Obama can go to hell. He's a warmongering representative of corporate America just like his predecessor. I voted for him in 2008. I won't even be voting in 2012. Electoral politics are a fucking sham.
We need direct action. We need people in the streets. We need sit ins in every city across the nation, protesting the wars and speaking out against the corporate robber barons who profit on the mysery of working people. That's the only type of change we can truly believe in.
After this song, the government arrested Phil for declaring the war and interfering with international peace accords. Would it be great to arrest Obama for doing the same with Israel and Palestine. What a mediocre over his head prez. To think I once liked the guy. the gypsy gargoyles fortune-tellers tell me we have been deceived.
I love Phil's intro into his songs; many songs have a great cinematic feel; I love the way Phils sings with a teacher's love and warmth that smooths over rough edges of the didactic. The world should rejoice and admire and respect Phil for caring about the world and the less fortunate and taking a stand on most important issue. One does not have to like Che Guevara, many of Phil's political stands .. to just love the MAN.
Phil Ochs and Bill Hills have more in common than Phil and Bob. Everything is so fine with this song but listen to Phil's resonating voice crescendo and crackle like the great Paul Westerberg of The Replacements (OK so Paul's voice's cracked not crackled so much but they both start with a C and alliteration is alright with me. Ever talk to Phil? The man was witty and profound and self-deprecating.
Phil is more blunt and more poignant, but I think Tom Paxton is more artful. Both brilliant. I don't see the magic of Dylan. Can't understand a single thing he's talking about in a lot of his songs.
"Freedom will not make you free" gives me goosebumps every time :) And the more I think about it, the more sense it makes. Phil is one of the most though provoking song writers of all time, and in my opinion, the greatest lyricist.
I just saw the new Phil Ochs documentary, I never realized before that John and Yoko's Bed-in sign: "War is Over" was actually a tribute to (and borrowed from) Phil Ochs and the Yippies.
Courage can be found in many places, but to me this vision of a lone man armed only with a guitar singing a song with powerful lyrics like this is the epitome of it.
"Angry artists painting angry signs, use their vision just to blind the blind"..
Hence, this peon to hope, eh Phil ? Amongst his many ringing, stinging poetic / visionary lines: this favorite re: The draft:: "Do your duty boys and join with pride..."
If you don't know the rest..Listen up. God, I miss this guy.
INCREDIBLE TALENT Phil is well within the class of DYLAN, maybe better in some regards... He surely deserved more Favorable Acclaim than he ever recieved. I was just a young teenager at the time, not into politics, nor anything serious other than being a kid... I could easily sense this man and his music were very special and have appreciated him ever since and always will. His horrid demise really affected me and it still does to some degree as I couldn't grasp the magnitude of his loss.
It sounds like his voice is auto-tuned in some parts, :D. But we all know that is because his tonal quality is one of the best the world has seen. His strumming and lyrics make this song a complete masterpiece. I absolutely love this. Thank you so much for posting. Hopefully, one day people will truly appreciate Phil and his works. And then maybe the war will be over.
Ok I'm going to try again...here goes....Can you imagine Henry Kissinger, Richard Perle, Richard Holbrooke, & the rest of "The Gang", seeing this guy perform??
Then, can you imagine the conversation as they left the hall, (before the first verse was over)?
@lazur1 Funny thing is, I often borrowed music from my dad, and when I was 16yrs he lent me "The Best of Phil Ochs" I think, and I loved it! But I was also more open minded then a lot of teenagers, in terms of music. I firmly believed and still do, that just because you don't like something the first time, doesn't mean you wont like it after multiple listens, especially intelligent music like this, but I liked Phil Ochs immediately. :)
@lazur1 I should also add, a few months after that a girl in my drama class whom I was writing a musical/play with for a class project about anti-war protesters in the 1960's suggested "Draft Dodger Rag" be used in it, and we did use it! She was 14yrs, so it just goes to show, parents DO play Phil Ochs for their children, and they like it! :D BTW, I am now 26yrs. :)
I played a cover of this on autoharp last year,it should be in the side list > somewhere. Anyway, I got a hold of an old "Broadside" and found a verse he did not play in this version: "At least we're working building bombs and planes, and the raise is commin, so I can't complain. The master of the march has lost his mind, perhaps some other war, this fabled farce would all seem fine, but now we're runnin out of time." -Phil Ochs
One of the best Ochs ever. They actually used to play it a little on FM radio, the only Ochs song I ever heard on the radio. Thanks for sharing this rare footage!
@62grossman I heard him on KPCC in Los Angeles. A Small Circle of Friends was my introduction to him. Back then, there were independent radio stations.
@Brucer444 Yeah, same here. Heard it on the radio, wrote down the artist name and title, and didn't find it on any record. Then one day I was watching thjis show called "From The Bitter End" on a station from Philly and there it was. This exact performance. Taped it on a repeat for posterity. Still got it. Love this version more than the studio version.
i was in love with phil ochs when i was a girl. watching this, i still am.
ultrasynthax 1 month ago
Love you, mate, this day and every day. Christ, how we need you now.
paullavan2011 2 months ago
Flipping brilliant!
zzGRENDELzz 5 months ago
I know I've said this more than once, but Phil was a ballsy cat, and we sure could have used someone like him for the last 10 years or so.
What I find so creative about Phil is his ability to make things all at once humorous, thought provoking, and scathingly sarcastic.
He was truly the real deal.
Oh, and see the movie if you get the chance!
paddygav 6 months ago
Thanks so much for this upload. It's at the front of my facebook page and it's my personal inspiration moving forward.
etzel33 6 months ago
@etzel33 "anthem".. that's the word I was looking for.
etzel33 6 months ago
Greetings from Scotland. This man has built fires.
christinehaslam6 7 months ago
You can go now, angry soul.
RevDrDark 7 months ago
Obama can go to hell. He's a warmongering representative of corporate America just like his predecessor. I voted for him in 2008. I won't even be voting in 2012. Electoral politics are a fucking sham.
We need direct action. We need people in the streets. We need sit ins in every city across the nation, protesting the wars and speaking out against the corporate robber barons who profit on the mysery of working people. That's the only type of change we can truly believe in.
bensmith3200 8 months ago 7
Has anyone else ever hummed "One legged veterans will greet the dawn..." and caught himself shifting into "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" by Buddy Holly?
jgcaulfield 8 months ago
After this song, the government arrested Phil for declaring the war and interfering with international peace accords. Would it be great to arrest Obama for doing the same with Israel and Palestine. What a mediocre over his head prez. To think I once liked the guy. the gypsy gargoyles fortune-tellers tell me we have been deceived.
11xzxzxz 9 months ago 3
I love Phil's intro into his songs; many songs have a great cinematic feel; I love the way Phils sings with a teacher's love and warmth that smooths over rough edges of the didactic. The world should rejoice and admire and respect Phil for caring about the world and the less fortunate and taking a stand on most important issue. One does not have to like Che Guevara, many of Phil's political stands .. to just love the MAN.
11xzxzxz 9 months ago 3
Phil Ochs and Bill Hills have more in common than Phil and Bob. Everything is so fine with this song but listen to Phil's resonating voice crescendo and crackle like the great Paul Westerberg of The Replacements (OK so Paul's voice's cracked not crackled so much but they both start with a C and alliteration is alright with me. Ever talk to Phil? The man was witty and profound and self-deprecating.
11xzxzxz 9 months ago
Beautiful song and beautiful man.
11xzxzxz 9 months ago
Phil is more blunt and more poignant, but I think Tom Paxton is more artful. Both brilliant. I don't see the magic of Dylan. Can't understand a single thing he's talking about in a lot of his songs.
superhoga 11 months ago
Still relevant after all these years ...
Bekki369 11 months ago 2
Phil is a true hero.
ugoodHomeBoy 11 months ago 3
"Freedom will not make you free" gives me goosebumps every time :) And the more I think about it, the more sense it makes. Phil is one of the most though provoking song writers of all time, and in my opinion, the greatest lyricist.
joeevans94 11 months ago
I just saw the new Phil Ochs documentary, I never realized before that John and Yoko's Bed-in sign: "War is Over" was actually a tribute to (and borrowed from) Phil Ochs and the Yippies.
wailinburnin 1 year ago 3
Courage can be found in many places, but to me this vision of a lone man armed only with a guitar singing a song with powerful lyrics like this is the epitome of it.
VJ254 1 year ago 2
"Angry artists painting angry signs, use their vision just to blind the blind"..
Hence, this peon to hope, eh Phil ? Amongst his many ringing, stinging poetic / visionary lines: this favorite re: The draft:: "Do your duty boys and join with pride..."
If you don't know the rest..Listen up. God, I miss this guy.
villamondo 1 year ago
INCREDIBLE TALENT Phil is well within the class of DYLAN, maybe better in some regards... He surely deserved more Favorable Acclaim than he ever recieved. I was just a young teenager at the time, not into politics, nor anything serious other than being a kid... I could easily sense this man and his music were very special and have appreciated him ever since and always will. His horrid demise really affected me and it still does to some degree as I couldn't grasp the magnitude of his loss.
OMGDeBest 1 year ago
It sounds like his voice is auto-tuned in some parts, :D. But we all know that is because his tonal quality is one of the best the world has seen. His strumming and lyrics make this song a complete masterpiece. I absolutely love this. Thank you so much for posting. Hopefully, one day people will truly appreciate Phil and his works. And then maybe the war will be over.
sashafromthealley 1 year ago 18
What a fabulous singer/songwriter-I often wonder if Phil would be living today what his take would be on all of the happenings???
mandernu 1 year ago
Hey....It worked this time!!!!!
hanksnow2 1 year ago
Ok I'm going to try again...here goes....Can you imagine Henry Kissinger, Richard Perle, Richard Holbrooke, & the rest of "The Gang", seeing this guy perform??
Then, can you imagine the conversation as they left the hall, (before the first verse was over)?
hanksnow2 1 year ago
ERROR TRY AGAIN, FUNNY, we are getting the China treatment on our comments.
Do not mention any Jewish White House staff, or U get the China treatment!
hanksnow2 1 year ago
Can you imagine Henry Kissinger, Richard Perle, Richard Holbrooke, & the rest of "The Gang", seeing this guy perform??
Then, can you imagine the conversation as they left the hall, (before the first verse was over)?
hanksnow2 1 year ago
Fuckin Awesome
TheFilthyRags 1 year ago
Parents: Play your children Phil Ochs & Bill Hicks.
lazur1 1 year ago 39
@lazur1 If you are a woman, would you be the mother of my children.
spicyMcHAGGIS9green 7 months ago
@lazur1 You are a genius, kudos to you
arru23 5 months ago
@lazur1 You just said the truest thing on youtube ever.
chrisfloyd77 3 months ago
@lazur1 Funny thing is, I often borrowed music from my dad, and when I was 16yrs he lent me "The Best of Phil Ochs" I think, and I loved it! But I was also more open minded then a lot of teenagers, in terms of music. I firmly believed and still do, that just because you don't like something the first time, doesn't mean you wont like it after multiple listens, especially intelligent music like this, but I liked Phil Ochs immediately. :)
ShawnTPJ 2 months ago
@lazur1 I should also add, a few months after that a girl in my drama class whom I was writing a musical/play with for a class project about anti-war protesters in the 1960's suggested "Draft Dodger Rag" be used in it, and we did use it! She was 14yrs, so it just goes to show, parents DO play Phil Ochs for their children, and they like it! :D BTW, I am now 26yrs. :)
ShawnTPJ 2 months ago
Awesome... So much meaning and depth... Love Phil Ochs.
SteverinoCanEat 1 year ago
Comment removed
SteverinoCanEat 1 year ago
I played a cover of this on autoharp last year,it should be in the side list > somewhere. Anyway, I got a hold of an old "Broadside" and found a verse he did not play in this version: "At least we're working building bombs and planes, and the raise is commin, so I can't complain. The master of the march has lost his mind, perhaps some other war, this fabled farce would all seem fine, but now we're runnin out of time." -Phil Ochs
rod2155 1 year ago
do you know what year this is?
Ringoisgod 1 year ago 4
@Ringoisgod 1966
IrishandFolkmusic 1 year ago 3
Perfect.
ukevids 2 years ago 4
One of the best Ochs ever. They actually used to play it a little on FM radio, the only Ochs song I ever heard on the radio. Thanks for sharing this rare footage!
Brucer444 2 years ago 4
@Brucer444 That was in the days when free speech & media access prevailed before the "clamp down" predicted by the Clash.
weckalini 1 year ago
@weckalini The radio wouldn't play his songs though.
62grossman 1 year ago
@62grossman I heard him on KPCC in Los Angeles. A Small Circle of Friends was my introduction to him. Back then, there were independent radio stations.
notsotupelohoney 1 year ago
@62grossman I heard him on KPPC in Los Angeles. A Small Circle of Friends was my introduction to him.
notsotupelohoney 1 year ago
@62grossman Only a few fm underground stations did and he was banned from television
spacepatrolman 1 year ago
@Brucer444 Yeah, same here. Heard it on the radio, wrote down the artist name and title, and didn't find it on any record. Then one day I was watching thjis show called "From The Bitter End" on a station from Philly and there it was. This exact performance. Taped it on a repeat for posterity. Still got it. Love this version more than the studio version.
jwrwheelz 1 year ago