly world music band. Brave music that any musicians would not write and perform for fear of ridicule and rejection. I've been following them and their solo adventures since a friend told me about them in 1967 in Scotland when Clive Palmer was with them.
I agree with other comments. No one writes lyrics like this nowadays. How sad is that? The big questions that music and art can explore are missing in much of what is put forth by young musicians raised by years of conformity.
simplemente hermoso, que energia de paz y amor despide esta cancion y los ojos Robin Wlliamson bastante profundos y en quietud. Gracias a la siempre maravillos e inolvidable ISB
I played in the folk club upstairs in the Crown Bar, Edinburgh alongwith Robin Williamson and Clive Palmer (and later Mike Heron, Licky & Rose). Special times.
@@Royaloakgraham im not a musician tho i love music beyond reason..im in the same era with you and it took most of my life to get a wider notion of what i was part of. forgive me for promoting myself but ive been putting some poems up, on yt th-cam.com/video/h8A-FMfjol4/w-d-xo.html
this popped up on my screen without me looking for it and made me remember something I had completely forgotten when I went to see the incredible string band. Robin Williamson said to me have I met you before I said no I don't think so and he said maybe in the past life whatever happened to them?
It might not have been to everyone's taste but television programmers were certainly far more courageous and imaginative than nowadays. Bravo! Mike Heron was one of the few Western musicians who joined the 'sitar club' around that time and seemed to be reasonably proficient, though I'm no expert in spite of owning one for a short time.
I was lucky enough to see them about 8X in 1968 1969 and NO they did not use drugs, they were talented, thoughtful artists who were immersed in their lives and present in the moments, that were the late 1960's.
about the drugs thing, I've read that they stopped after converting to Scientology. but apparently at the time of this video they were still using them (not sure which ones)
I was at their concert in Genoa 1974 at teatro Alcione the band was great and the audience unbelievable... unfortunately no videos nor pictures available
absolutely my favourite band and saw them loads Robin can still be seen telling stories and playing harp, still a joy to see and of course hes had a nice life. They reformed a few years ago, that wasn't too good. They are great songs and great times for them to be played now they probably need to be in the hands of new young people, like much of the 60's music. Always seems sad to resurrect the past, we are not there now - sadly the world is currently a much worse place but still a joy to find this TV recording, very gentle was more dramatic live
More nostalgic than sad, and watching performances like this is almost like re-living the experience, transported back to a special time. The world is a sad place compared to the 60s/70s, or at least far sadder, and personally speaking, I find a pleasant evening listening to my ISB favourites is a form of theraputic escapism ,
@@Johnclewes Listening now...one can still tap into that 'feel' of what they talk and sing on. 'Air' comes to mind...I can fill my head and space with the lyrics and everything's fine right now.
John Smith sure they do! just gotta find it! check out unknown mortal orchestra, or look up modern psychedelic folk bands. lots of good stuff out there right now.
This is the spirit of the `60s that I remember and probably my favorite band. When the corporate media seek to dismiss us who were hippies as all hedonists and drug-crazed (sure, there were some like that) they have to deny the existence of this spirit. This spirit brought so much good to the world: return to respect for and love of nature, healthy food and medicine, rejection of the socio-economic system that has now brought us to near extinction, and the efforts to create new, better societies. Also, an enormous sense of what might be possible and the will to go there.
...and that spirit you mention is exactly what makes me love that generation and especially its music so much (mind you I was born in 1968).
in 1968 I was 16. I was a hippy who never did drugs. Made my clothes, made my own bread, hung the laundry. when one opens the senses, nature comes alive. When the imagination is willing, music and poetry is a rich feast! 70 now - and feel the same way.
@@arno-luyendijk4798 that was a rough year, very close to 2020
What a load of tosh
@@lucycorey9468 To kindly echo: Made my clothes, the bread, ground the wheat..watched ducks on a pond. touched nature and lived with it...seeing the ISB was so very powerful.
we had a golden dream back then of a healed world ecosystem, justice and equality, and peace. a world where all could express their best potential. the music such as this was an inspiration and an ideal.
The meaning of life may be found in their lyrics.....("the opposite is also true"!)... I (still) love this band...from the age of 15 to now at 65....so glad to be born into a generation when such music was created. So often, the ISB music has lifted me up and out of many miserable maya moments.
They are incredible. Saw them at the Filmore when I was 15 also.
maya, praise be its just a shadow
Me2 only it's now & im 60😊💗💐
Hi Alan. Wow! I could have written those sentiments.
@@johnwilkinson9136 Hello John. Thank you for your reply. Great to know that there's someone out there still who can relate! May the long time sun shine upon you. 😊
You only had a few friends who listened to the Incredible String Band, they were too close to 'some other world' even back in the day. When I play their music now, I often skip the tracks because I know most people just scratch their heads. I love their music so much.
you got it right.....it is such a special kind of music not everyone understands the magic of it
Exactly
Yes I still live that Uther Wyrld. The music still lives and mountains come out of the sky.
Hello my sister.
I am listening with you as what is it that we are part of and what is it that we are...
An unforgettable band with authentic lyrics that nourishes the soul
It was a special time. And the ISB were simply unique.
I've loved the Incredible String Band since I was 14! They were absolutely magnificent and miles above the rest.
I saw Robin last week, we were talking about this performance and he said that he had met up with Julie recently. Both are now in their mid-seventies and still making great music..................................
Are they in the U.K? I'd like to visit them sometime.
Do you have a link to any of that stuff, their current music? would love to hear thier current work and I know a lot of people who would love to as well.
@@lotharroberts5978 email me: @allenander7000@gmail.com
i have info, if u want to visit them or give them mail.
Julie has since died unfortunately :'(
@@coolmum47 but at least there is a great legacy
They all have the most amazing faces, like elves & wizards from an old English tapestry. Just beautiful to hear & watch.
That's a very good point. The early video, albeit crude, communicated that 60s Dionysian feel.
The fellowship of the String..❤
When I saw this performance for the first time it changed my life. I now have every string band cover on my walls, and I found my eternally favorite band.
Holy shit its past me. I still love ISB so much. I was OBSESSED with them back then. This performance certainly did change my life forever.
Based on your avatar, you have a wide range and excellent taste in music.
Who moved the white Castle?
Who moved the black Queen
When Gimel and Dalet were standing between?
And out of the evening, was growing a veil,
That pined for the pine woods and ached for the sail..
There's something forgotten I want you to know -
The freckles of rain they are telling me so -
Oh, it's the half remarkable question:
What is that we are part of?
And what is it that we are?
An elephant madness has covered the sun,
And the judge and the juries still play for the fun.
They've torn all the roses and washed all the soap,
And the martyr who marries them dares not elope.
Oh, it's the never realised question...
What is it that we are part of
And what is it that we are?
Oh long; oh long e're yet my eyes
Braved the gate's enormous fire,
And the body folded 'round me,
And the person in me grew...
The flower and its petal,
The root and its grasp,
The earth and its bigness,
The breath and its gasp.
The mind and its motion,
The foot and its move,
The life and its pattern,
The heart and its love...
Oh, it's the old forgotten question!
What is it that we are part of
What is it that we are?
Many thx to you for putting the proper words/lyrics to the conversation about the song
@@A_Pa-Plainjane You're very welcome, A Pa! Just a cut and paste from the interwebs, IIRC, with punctuation and verse divisions I added to help make the meaning(s) clearer and bring out the shape of the poetry - hopefully..! :-)
Well, i do appreciate it. I tend to take it for granted that so much is at our fingertips, and i forget it takes a deliberate effort. (Which may seem easy to you, but may not be easy for my Aunt Bettie, may her great soul rest in peace, who never learned to cut and paste) i feel like the great arrogance of our era is we know everything. We can search it and all info is available and i don't believe that is true.
The Incredible Stringband. From 1966 - 1968 they where among the greatest artist in the music of the 60s. First Album. 5000 spirits ....
The Hangman´s Beautiful Daughter. Wee Tam. 4 albums - and then it all changed. I still enjoy these 4 Albums. I can´t live without them💚💙💜
This brings me back to a beautiful place. "There's something forgotten I want you to know. The freckles of rain they are telling me so." So grateful we have this recorded live testimony. This moment in time proves it was real and true. Thanks for posting!
The first truly world music band. Brave music that any musicians would not write and perform for fear of ridicule and rejection. I've been following them and their solo adventures since a friend told me about them in 1967 in Scotland when Clive Palmer was with them.
I saw The String band play many times in the late 60's and early 70's. What a great band, thanks for uploading.
How great would be being able to watch them live. I was born many years after they stopped being together so that's imposible for me. So jelous!
25 and 26 years old at the time. and the talent....
I was born in June of that year on the first day of summer.
so fully grown people doing something competently is impressive to you?
Old bastards
Excellent to see ISB in their youth. Why do we not have such good music shows on TV today. Thank god for bbc4
Wonderful to hear again, I remember going to the Roundhouse to see their musical 'U"
Rest in peace, lovely Julie
I agree with other comments. No one writes lyrics like this nowadays. How sad is that? The big questions that music and art can explore are missing in much of what is put forth by young musicians raised by years of conformity.
Wonderful - takes me right back to Gandalf's Garden, World's End, Chelsea late 60s...
One of the greatest songs ever. I'm still moved after 55 years.
to where
not a day has gone by since 1970
without their lirics in my ears
simplemente hermoso, que energia de paz y amor despide esta cancion y los ojos Robin Wlliamson bastante profundos y en quietud. Gracias a la siempre maravillos e inolvidable ISB
Quite possibly my favourite thing on the entire interweb.
I love singing along with this song, so lovely
What a great song i love the Lyrics and very catchy Guitar and Sitar.
this is so amazing!! so happy this still exists for us to enjoy!! thank you very much!! :)
I was this close to them in the small club they played in in 1969. Was it incredible? Yes, very.
I played in the folk club upstairs in the Crown Bar, Edinburgh alongwith Robin Williamson and Clive Palmer (and later Mike Heron, Licky & Rose). Special times.
@@Royaloakgraham you were extremely blessed. .not everyone gets the marrow bone.
@@A_Pa-Plainjane You don't realise what you are part of at the time ... that only comes later. I'm in my 70s now and long for those times. Much love.
@@Royaloakgraham thank you very much, love and respect to you.
@@Royaloakgraham im not a musician tho i love music beyond reason..im in the same era with you and it took most of my life to get a wider notion of what i was part of.
forgive me for promoting myself but ive been putting some poems up, on yt
th-cam.com/video/h8A-FMfjol4/w-d-xo.html
Just as magical as when i first heard it, ❤
yes a wonderful band ......well worth discovering their music
Loved them at Woodstock little stage
Robin asks the most existential half-remarkable questions.
Amazing musicians. Absolutely first class stuff .
ooooh I am still in love. brilliant ones thpiough I was born 20 years later.
this popped up on my screen without me looking for it and made me remember something I had completely forgotten when I went to see the incredible string band. Robin Williamson said to me have I met you before I said no I don't think so and he said maybe in the past life whatever happened to them?
....what a beautiful song..what is it that we are part of.....😀🔯🗽✌♋😊...
It might not have been to everyone's taste but television programmers were certainly far more courageous and imaginative than nowadays. Bravo! Mike Heron was one of the few Western musicians who joined the 'sitar club' around that time and seemed to be reasonably proficient, though I'm no expert in spite of owning one for a short time.
It is 2024 and I am still pondering.
So glad I have never outgrown my appreciation for theses values.
This is amazing!!!! I was one year away from birth at that time.Wish my mom n dad would have had this in their record collections!
In my perfect personal paradise this song would incorporate the mood therein. (The studio version.)
This is from another world/galaxy. Beautiful.
I was lucky enough to see them about 8X in 1968 1969 and NO they did not use drugs, they were talented, thoughtful artists who were immersed in their lives and present in the moments, that were the late 1960's.
about the drugs thing, I've read that they stopped after converting to Scientology. but apparently at the time of this video they were still using them (not sure which ones)
Henri Galvão You might try being more selective over your reading.
I've read (from Robin himself and Dolly Collins) that they were definitely smoking many a 'jazz cigarette' and tripping as well during this time.
Psychedelics, including cannabis, are not drugs. Something else entirely.
I love this performance!
Wow, I didn't know you could still play guitar in that particular state of consciousness! This is the whole universe in a soundscape.
in 68 i was lost, and loster still i was in this music that said of things i dint know
I'v always loved them too, Anita. Saw them perform this tune at the Fillmore West in 1969.
Do you know a Ted Kubiak from Pa ?
No, but perhaps I should.@@A_Pa-Plainjane
Amazing stuff, what a different time.
Far out and Cosmic! So deep! Thanx for posting
BEST BAND EVER!!!!!
I love it!
Wow, playing that thing looks like a full upper-body workout...!
Mesmerizing and inspiring.........wonderful!
Simply wonderful!! Thanks for sharing.
Blissful perfection!
Was there ever a band less afraid of being themselves?
Swans
Lovely comment! and no I dont think so.
I can genuinely see what you mean. @@bobsbigboy_
The first album I ever bought was 5000 Spirits...I still love listening to it and everything the ISB have done.
Brilliant magic beautiful song
ja unglaublich schön
The moral truth of anti capitalist ,industrialised,consumer, society cannot die !
Just wonderful.... I have this on a limited edition VHS tape, obtained through the Be Glad fanzine 😀
Wonderousliness
are there other songs of this concert available in YT? This is unbelivable great, finding no words, only tears of being touched...
Gotta love that sitar.
My favorite band in the 70's.
Awesome and rare footage of them, thanks to the poster *+1*
my faves , the incredible string band, from my all time fave album , wee tam and the big huge [1968], beautiful robin song , mike sitar
Wonderful !
I was at their concert in Genoa 1974 at teatro Alcione
the band was great
and the audience unbelievable...
unfortunately no videos nor pictures available
wonderful
absolutely my favourite band and saw them loads Robin can still be seen telling stories and playing harp, still a joy to see and of course hes had a nice life. They reformed a few years ago, that wasn't too good. They are great songs and great times for them to be played now they probably need to be in the hands of new young people, like much of the 60's music. Always seems sad to resurrect the past, we are not there now - sadly the world is currently a much worse place but still a joy to find this TV recording, very gentle was more dramatic live
More nostalgic than sad, and watching performances like this is almost like re-living the experience, transported back to a special time. The world is a sad place compared to the 60s/70s, or at least far sadder, and personally speaking, I find a pleasant evening listening to my ISB favourites is a form of theraputic escapism ,
@@Johnclewes Listening now...one can still tap into that 'feel' of what they talk and sing on. 'Air' comes to mind...I can fill my head and space with the lyrics and everything's fine right now.
This is a Remarkarable High Water Mark of Humanity xx
They were the biz. So creative.
i love still the incredible string band
Astonishing.
Yes, sweetness and light.
Wow simply sensational.
Listen to today's uniform mass-produced music and weep
This is just great.
you are just great
Wonderful
Enchanting
very innovative folk song nicely done! farr out man! fyi robin looks like my cousin! haha
einfach nur zum Weinen schön -
The face of a Saxon, if ever I saw one.
One of my few Woodstock regrets was not seeing the Incredible String Band live. Too much rain.
Do it. And it would be done. Just do it
or whatever it is nike says
Very nice.
How could anyone take a beautiful 4:3 performance and chop it down and distort it to 16:9 like this? Criminal.
The instrument is a sitar. Check it out on Wikipedia for an explanation.
Transports of delight. (I prefer the studio version, just.)
I'd like to go with Julie Felix a first time, let alone once more
☮️ peace and love
1960's! No-one writes lyrics like these today.
John Smith sure they do! just gotta find it! check out unknown mortal orchestra, or look up modern psychedelic folk bands. lots of good stuff out there right now.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra is another pop-dropout. He traded quality music for popularity.
His lyrics were never good, but his instrumentation was.
so fukin true
Guess you haven't listened to the Lemon Twigs yet.
complete unbounded innocence
Nice,
tito loves this
when more men were beautiful
Freckles of rain 💚
It seems this tune has got more comments than any other ISB tune i have seen on youtube.