I'm not anywhere close to being a Communist, in fact I am on the right but I think Phil got so much right "call it peace or call it treason, call it love or call it reason".
Stands true for our country... The old men declare war but the young men fight it... What happened to those days when WASHINGTON led his men into battle...
FDR was arguably the worst president in American history. He didn't "moderately regulate" capitalism, he destoryed it, although it certainly had been severely damaged by other horrible presidents, including Lincoln and Wilson. FDR's "New Deal" was a nice mix of Mussolini's fascism and Stalin's communism -and we're still suffering from it because it never went away for the most part.
@TomMullenTV Wait. Are you saying how good American presidents is based on how capitalistic they are? If capitalism wasn't working, wouldn't it make sense for FDR to destroy it? Maybe we're suffering because people bought houses they couldn't afford and had to foreclose?
@suicidefilming absolutely! I suppose you`ve read the Dark Tower series? If not, there`s a big treat waiting for you! Ted Brautigan is a major character in the last book of the series.
But I have to say I enjoyed all parts of hearts in atlantis, each one had its own core that stayed with me.It`s a pleasure to meet someone who appreciates books!
@sugarserpent On the internet, it's quite the rarity. But I've only had the pleasure of reading one of the series, I plan on getting around to reading the others soon.
Just came home from seeing the Phil Ochs documentary Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune. He was a true pacifist and an unlikely American hero. Phil Ochs, a folk singing legend, who many called the emotional heart of his generation, loved his country and he pursued its honour, in song and action, with a ferocity that had no regard for consequences. Wielding only a battered guitar, a clear voice and a quiver of razor sharp songs, he tirelessly fought the good fight for peace and justice throughout
The best protest artist, ever. Terribly, he's been ignored by almost everyone even in the folk scene! Great commentator and communicator, whether you agree with him or not. Thanks for posting!
he doesn´t mention ww2 and he knows why. because it was right to fight the nazis. and if that was right, then it is right to keep an army and that army should be strong and good equipped. and if you have that army there´s the risk that it is used for the wrong reasons. that´s just the price you pay.
Among my celebrity crushes Phil is right at the top! I love the sense of purpose in his voice, and how he stood for what was / is important...one of my favorite singers! ;^)
here is my reaction to this vid:: WE are not marching anymore to the tune of a government that turns their backs on their own people living in a land..When people start starving the rich bastards will die too
Please check out the song "John Butler Train" by the band Kismet Hardy on YouTubeabout the life and sad death of Phil Ochs. Also w w w (dot) kismethardy (dot) c o m
Phil Ochs is great. I would not have found my favorite Folk singer Melanie Safka (otherwise known as Melanie) had it not been for this song and his other good song "Miranda" (she also covered "Chords of Fame" and "Groundhog day) which was covered at his 1976 memorial by Melanie.
Communism is the future stateless, classless, lawless Jetsons society that comes after Socialism, which is the stepping after Capitalism is overthrown, which inevitably leads to decay, poverty, war and social inequality.
@RonnyVain89 Nahhh.. after this period.. we will face more spirituallity in our society.. We discover that there is more than things like money, wealth, health and luxury.. An interesting period will occur..
@RonnyVain89 You're soooo old fashioned (pretend to be a tough guy who only believes what he sees.. In your case.. Oxygen is invisable so it doesn't exists.. poor boy! Ignoring the signs in the world that are as real as me reading your comment..
It always intriges me how Dylan fans always show up on Phils videos to exalt their god. What are they afraid of? Phil was unknown compared to Dylan, yet they always want to compare the two. Dylan couldn't take criticism, demands absolute obedience from his fans, and went out of his way to thrash Phil. I guess Bobs faithful are still following orders.
Hey guys, just played a show at the House of Blues last night with my harmonica and guitar. A man gave me a box set of Phil Ochs after, and i looked him up just now. He told me, I reminded him of Phil. Check out my music on my page. I'm totally in awe of this man.
@Morons, in case you didn't notice it, the Soviet Union existed just fine as long as it was a money making opportunity for Cold War Machine Inc. When it became a real threat, under Gorby, with his progressive reforms, it became a REAL danger to the corporate thugs who own America, and had to go. WTF are you idiots doing on a Phil Ochs vid anyway? Y'all hate him and all the good for which he stood.
Phil Ochs was lightyears ahead of Dylan, but it's not Dylan's fault. He made a huge commercial success out of his later work, and in the words of Joan Baez, "singer or savior, it was his to choose, which of us knows what was his to lose.. ..Tigers are best when they're made of stone, saviors a nuisance to live with at home, heroes go unsung, and martyrs most certainly die too young." Ochs' passion and commitment to human decency and progress are probably the reasons he isn't alive today.
Phil understood that it is not the young soldiers who start wars, but the old politicians who not only start them, but prolong them. They are the hypocrites. Fascism is government merging with corporate power, Socialism is any government, thru law providing safety nets for it's poor & disadvantaged. Is American democracy for everyone, or just for those at the top of the capitalistic pyramid? Terrorism is a convenient word to label anyone, it has lost its meaning.
Thank God there are enough young men who are willing to march to save the world from Fascism, Socialism and Terrorism. Phil Ochs is such a hypocrite with his left winged pacifism.
@nluvwthtexs40 Well up to now neither national nor international socialism tried to feed the poor. Instead they built up KZ´s and Gulags, redistributed by force and are responsible for the death of millions of innocent men and women. Things like that still happen in socialist dictatorships such as North Korea, Belarus or Cuba. I wouldn´t call them scary, I´d rather call them disgusting.
@TaleOfValors yeah, that Vietnam atrocity was such a high point for the capitalists of the world. A total waste of hundreds of thousands of people, including 58,000 Americans to make the world safe for capitalism. And the USA, over the past three decades of rule-by-corporation has been a shining example of freedom to the world. Only in FUX NOOSE and comic books.
@MiserableOldFart Vietnam went wrong but thats still no argument for discontinuing wars that free people. Except you are some misanthropist who supports Socialism or Islamism there is no real alternative to capitalism and a free market economy.
@TaleOfValors Vietnam didn't GO wrong, it WAS an atrocity. So was, The Cold War, Inc., the most successful theft in American history until raygunomics came along and made it obsolete. There is also no such thing as a free market economy. The USA was successful with MODERATE, REGULATED capitalism as practiced by our greatest president, FDR.
@Vydio I idea that the Bolsheviks were deliberately starving people in the Ukraine was a propaganda campaign started by the Nazis and picked up by Randolf Hearst and his newspapers. Because of terrible weather and bad harvests, it is possible that hundreds or thousands of people did starve in certain Soviet territories during the time of the worldwide depression in the late 20's and early 30's. People starved in capitalist countries too.This was a worldwide depression caused by capitalism.
@jayraskin You are a fool and a dangerous one at that. Stalin's forced collectivisation of Russian and Ukranian peasantry caused not "hundreds or thousands" people to starve, but MILLIONS! There was no terrible weather. There were bad harvests because there were hardly any farmers, peasants left. All with even the smallest piece of land were declared 'kulaks' and as such often arbitrarily killed, sent to Gulags or just left to starve to death after birch trees bark was eaten! Comunism= fascism!
@RudyLukes fascism is control of the government and people by corporations and greedy businesses.communism is the control of the business's and people for the good of the overall people and all assets are equally shared.this is a concept on both parts that uses the little and middle class population to support a higher class of people.even in communism as well as in any type of autocratic government there are elitestist.it's just human nature.some feel they are privey.
@TaleOfValors Much as I like his music, he never seemed to get that he was free to sing it because of those young men willing to march. Oh yeah, a few of us marchers are/were women, myself included.
War is great fun - which is why we go off and do it. No point in complaining about it once you've been, although being shot at on some god-foresaken Sth Atlantic island wasn't my idea of fun...and no soldier fights for his country: you fight for your mates.
The thing that annoys me is all this 'Heroes' bollocks: it's as true now as it was in Kipling's - when they reduce the size of the Forces they increase the size of the prisons.
No soldier ever gave his life for his country. It was stolen from him by a tyrannical government. War is far too important to be left to the generals, the politicians and the profiteers.
The main reason not to compare Ochs to Dylan, or any other artist for that matter, is because it's all subjective, personal taste. To say someone is the best, or more talented is useless. All I know is that Dylan does little for me. It is the music and songs of Phil Ochs that reasonate to the very core of my DNA, The ones that are in my mind, the ones that I hum, and try to sing, and I do mean try.
I don't much see the point of comparing Ochs to Dylan, favorably or unfavorably. He was a very different stylist from Dylan, and much more explicitly topical. Ochs was not by any means as gifted a songwriter as Dylan, but he was a very good one, and he had a beautiful and incredibly expressive singing voice. And as brilliant as Dylan was, he wasn't God, and he'd be the first to tell you so. He also has great respect and admiration for his fellow musicians, unlike some of his fans, evidently.
@dkfrey I have ttried to like these songs, but compared to Dylan, there is no contest. Dylan is the greatest songwriter, maybe not the best singer, of the last 40 years.
@llangol Kristofferson, Lennon/McCartney and Nyro, among others, were at least equals to Dylan in the song writing field. Dylan was great, but so were they and others that are not coming to mind now, I'm sure also are in that field.
Wow.. I just had to leave behind my 2 cents. This songs has allot of power behind of. I'm a Iraq war vet, and after I've seen war i know what he is talking about. I know for sure I aint marching anymore!!!
I don't support our troops. If anything, I feel sorry for most of them. They think they're doing what is right, when really all they're doing is fighting wars for their rich leaders to get richer. If you think this soon to be war in Libya is because of Gaddafi, you're sadly mistaken. Just like if you thought 9/11 was by Osama Bin Laden, and the resulting war was also their fault. If you believe Osama was just recently killed, you're also mistaken, but that's a given (No body? Really?..)
@MichaelBallack91 if we don't intervene now then we could be looking at something Akin to Darfur,our motifves do not matter, or our reasons as long as we stop another great tragedy from happening then it'll be worth it.
and besides, this time the war'll be over by christmas...
The reason Phil wasn't more popular was because he had no air time and very little exposure except at concerts. He had a strong following and still does to this day, which is remarkable since most people never heard of him.
@ultimategamer789 My father made sure I had a daily dose of Phil Ochs. I was lucky to have seen him in Newport in the early 70s. When Phil died, my family mourned.
The reason Ochs wasn't popular was because he was so sanctimonious and self righteous. The holier-than-thou attitude that suffused his act from top to bottom was a huge turn-off.
I was reading Hearts of Atlantis by Steven King and he talked about this song I would like to thank him for helping me find this song and all the great men and women fighting now and in the past
@orchidtender : Thanks for your service man. I will be forever grateful to my friend Hal, a Marine veteran of Viet Nam - an "Ugly Angel" , helicopters and such, who turned me back on to Phil Ochs music a couple of years ago. I hear what you're saying. Doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that if the U.S. can hire mercenaries of all varieties, so can the enemy. Peace
You Can't beat Dylan. His ' Masters of War' was the ultimate protest song. 'And I hope that you die and your death will come soon, I'll follow your casket on a pale aternoon'.
@selffamily 1 : My deepest sympathies for your difficulties and involvement with the Psychiatric/Psychological establishment. Many of your points ring familiar, if not true, but my considered opinion after 40 years of study can be summed up in these words : *#@k the DSM IIIR (and all those who subscribe to it's lies and poison). Try yoga and meditation. The received view of medicine is a nazi joke long disproved.
Neil Young and Phil Ochs connection - Wrote this for a city girl on peeling pavement coming at me thru Phil Ochs eyes playing finger cymbals. It was hard to explain to my wife. Neil Young adds that he considered Ochs and Dylan on the same level. Yes the same level though Phil was taller I say. Today who is doing what Phil Ochs did? Neil's the "peeling pavement calling" sound like a line from a Phil Ochs nugget , but isn't. Take that Bob Dylan you hypocrite. Nah just kidding.
@llangol Great song. I really am fine with Dylan being a chameleon. Anything is fine. I just think Phil stuck to his guns or his anti-guns longer and truer.
@llangol Dylan has admitted he it was more into it for the money. Dylan got an earlier start but Phil's career was briefer. Do you know Phils Tape from California / I'm gonna say it know / The Marines have landed on the shores of Santa Domingo/ WHile I'm hear/ There but for fortune/ Ringing of Revolution .. lesser know songs but I like these better than anything Dylan has done. Just my opinion. But thought if you didn't know these songs .. check them out but not all are on YTube.
@llangol Hey will you put up some of your Dylan favorites. well it's none of my business. ha. I think you are more political then me but I love Dylan's "Most likely to go your way and I'll go mine"
@llangol OK those are not my favorite songs but glad you enjoy them. i like Neil Young's Old Man, Needle and the Damage Done, Cortez the Killer, Powderfinger, Expecting to Fly, On the way Home, Mr Soul. My favorite Phil songs are When I'm Gone, Tape from California, There but for Fortune, Ringing of Revolution, Flower lady, The Marines have landed on the shores of Santa Domingo.
@11xzxzxz Dylan does , Sad eyed Lady of the Lowlands'. All I really want to do'. Like a rolling stone, I want You' Spanish boots of Spanish Leather' Don't think twice it's alright' A hard Rain's Aonna Fall' I shall be free' With God on our side' It aint me babe'. mr tamborine man' it's all over now baby blue' one of us must know' and many more, not war, but love songs
To all who have served our nation: thank you. I think this song is timeless in its point of saying it is just for an individual to refuse to wield a weapon for a cause in which he doesn't believe. Any and all servicemen should refuse to do so should they question their leaders' motivation; how else would we survive as a civilian-based nation? The military is subordinate to our civilian government, as is mandated in our Constitution. In a free society, it can be no other way.
The first time I heard this song was at a USO concert in Yongsan Korea-that's a suburb of Seoul (in 1965). Right on a military base.
There was not even a consideration of censorship. The guy did his cover of this piece -- a good one, upon reflection and I thought "isn't this great -an "idea" attack from your own ranks, and you don't worry about it.
I love the American military. The first to break the color barrier. And leadership in so many things needing to be done in society at large.
@orchidtender you are the fucking man. with much gratitude and admiration, from a man far less courageous than yourself, i want to say, truly, thank you.
HAHA I love Phil Ochs but this comment is hilarious, if you are a troll, you have done a good job. My hat goes off to you. Trolletariats of the worldwide web unite!
Loved the song and the video and Phil. Have embedded it on my site greatprotestsongsDOTcom/peace-songs/ Can you check this is ok with you? To find it click atom bumb thumbnail under feature. If it is not OK, leave a comment on the bottom of that page and I will remove. If it is OK and you like the site, leave a comment anyway and like it on FB ;-) Thanks
One does not have to agree with this song, but I believe that everyone who is thinking of enlisting in our armed services should at least listen to this song, as well as another great Phil Ochs song; The war is over. Some just wrap themselves in the flag without realizing that there are alternatives. Informed decisions are always best, especially involving issues of life and death.
Are you for real? I met him,you had to live through this time to understand it. They had files on everyone, and each other, i HOPE THEY HAD ONE ON ME.they had one on me. They kept them on each other! The music, and message come first. How many great inventors, writers, artists, musicians, Nobel prize laureates, were a little ''off" . Think you're normal, think again. Frank Zappa asked, 'You don't think you've got one on the bottom of you?". Hear the message, Think Iraq, A-Stan.and Freedom!
@stefdye -I agree that BD is probably a better acronym but BPD is also used widely in the scientific literature to refer to bipolar disorder. Since there are deemed to be two versions bipolar I and bipolar II the use of acronyms is problematic. Ochs was bipolar I. I mention it here in the hopes of reducing the stigma associated with this illness.
Ochs suffered from Bipolar I Disorder. He appears to have experienced a psychotic manic episode in 1974 and when it ended was plunged into a suicidal depression -typical of bipolar I disorder. He was either untreated or non-responsive to treatment. 40% of people with his condition that do not respond to Lithium eventually commit suicide. He died of bipolar disorder not because the era of protest had ended. If he had lived you would have seen his artistry rise to new challenges.
@C130C5a Was the Union "immature" when it ended slavery through military action? Were the Allies immature when they stopped the spread of Nazism and ended the Holocaust through military action? Are we immature to take on the Taliban, a group under whom it is permissible to throw acid in the face of women who neglect to veil themselves (among numerous other atrocities)?
@bornwithoutwarning -I did not say I agreed with Ochs, I merely wanted to explain what he meant. I think that some of his stuff was over the top and it is hard to imagine a Jewish person (Ochs) objecting to fighting the Nazis. It is also unreasonable for someone who actively supported the US civil rights movement to object to a civil war fought in order to free slaves. His skill was in generating these protest songs quickly in order to be useful in the protest of the time.
@C130C5a Have you read People's History of the United States? It has some interesting material that leads me to believe that neither of those wars were fought for humanitarian reasons. Lincoln didn't care about slaves, and nobody went to war with Germany for mistreating the Jews to my knowledge, certainly not the US or Canada.
@Tprimeable -No I haven't read the People's History of the US. The roots of the anti-slavery movement ran deep in the Christian religious beliefs of the time. Lincoln began his political career as a Whig which was a British term for Liberal. Liberalism and its rules of morality was sweeping the modern world. The Republicans began as Liberals who were most definitely opposed to slavery considering it a moral outrage and a sin.
@Tprimeable -The Democratic party split along North South lines so while more Americans voted for Democratic presidential nominees than voted Republican the fact was that Lincoln got more votes than either of the two Democratic presidential nominees and, thus, won the election. Some southern revisionist historians have tried to paint the civil war as a simple federal trampling of state's rights but their arguments have been pretty roundly refuted. It was about slavery.
@C130C5a Oh, I know what he meant. I was just asking if it was wise. As far as Howard Zinn - he only tells you what he wants you to know and hides the rest. Not my kind of person. I like someone who presents the entire truth. That means they respect you. Arthur Schlesinger pegged him perfectly: "I don't take him (Zinn) seriously. He's a polemicist, not a historian."
Lovely voice and really glad I have discovered him today.
spookypatchouli 1 hour ago
Never heard of him. Never not even once.
Not until the show on PBS about him. Felt like I was watching a spoof documentary.
I was born in 1961. 2 weeks before 62
HonkIfYouLoveHonking 3 hours ago
You had to be there
cassandra4146 3 days ago
I'm not anywhere close to being a Communist, in fact I am on the right but I think Phil got so much right "call it peace or call it treason, call it love or call it reason".
BenjaminWirtz 3 days ago
Stands true for our country... The old men declare war but the young men fight it... What happened to those days when WASHINGTON led his men into battle...
chago9375 1 week ago
Phil's spirit lives in Occupy - we will not march to the tunes of corporations and crass patriotism.
TheAprilBarabash 1 week ago
@TheAprilBarabash Just to the crass notions of pacifism.
1990AnnoDomini 1 week ago
hearts in atlantis :)
vishaltheniceguy 1 week ago
Comment removed
vishaltheniceguy 1 week ago
Very relevant. Also great message.
And it's really catchy
cookieawesome2001 2 weeks ago
a wonderful song <3
Strufti 3 weeks ago
omg theres snowflakes on this video that move around when the mouse goes over them. sickkk!
xtheFoolOnTheHillx 1 month ago in playlist Bob Dylan
Phil Ochs is still so relevant in the 21st century (amazing timeless lyrics).
But check out this woman's acoustic guitar song (but note, it's not political):
watch?v=zBy9t171DEM
MrBlueSkyMrNight 1 month ago
Comment removed
xxkaychica 1 month ago
Thank God the centrally-planned economy is coming to its predictable end - worldwide bankruptcy. The sooner it fails and people move on the better.
TomMullenTV 1 month ago
FDR was arguably the worst president in American history. He didn't "moderately regulate" capitalism, he destoryed it, although it certainly had been severely damaged by other horrible presidents, including Lincoln and Wilson. FDR's "New Deal" was a nice mix of Mussolini's fascism and Stalin's communism -and we're still suffering from it because it never went away for the most part.
TomMullenTV 1 month ago
@TomMullenTV
Thank you for knowing what you're talking about.
draeneizadora 3 weeks ago
@TomMullenTV Wait. Are you saying how good American presidents is based on how capitalistic they are? If capitalism wasn't working, wouldn't it make sense for FDR to destroy it? Maybe we're suffering because people bought houses they couldn't afford and had to foreclose?
scarlinewgottlieb 1 week ago
Thanks for sharing this...
luvanani 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Bob Dylan said: "Phil Ochs' writing I have no respect whatsoever for."
- From the book 'Positively 4th Street' by David Hajdu.
Couldn't agree more, Bob.
bornwithoutwarning 2 months ago
Yes, just yes. I love rhis man.
grammariscool 2 months ago
power to the left god bles phil ochs
Invalid444Name 2 months ago
he has such a nice voice!
xaussiexellex 3 months ago
Oh I must have killed a million men And now they want me back again
But I ain't marchin' anymore
GUFFTOWNBEATDOWN 3 months ago
Oddly enough, I'm here from a Stephen King short story ....
suicidefilming 3 months ago
@suicidefilming hearts in atlantis...brought me here, too. Love that book
FirCorred 2 months ago
@FirCorred That wasn't my favorite section, the first story was best in my opinion. But the book as a whole was wonderful.
suicidefilming 2 months ago
@suicidefilming absolutely! I suppose you`ve read the Dark Tower series? If not, there`s a big treat waiting for you! Ted Brautigan is a major character in the last book of the series.
But I have to say I enjoyed all parts of hearts in atlantis, each one had its own core that stayed with me.It`s a pleasure to meet someone who appreciates books!
sugarserpent 1 month ago
@sugarserpent On the internet, it's quite the rarity. But I've only had the pleasure of reading one of the series, I plan on getting around to reading the others soon.
suicidefilming 1 month ago
... his short life :(
(Sorry my last comment got cut off)
SuperC888 4 months ago
Just came home from seeing the Phil Ochs documentary Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune. He was a true pacifist and an unlikely American hero. Phil Ochs, a folk singing legend, who many called the emotional heart of his generation, loved his country and he pursued its honour, in song and action, with a ferocity that had no regard for consequences. Wielding only a battered guitar, a clear voice and a quiver of razor sharp songs, he tirelessly fought the good fight for peace and justice throughout
SuperC888 4 months ago 2
@ultimategamer789. Agree!!
SuperC888 4 months ago
just a great person
phildirt3 4 months ago
Elle represente beaucoups de choses celle la...grande classe!!
doudouk47 5 months ago
The best protest artist, ever. Terribly, he's been ignored by almost everyone even in the folk scene! Great commentator and communicator, whether you agree with him or not. Thanks for posting!
SSGLew 5 months ago 2
she looked like she just realized what the song was about! lol!!!!!!!!!!
KIWI897 5 months ago
@KIWI897 Noooo, she looks more like she's witnessing the antics of someone who belongs in an asylum. I was baffled too (at her reaction, that is).
YourFaceWillDie468 5 months ago
@YourFaceWillDie468 Lol!!!!!!!! She looked crazy
KIWI897 4 months ago
the pretty chick at 2:17 is like WTF?
KIWI897 5 months ago
Phil, we need you today more than ever!
reillyrn 5 months ago
I'm 13 years old, living in a world of Lil Wayne and Justin Bieber, and im proud to say that I love this song. Long live real music. <3
anqieelovesyaa 5 months ago 3
@anqieelovesyaa Me too! Good to see more people listening to folk music.
theorangebox999 5 months ago
@anqieelovesyaa you ftw!!!!!!!!!!
KIWI897 5 months ago
@KIWI897 What's wrong?
YourFaceWillDie468 5 months ago
@YourFaceWillDie468 nothings wrong. you ftw just means you , for the win!
KIWI897 5 months ago
We stold California from Mexico? The word is conquered.
crobarus 5 months ago
He does mention ww2, just the Pacific theatre.
VJ254 5 months ago
he doesn´t mention ww2 and he knows why. because it was right to fight the nazis. and if that was right, then it is right to keep an army and that army should be strong and good equipped. and if you have that army there´s the risk that it is used for the wrong reasons. that´s just the price you pay.
presskopp 5 months ago
Спасибо! Отличная песня, жаль, что слишком актуальная. Замечательный певец!
Malikamina 5 months ago
Among my celebrity crushes Phil is right at the top! I love the sense of purpose in his voice, and how he stood for what was / is important...one of my favorite singers! ;^)
4508bluesky 6 months ago
here is my reaction to this vid:: WE are not marching anymore to the tune of a government that turns their backs on their own people living in a land..When people start starving the rich bastards will die too
catman306 6 months ago
Everybody here should watch the Phil Ochs documentary that came out on DVD last week.
Rossonero072213 6 months ago 2
Rock this soug
Steveneskridge 6 months ago
ive a one min. tribute song, dedicated to Phil, especially bearing in mind theres a movie about him coming out in 2 days! Hope people enjoy.
cant post a link but its by tony kilkelly and on p. 13
49tonio 6 months ago
Please check out the song "John Butler Train" by the band Kismet Hardy on YouTubeabout the life and sad death of Phil Ochs. Also w w w (dot) kismethardy (dot) c o m
triptuesday 6 months ago
Phil Ochs is great. I would not have found my favorite Folk singer Melanie Safka (otherwise known as Melanie) had it not been for this song and his other good song "Miranda" (she also covered "Chords of Fame" and "Groundhog day) which was covered at his 1976 memorial by Melanie.
FolkMusicFanatic 6 months ago
What is all this talk about NATO vs. the Soviet block? Socialism is NOT Communism, and Freedom is NOT Capitalism. Lets get back to Phil Ochs.
VJ254 6 months ago 33
@VJ254
Communism is the future stateless, classless, lawless Jetsons society that comes after Socialism, which is the stepping after Capitalism is overthrown, which inevitably leads to decay, poverty, war and social inequality.
Or according to Karl Marx, at least.
RonnyVain89 3 months ago 4
@RonnyVain89 Nahhh.. after this period.. we will face more spirituallity in our society.. We discover that there is more than things like money, wealth, health and luxury.. An interesting period will occur..
Pan3405 1 week ago
@Pan3405
Spirituality is for wankers. I like being in touch with others. Not something that doesn't exist.
RonnyVain89 1 week ago
@RonnyVain89 You're soooo old fashioned (pretend to be a tough guy who only believes what he sees.. In your case.. Oxygen is invisable so it doesn't exists.. poor boy! Ignoring the signs in the world that are as real as me reading your comment..
Pan3405 1 week ago
@Pan3405 I apologize, I was drunk when I posted that. You can believe what you believe, and I respect that.
RonnyVain89 1 week ago
@RonnyVain89 Accepted ..absolutely!.
Pan3405 1 week ago
If this song were written today it would need several more verses.
darthjoey13 6 months ago
The song still puts a lump in my pants--I mean throat. RIP Phil Ochs.
guinnesstrail 6 months ago
It always intriges me how Dylan fans always show up on Phils videos to exalt their god. What are they afraid of? Phil was unknown compared to Dylan, yet they always want to compare the two. Dylan couldn't take criticism, demands absolute obedience from his fans, and went out of his way to thrash Phil. I guess Bobs faithful are still following orders.
ultimategamer789 7 months ago
Hey guys, just played a show at the House of Blues last night with my harmonica and guitar. A man gave me a box set of Phil Ochs after, and i looked him up just now. He told me, I reminded him of Phil. Check out my music on my page. I'm totally in awe of this man.
esparxx1920 7 months ago
Well to me Dylan was the best, from my youth to my old age, ha, he's the best ever.
llangol 7 months ago
The S.S. card / draft card comparison is brilliant.
VJ254 7 months ago
@Morons, ya'll are the kind of people who believe a Social Security card is an invasion of freedom but a Draft Card is fine fine and dandy.
MiserableOldFart 7 months ago
@Morons, in case you didn't notice it, the Soviet Union existed just fine as long as it was a money making opportunity for Cold War Machine Inc. When it became a real threat, under Gorby, with his progressive reforms, it became a REAL danger to the corporate thugs who own America, and had to go. WTF are you idiots doing on a Phil Ochs vid anyway? Y'all hate him and all the good for which he stood.
MiserableOldFart 7 months ago
Phil Ochs was lightyears ahead of Dylan, but it's not Dylan's fault. He made a huge commercial success out of his later work, and in the words of Joan Baez, "singer or savior, it was his to choose, which of us knows what was his to lose.. ..Tigers are best when they're made of stone, saviors a nuisance to live with at home, heroes go unsung, and martyrs most certainly die too young." Ochs' passion and commitment to human decency and progress are probably the reasons he isn't alive today.
MiserableOldFart 7 months ago
Phil understood that it is not the young soldiers who start wars, but the old politicians who not only start them, but prolong them. They are the hypocrites. Fascism is government merging with corporate power, Socialism is any government, thru law providing safety nets for it's poor & disadvantaged. Is American democracy for everyone, or just for those at the top of the capitalistic pyramid? Terrorism is a convenient word to label anyone, it has lost its meaning.
VJ254 7 months ago
Thank God there are enough young men who are willing to march to save the world from Fascism, Socialism and Terrorism. Phil Ochs is such a hypocrite with his left winged pacifism.
TaleOfValors 7 months ago
@TaleOfValors Those scary socialist wanting to help feed the poor
nluvwthtexs40 7 months ago 2
@nluvwthtexs40 Well up to now neither national nor international socialism tried to feed the poor. Instead they built up KZ´s and Gulags, redistributed by force and are responsible for the death of millions of innocent men and women. Things like that still happen in socialist dictatorships such as North Korea, Belarus or Cuba. I wouldn´t call them scary, I´d rather call them disgusting.
TaleOfValors 7 months ago
@TaleOfValors yeah, that Vietnam atrocity was such a high point for the capitalists of the world. A total waste of hundreds of thousands of people, including 58,000 Americans to make the world safe for capitalism. And the USA, over the past three decades of rule-by-corporation has been a shining example of freedom to the world. Only in FUX NOOSE and comic books.
MiserableOldFart 7 months ago
@MiserableOldFart Vietnam went wrong but thats still no argument for discontinuing wars that free people. Except you are some misanthropist who supports Socialism or Islamism there is no real alternative to capitalism and a free market economy.
TaleOfValors 7 months ago
@TaleOfValors Vietnam didn't GO wrong, it WAS an atrocity. So was, The Cold War, Inc., the most successful theft in American history until raygunomics came along and made it obsolete. There is also no such thing as a free market economy. The USA was successful with MODERATE, REGULATED capitalism as practiced by our greatest president, FDR.
MiserableOldFart 7 months ago 7
@MiserableOldFart The Cold War got rid of the atrocity called the Soviet Union, and the Eastern Bloc.
Vydio 7 months ago
@Vydio Did it really? I'm sure you have some kind of reason for making that ridiculous assertion..
MiserableOldFart 7 months ago
@MiserableOldFart Is it (the Soviet Union) here anymore?
Vydio 7 months ago
@Vydio Thanks to a NATO led coup, no. However, about half of Russia regrets it's fall.
Grant691 7 months ago
@Grant691 The former Eastern bloc don't seem to be mourning its fall very much.
Vydio 7 months ago
@MiserableOldFart
Where's the Soviet Union today today? It's gone, thank the Lord. Good riddance.
Vydio 7 months ago
@Vydio pfft. Soviet Union is puppy dog compared to NATO imperialism.
Grant691 7 months ago
@Grant691 Amazing how many former Soviet bloc countries preferred the NATO imperialism to the Soviets.
Vydio 7 months ago
@nluvwthtexs40 You must be real mad at Russia .... Stalin deliberately starved about 7 million of his own people.
Vydio 6 months ago
@Vydio Still believing all the lies put out by Hitler, aren't you.
jayraskin 6 months ago
@jayraskin Wouldn't believe much of anything Adolph said. Are you one of his fans?
Vydio 6 months ago
@Vydio I idea that the Bolsheviks were deliberately starving people in the Ukraine was a propaganda campaign started by the Nazis and picked up by Randolf Hearst and his newspapers. Because of terrible weather and bad harvests, it is possible that hundreds or thousands of people did starve in certain Soviet territories during the time of the worldwide depression in the late 20's and early 30's. People starved in capitalist countries too.This was a worldwide depression caused by capitalism.
jayraskin 6 months ago
@jayraskin You are a fool and a dangerous one at that. Stalin's forced collectivisation of Russian and Ukranian peasantry caused not "hundreds or thousands" people to starve, but MILLIONS! There was no terrible weather. There were bad harvests because there were hardly any farmers, peasants left. All with even the smallest piece of land were declared 'kulaks' and as such often arbitrarily killed, sent to Gulags or just left to starve to death after birch trees bark was eaten! Comunism= fascism!
RudyLukes 5 months ago
@RudyLukes fascism is control of the government and people by corporations and greedy businesses.communism is the control of the business's and people for the good of the overall people and all assets are equally shared.this is a concept on both parts that uses the little and middle class population to support a higher class of people.even in communism as well as in any type of autocratic government there are elitestist.it's just human nature.some feel they are privey.
nomiclas 5 months ago
@TaleOfValors Much as I like his music, he never seemed to get that he was free to sing it because of those young men willing to march. Oh yeah, a few of us marchers are/were women, myself included.
Vydio 7 months ago
War is great fun - which is why we go off and do it. No point in complaining about it once you've been, although being shot at on some god-foresaken Sth Atlantic island wasn't my idea of fun...and no soldier fights for his country: you fight for your mates.
The thing that annoys me is all this 'Heroes' bollocks: it's as true now as it was in Kipling's - when they reduce the size of the Forces they increase the size of the prisons.
welshpenguin1 7 months ago
No soldier ever gave his life for his country. It was stolen from him by a tyrannical government. War is far too important to be left to the generals, the politicians and the profiteers.
jeffersonianideal 7 months ago
The main reason not to compare Ochs to Dylan, or any other artist for that matter, is because it's all subjective, personal taste. To say someone is the best, or more talented is useless. All I know is that Dylan does little for me. It is the music and songs of Phil Ochs that reasonate to the very core of my DNA, The ones that are in my mind, the ones that I hum, and try to sing, and I do mean try.
ultimategamer789 7 months ago
I don't much see the point of comparing Ochs to Dylan, favorably or unfavorably. He was a very different stylist from Dylan, and much more explicitly topical. Ochs was not by any means as gifted a songwriter as Dylan, but he was a very good one, and he had a beautiful and incredibly expressive singing voice. And as brilliant as Dylan was, he wasn't God, and he'd be the first to tell you so. He also has great respect and admiration for his fellow musicians, unlike some of his fans, evidently.
dkfrey 7 months ago
@dkfrey I have ttried to like these songs, but compared to Dylan, there is no contest. Dylan is the greatest songwriter, maybe not the best singer, of the last 40 years.
llangol 7 months ago
@llangol Kristofferson, Lennon/McCartney and Nyro, among others, were at least equals to Dylan in the song writing field. Dylan was great, but so were they and others that are not coming to mind now, I'm sure also are in that field.
MiserableOldFart 7 months ago
Wow.. I just had to leave behind my 2 cents. This songs has allot of power behind of. I'm a Iraq war vet, and after I've seen war i know what he is talking about. I know for sure I aint marching anymore!!!
mdbdoc1 7 months ago 75
I don't support our troops. If anything, I feel sorry for most of them. They think they're doing what is right, when really all they're doing is fighting wars for their rich leaders to get richer. If you think this soon to be war in Libya is because of Gaddafi, you're sadly mistaken. Just like if you thought 9/11 was by Osama Bin Laden, and the resulting war was also their fault. If you believe Osama was just recently killed, you're also mistaken, but that's a given (No body? Really?..)
MichaelBallack91 8 months ago
@MichaelBallack91 A fool when he is silent is counted among the wise.
bornwithoutwarning 8 months ago
@MichaelBallack91 if we don't intervene now then we could be looking at something Akin to Darfur,our motifves do not matter, or our reasons as long as we stop another great tragedy from happening then it'll be worth it.
and besides, this time the war'll be over by christmas...
Joypadjunkginger 7 months ago
The reason Phil wasn't more popular was because he had no air time and very little exposure except at concerts. He had a strong following and still does to this day, which is remarkable since most people never heard of him.
ultimategamer789 8 months ago 36
@ultimategamer789 Reason was he ws good, but Dylan was better.
llangol 8 months ago
@ultimategamer789 I have, didn't think he was very good, compared to Dylan. This is at the time long time ago
llangol 8 months ago
@ultimategamer789
He gets a lot exposure on SiriusXM's Deep Tracks, they play him all the time.
Elwoodblues87 5 months ago
@ultimategamer789 My father made sure I had a daily dose of Phil Ochs. I was lucky to have seen him in Newport in the early 70s. When Phil died, my family mourned.
susanoconnell777 3 months ago
The reason Ochs wasn't popular was because he was so sanctimonious and self righteous. The holier-than-thou attitude that suffused his act from top to bottom was a huge turn-off.
fosbury68 8 months ago
@fosbury68 You nailed it on the head, man.
bornwithoutwarning 8 months ago
@fosbury68 you don't like him then don't listen to him
Joypadjunkginger 8 months ago
I was reading Hearts of Atlantis by Steven King and he talked about this song I would like to thank him for helping me find this song and all the great men and women fighting now and in the past
34rodzilla 8 months ago
35 people are the girl at 2:18.
Except probably not hot.
RickyJ108 8 months ago
35 people are that hottie to Phil's right. Only without the being hot part.
They're stupid.
RickyJ108 8 months ago
The Irony between Protesters and Soldiers
One marches at home to bring back those away, the other marches away to protect those at home.
Yet no one sees that.
No one wishes to see behind the curtain of politics and media.
Spread the love, whether you die for it, or protest for it.
xlHawkeyelx 8 months ago
Bob Dylan: "Phil Ochs' writing I have no respect whatsoever for."
- From the book 'Positively 4th Street' by David Hajdu.
Couldn't agree more, Bob.
bornwithoutwarning 8 months ago
@orchidtender : Thanks for your service man. I will be forever grateful to my friend Hal, a Marine veteran of Viet Nam - an "Ugly Angel" , helicopters and such, who turned me back on to Phil Ochs music a couple of years ago. I hear what you're saying. Doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that if the U.S. can hire mercenaries of all varieties, so can the enemy. Peace
arhatyellow 8 months ago
You Can't beat Dylan. His ' Masters of War' was the ultimate protest song. 'And I hope that you die and your death will come soon, I'll follow your casket on a pale aternoon'.
llangol 8 months ago
@selffamily 1 : My deepest sympathies for your difficulties and involvement with the Psychiatric/Psychological establishment. Many of your points ring familiar, if not true, but my considered opinion after 40 years of study can be summed up in these words : *#@k the DSM IIIR (and all those who subscribe to it's lies and poison). Try yoga and meditation. The received view of medicine is a nazi joke long disproved.
arhatyellow 8 months ago
@arhatyellow cool
llangol 8 months ago
@arhatyellow There but for Fortune, should be there, but so many.
llangol 8 months ago
I looked this up 'cos it's mentioned in 'Hearts in Atlantis', Stephen King.
llangol 8 months ago
Great song--up there with "Universal Soldier" by Buffy Sainte Marie.
Seasass 8 months ago
@Seasass Heey I rember that, Donovan did one , same name.
llangol 8 months ago
@llangol Yep, 'He's five foot 3 and he's 6 feet 4..., love it.
llangol 8 months ago
Neil Young and Phil Ochs connection - Wrote this for a city girl on peeling pavement coming at me thru Phil Ochs eyes playing finger cymbals. It was hard to explain to my wife. Neil Young adds that he considered Ochs and Dylan on the same level. Yes the same level though Phil was taller I say. Today who is doing what Phil Ochs did? Neil's the "peeling pavement calling" sound like a line from a Phil Ochs nugget , but isn't. Take that Bob Dylan you hypocrite. Nah just kidding.
11xzxzxz 9 months ago
@11xzxzxz I think it's about the one who did more, at the time. Masters of War by Dylan, I think was the best of the day.
llangol 8 months ago
@llangol Great song. I really am fine with Dylan being a chameleon. Anything is fine. I just think Phil stuck to his guns or his anti-guns longer and truer.
11xzxzxz 8 months ago
@11xzxzxz Dylan just alot more
llangol 8 months ago
@llangol Dylan has admitted he it was more into it for the money. Dylan got an earlier start but Phil's career was briefer. Do you know Phils Tape from California / I'm gonna say it know / The Marines have landed on the shores of Santa Domingo/ WHile I'm hear/ There but for fortune/ Ringing of Revolution .. lesser know songs but I like these better than anything Dylan has done. Just my opinion. But thought if you didn't know these songs .. check them out but not all are on YTube.
11xzxzxz 8 months ago
@llangol Hey will you put up some of your Dylan favorites. well it's none of my business. ha. I think you are more political then me but I love Dylan's "Most likely to go your way and I'll go mine"
11xzxzxz 8 months ago
@11xzxzxz ok, Sara
Desolation Row
House of the Rising Sun
Blowing in the Wind
Times they are a changing
Mr Tambourine Man
One of us Must Know
Man of Constant Sorrow
Loads more
llangol 8 months ago
@llangol OK those are not my favorite songs but glad you enjoy them. i like Neil Young's Old Man, Needle and the Damage Done, Cortez the Killer, Powderfinger, Expecting to Fly, On the way Home, Mr Soul. My favorite Phil songs are When I'm Gone, Tape from California, There but for Fortune, Ringing of Revolution, Flower lady, The Marines have landed on the shores of Santa Domingo.
11xzxzxz 8 months ago
@11xzxzxz Dylan does , Sad eyed Lady of the Lowlands'. All I really want to do'. Like a rolling stone, I want You' Spanish boots of Spanish Leather' Don't think twice it's alright' A hard Rain's Aonna Fall' I shall be free' With God on our side' It aint me babe'. mr tamborine man' it's all over now baby blue' one of us must know' and many more, not war, but love songs
llangol 8 months ago
@llangol I like Dylan's I shall Be Released and Most likely to go your way and I'll go mine and Girl from the north country.
11xzxzxz 8 months ago
@11xzxzxz me too
llangol 8 months ago
@llangol Well then you are a very great person!
11xzxzxz 8 months ago
35 people still marching
KanyeTroll 9 months ago
Hahaha! Look at the girl at 2:17. She's like, "Holy shit! You really did all that?!"
Fetalimperialism 9 months ago
love his edges.
2yellowflowers 9 months ago
To all who have served our nation: thank you. I think this song is timeless in its point of saying it is just for an individual to refuse to wield a weapon for a cause in which he doesn't believe. Any and all servicemen should refuse to do so should they question their leaders' motivation; how else would we survive as a civilian-based nation? The military is subordinate to our civilian government, as is mandated in our Constitution. In a free society, it can be no other way.
SierraMatt100 9 months ago
The first time I heard this song was at a USO concert in Yongsan Korea-that's a suburb of Seoul (in 1965). Right on a military base.
There was not even a consideration of censorship. The guy did his cover of this piece -- a good one, upon reflection and I thought "isn't this great -an "idea" attack from your own ranks, and you don't worry about it.
I love the American military. The first to break the color barrier. And leadership in so many things needing to be done in society at large.
lskarin 9 months ago
u RACIST BASTARD!
MrSeniorpopo 9 months ago
One of the great anti-war songs of all time.
jeffs666 9 months ago
Thanks. Glad there have been so many hits here, too. We need to remember Phil.
jeffs666 9 months ago
@orchidtender you are the fucking man. with much gratitude and admiration, from a man far less courageous than yourself, i want to say, truly, thank you.
Mrhalincandenza 9 months ago
Not sure who the girl was sitting beside him, but they way she was looking at ol' Phil, I bet he got him some that night!
orchidtender 9 months ago
Dedicated to all the nice folks in NATO! That's what he said.
szlamowicz 10 months ago
How could anyone hit the dislike button for this?
werewolfowen 10 months ago
@RichardElden
HAHA I love Phil Ochs but this comment is hilarious, if you are a troll, you have done a good job. My hat goes off to you. Trolletariats of the worldwide web unite!
holden415 10 months ago
What seems so sad is he is being forgotten. When you look at the hits at some sites and the relatively few on his music.
TheOldpoop 10 months ago
It says 1969 about 5 seconds in but Swedish TV is trixsy so who knows?
Evel0Knievel 10 months ago
Great song!
does anyone know what time this recording is from?
ltr94 10 months ago
Loved the song and the video and Phil. Have embedded it on my site greatprotestsongsDOTcom/peace-songs/ Can you check this is ok with you? To find it click atom bumb thumbnail under feature. If it is not OK, leave a comment on the bottom of that page and I will remove. If it is OK and you like the site, leave a comment anyway and like it on FB ;-) Thanks
Robert Egan
Great Protest Songs
greatprotestsongs 10 months ago
One does not have to agree with this song, but I believe that everyone who is thinking of enlisting in our armed services should at least listen to this song, as well as another great Phil Ochs song; The war is over. Some just wrap themselves in the flag without realizing that there are alternatives. Informed decisions are always best, especially involving issues of life and death.
VJ254 10 months ago
@RichardElden i have a feeling you like marching ...
Hamporkcheese 11 months ago
Are you for real? I met him,you had to live through this time to understand it. They had files on everyone, and each other, i HOPE THEY HAD ONE ON ME.they had one on me. They kept them on each other! The music, and message come first. How many great inventors, writers, artists, musicians, Nobel prize laureates, were a little ''off" . Think you're normal, think again. Frank Zappa asked, 'You don't think you've got one on the bottom of you?". Hear the message, Think Iraq, A-Stan.and Freedom!
53Jbass 11 months ago
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53Jbass 11 months ago
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53Jbass 11 months ago
@MichaelBallack91 -Bipolar Disorder (BPD)
BPD stands for Borderline Personality Disorder, not Bipolar.
stefdye 11 months ago
@stefdye -I agree that BD is probably a better acronym but BPD is also used widely in the scientific literature to refer to bipolar disorder. Since there are deemed to be two versions bipolar I and bipolar II the use of acronyms is problematic. Ochs was bipolar I. I mention it here in the hopes of reducing the stigma associated with this illness.
C130C5a 10 months ago
Where is Phil Ochs When We Really Need Him
MarsBorg 11 months ago
Where is Phil Ochs When We Really Need Him?
MarsBorg 11 months ago
Ochs suffered from Bipolar I Disorder. He appears to have experienced a psychotic manic episode in 1974 and when it ended was plunged into a suicidal depression -typical of bipolar I disorder. He was either untreated or non-responsive to treatment. 40% of people with his condition that do not respond to Lithium eventually commit suicide. He died of bipolar disorder not because the era of protest had ended. If he had lived you would have seen his artistry rise to new challenges.
C130C5a 11 months ago
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bornwithoutwarning 11 months ago
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bornwithoutwarning 11 months ago
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bornwithoutwarning 11 months ago
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bornwithoutwarning 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@C130C5a Was the Union "immature" when it ended slavery through military action? Were the Allies immature when they stopped the spread of Nazism and ended the Holocaust through military action? Are we immature to take on the Taliban, a group under whom it is permissible to throw acid in the face of women who neglect to veil themselves (among numerous other atrocities)?
bornwithoutwarning 11 months ago
@bornwithoutwarning -I did not say I agreed with Ochs, I merely wanted to explain what he meant. I think that some of his stuff was over the top and it is hard to imagine a Jewish person (Ochs) objecting to fighting the Nazis. It is also unreasonable for someone who actively supported the US civil rights movement to object to a civil war fought in order to free slaves. His skill was in generating these protest songs quickly in order to be useful in the protest of the time.
C130C5a 11 months ago
@C130C5a Have you read People's History of the United States? It has some interesting material that leads me to believe that neither of those wars were fought for humanitarian reasons. Lincoln didn't care about slaves, and nobody went to war with Germany for mistreating the Jews to my knowledge, certainly not the US or Canada.
Tprimeable 11 months ago
@Tprimeable -No I haven't read the People's History of the US. The roots of the anti-slavery movement ran deep in the Christian religious beliefs of the time. Lincoln began his political career as a Whig which was a British term for Liberal. Liberalism and its rules of morality was sweeping the modern world. The Republicans began as Liberals who were most definitely opposed to slavery considering it a moral outrage and a sin.
C130C5a 10 months ago
@Tprimeable -The Democratic party split along North South lines so while more Americans voted for Democratic presidential nominees than voted Republican the fact was that Lincoln got more votes than either of the two Democratic presidential nominees and, thus, won the election. Some southern revisionist historians have tried to paint the civil war as a simple federal trampling of state's rights but their arguments have been pretty roundly refuted. It was about slavery.
C130C5a 10 months ago
@C130C5a Oh, I know what he meant. I was just asking if it was wise. As far as Howard Zinn - he only tells you what he wants you to know and hides the rest. Not my kind of person. I like someone who presents the entire truth. That means they respect you. Arthur Schlesinger pegged him perfectly: "I don't take him (Zinn) seriously. He's a polemicist, not a historian."
bornwithoutwarning 11 months ago