1969
Running time	4:21
Appears on	Geogaddi

Comments

• The lyrics of "1969" continue a theme first developed on In a Beautiful Place out in the Country; that of David Koresh and his Branch Davidian sect. A slogan (seemingly a favourite of Amo Bishop Roden) is repeated over and over, with a vocoded voice intoning "1969, in the sunshine" overdubbed at the end.
• In a 2002 interview with OOR magazine, Boards of Canada explained :

Mike: "In that song it refers to a specific period in the history of a religious group, and at the same time the period in general, the hopefulness of a forward-thinking generation that wasn't aware of what was coming in their collective future."

• While it is tempting to conclude that, given the lyrics, the "religious group" referred to is the Branch Davidians, the year 1969 does not appear to have had any notable significance in the history of that group. The song title more likely refers to either the establishment of the Tony and Susan Alamo Christian Foundation or the authoring of the Satanic Bible, both of which occurred in 1969.
• It is worth noting that "1969", "Sixtyniner" and "June 9th" all reference "69". Also, it is one number below the number 70, (Music70 being Boards of Canada's record label). 70 is also referenced in songs "The Smallest Weird Number" and "Sixtyten".
• Sesame Street, a great influence on the band and the source of many samples, was first aired publicly on "1969".
• The Tate-Labianca murders, perpetrated by the Manson Family cult, occured in the summer of 1969.

Samples / Lyrics

• 1:04 onward - "Although not a follower of hseroK divaD" (David Koresh, reversed), "she's a devoted Branch Davidian" (chorus)
  • Sampled from a 1996 episode of the TV series "Mysteries Magic & Miracles" titled "Visions, Cults, Alchemy & More", from a segment in which Amo Bishop Roden is interviewed.
  • The same quote is sampled in "Poppy Seed remix".
  • The live version of '1969' heard at the Lighthouse Party does not reverse "David Koresh".
  • When reversed, "David Koresh founded Boards of Canada" may be heard
    
• 2:09, 3:42, 4:09 - Throughout the track, a scream just like the one heard in "You Could Feel The Sky", but not reversed or distorted. You can hear the scream clearly on the right channel.
• 3:20 onwards - "1969 in the sunshine" female vocoded voice, similar to the voice on One Very Important Thought and the counting number sequence on "Aquarius".

Trivia

• bengt12 points out that: "1969 was also the year that the use of CS gas was banned by the US government against foreign enemies; the same gas was used in the Waco massacre".