I wish I were a hippy

who are these hippies and what the hell do they want?

born of the 1960's revolution against the norm, the speak when spoken to rhetoric that had existed for so many generations. Men suddenly began wearing long hair and growing wild beards; youngsters dressed like peasant folk and wore bright, psychadelic colours. everyone looked dirty and unkempt, bathing, afterall, was for the bourgeois.

the generation gap that was created between parents and children became immense, and no one above the age of 35 or so could even comprehend, even fathom the changes that were happening in popular culture and society. a new, gain-ridden grungy sound emerged in music, rock and roll took a turn for some of the most experimental periods in musical history. it came as no surprise that certain bands that had gained popularity earlier in the late 50's and early 60's were now changing their mindset to form to the experimentation in drugs and culture. The Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Pink Floyd were all born and reborn in these hippy times, and some of the world's most wonderful music followed.

it all culminated to the summer of love, 1969, years of oppression and conformity were thrown to the wind so that the kids could be free. At woodstock, folk music and brazen guitar solos trumpeted out to the baked audienced, stewing in their own sense of purpose and a lot of LSD. the hippy lifestyle has no bounds, depends upon peace and love and caters only to those willing to take a plunge and explore your own mind's eye.

Then, all at once, as quickly as it came about, when the change was cemented and the society changed course, the hippy died, and the metal moved in. Fashion, music, opinion, interest; all of it changed forever because of the refusal of a small group of baby-boomers to follow in the steps of their mothers and fathers.

many claim to be hippies today, but the title is as redundant in today's culture as the term "punk" or "ska" or "grunge". there simply are no hippies anymore, no room in this trendy and narcissistic culture we've come to know, and thats truly sad.