r/60sMusic • u/Tall-Truth-9321 • 6h ago
1965 Country Joe Mcdonald: Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die Rag (1965)
""I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag" is a song by the American [psychedelic rock](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelicrock) band [Country Joe and the Fish](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_Joe_and_the_Fish), written by [Country Joe McDonald](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_Joe_McDonald), and first released as the opening track on the [extended play](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_play) Rag Baby Talking Issue No. 1, in October 1965. "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag"'s [dark humor](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_humor) and [satire](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satire) in a [ragtime](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragtime) rhythm made it one of the most recognized protest songs [against the Vietnam War](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_to_United_States_involvement_in_the_Vietnam_War). Critics cite the composition as a classic of the [counterculture era](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterculture_of_the_1960s).
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On August 16, 1969, the second day of the [Woodstock Festival](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_Festival), McDonald made an unexpected solo performance of "The Fuck Cheer" at the conclusion of his set list, after [Quill](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quill_(band)). McDonald was augmented with a Yamaha FG 150 guitar that he found and holstered with a rope.[[24]](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%22Fish%22Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die_Rag#cite_note-24) According to McDonald, "I went on with my guitar and it was like 'Here is this guy who's going to sing' but no one paid any attention. I played 'Janis' and 'Tennessee Stud' and then I walked off the stage. I asked my tour manager if he thought it would be OK if I went back on and did the cheer and he said yeah. So I went "Give me an F!", and they all yelled "F!"[[25]](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%22Fish%22Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die_Rag#cite_note-25) The audience receptively responded by cheering the "F-U-C-K" chant along with McDonald. The performance was featured on the [Woodstock](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_(film)) [film](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_(film)), which included sing-a-long lyrical subtitles of "The Fuck Cheer".[[26]](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%22Fish%22_Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die_Rag#cite_note-26) [Country Joe and the Fish](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_Joe_and_the_Fish) also performed on the third day of the festival, and also concluded their set with the cheer and "Fixin'-to-Die Rag"."