Arlo Guthrie performed for an enthusiastic, sold-out crowd at the Boothbay Harbor Opera House on Oct. 18 — for some of us, and, yes, I mean me, it was a long-awaited event!

He played a bit of everything — some of his old songs, including “Riding on the City of New Orleans,” and “Motorcycle Song;” and songs by: his father, Woody Guthrie; long-time friend Pete Seeger; Leadbelly; Elizabeth Cotten; and Ramblin' Jack Elliot.

In addition to playing tunes with harp, and among five guitars, including a 12-string, Arlo wowed the crowd with bit of ragtime on the piano — just because, he said, “it made him happy.”

In between, as is his way, he regaled us stories of his life and times. Tales of Woodstock, his dad, his first gig opening for friends of the family, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee in California, where he first saw the woman who would one day become his wife.

“She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen,” Guthrie said about his beloved wife of 43 years, Jackie, who died in 2012.

The latter story was followed by a song he wrote for her, not knowing that two years later their paths would cross again, entitled, “Highway in the Wind,” from his “Alice’s Restaurant” LP.

Guthrie played from 7:30 to 10 p.m., taking just one break. Some of the audience members craved an “Alice’s Restaurant” fix, but he said that was one of the songs he had to relearn.

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the song and the start of the 18-month tour to be called ... (OK, here's a hint: “You can get anything you want at — ———.”

The gifted musician and storyteller came back for one encore, a story and a song, “My Peace,” with all of us singing with him.

Guthrie said the sound of our united voices would travel beyond the walls of the Opera House and into the universe where it just might alter some of the pain and suffering in the world, albeit briefly. At one point during the song he said, “It sounds really beautiful in here.”

Arlo Guthrie. A genuine treasure. A beautiful soul.