"Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune'" is an excellent documentary on the folk singer, Phil Ochs. It has a wide variety of his songs, including duets with Joan Baez and the finale to his final Madison Square Gardens sold out show with Bob Dylan etc... And it ends with... well it's a treat so watch it to see! It is available on Netflix on DVD and Instant Streaming! Produced by Michael Ochs, Phil's brother. Phil was bipolar and an alcoholic at the end of his life. He died at 35. Luv you all, BluzCat
I think that the previous comment, (foucault) said most of what I would say, but I just heard this song again on folkalley after about 20 years of not hearing it, and was amazed at how timeless it is. Harlan Ellison wrote a story about Kitty Genovese called "The Whimper of Whipped Dogs", about how we can let these injustices continue. Just glad to see that at least a few of us still care, otherwise you would not be listening to Phil
Poignant sad, & true. Kitty Genovese. And Ginsberg was jailed by the Supreme Kangaroo Court for porn. The world could use a million more Phils. And yes- Rochefeller Law- 30 years for pot aka grass/weed. Phil-"Ain't Marching Anymore"- segue to the richly financed OWS. At least it gets kids out of their electronic doll houses. And yes- in Harlem there were rats sleeping on the floor c/ babies. Very very sad ending in Queens for him. Who knows.
Never out of style. Ever present and fully prescient. Echos the Gospel.
It's ALWAYS time to give a shit. We Are ALL in this together. Ever and always thanks Phil for that reminder. God Bless you. 35 years gone but yet still always here. All the BEST in your journeys on the "Other side" but stay with us here too. Peace to ALL!!!
perhaps a shallow perspective for such a deep artist,but i find this is my favorite tune by Phil.just too much humor and irony mixed together.brillant!
but no, he wouldn't be here. his voice was gone. his heart was broken. his mind had taken flight. and outweighing all that was how his country, this system, killed him like it would shoot down a dog in the street.
he may have had the germ of mental illness inside him, but this country brought it out and fanned its flames.
we mourn his loss. we mourn for all the "could have beens" that this system crushes into early graves.
Neil Young & Phil Ochs connection " Wrote this for a city girl on peeling pavement coming at me thru Phil Ochs eyes playing finger cymbals". Neil Young adds that he considered Ochs & Dylan .. on the same level. Yes the same level though Phil was taller I say. Today who is doing what Phil Ochs did? Billy Braggs song writing is so weak. Neil's the "peeling pavement calling" sound like a line from a Phil Ochs nugget , but isn't. Neil and Phil - my heroes. The young bobby dylans - Phil & Neil
@11xzxzxz Yeaa phil ochs surpassed dylan in songwriting [and he also wrote articles and record reviews ]and his voice is bettter we owe a debt of gratitude to jim glover for teaching phil how to play the guitar
Daddy suggested I check this out, He was born in 1950 and I am realizing that history is still my favorite subject and I am a lucky woman to have a Man (Dad) to enlighten me in all sorts of old or new to me subjects. This song means so much today that younger people need to hear it ! I sometimes wish that I was born years before I was but that is what Dad is for!! Thank you Dad. Monopoly and playboy it hasn't changed, LOL
@77GoldenBrown Off topic note: Have you heard the song "Golden Brown" by the Stranglers? I think you ought to make it your song. It truly is a great song. It's here on YouTube. youtube.com/watch?v=d7R7q1lSZfs
Also, I admire your love and respect for your dad. Sounds like he did a fine job in raising you. Take care and God bless.
@TheNukeGeneral Balderdash, bunk, drivel, piffle, poppycock, rubbish, twaddle, udder nonsense. Those people have no respect for the General. Besides....who's the General anyway --- not any of them (I presume). Take care.
I knew the Kitty Genovese story from HS Freshman Psych 101 in the late 70's. As soon as I heard this song courtesy of the college radio station I tuned into in the late 80's, I knew what Phil was singing about. Clue your kids in. Her story needs to be told. And Phil's music needs to be heard.
@Aom567 Seriously? The message is that we should stop rationalizing why we don't take action against injustice and get up and do something about it. As many other posters have said, it's satire!
@MTAllenby How true. One of the worst kind of lifestyles a man can live is an indifferent one. To look out the window or turn on the TV and watch as a wrong is taking place and sit back and say "It's not my problem". It happens far too often.
What a masterpiece. I used to play this endlessly at Wayne State in Detroit when I was a campus DJ. Loved it then, love it now. His suicide was so tragic! What a loss.
@eaglespear1 I was responding to another poster who called the tune "upbeat & positive". The juxtaposition of an "upbeat & positive" tune with the satirical lyrics constitutes irony.
I have been searching for this song since its debut! it has been censored and kept out of the music stores because of the stanza that says " smoking marijuana is more fun than drinking beer." This entire song is ridiculing apathy. It is still applicable and I want it in my personal files.
Not my generation but god Mr.Ochs had his values right. This song fits our time well and Phil man I hope there is some peace and love out there and you found it.
This Really speaks to me .. I had an incident just a week ago :(
Funny the stuff that soooo applies .. :( .. ok .. not really funny at all .. :(
Heartbreaking .. absolutely heartbreaking. and Some of You call yourself Christian!! holishit.. Jesus would come right down of the cross and b=slap half of thsoe who label themselves that way! the other half would just make him cry.
Loved Phils rye sense of humor...his poignant messages were laced into sweet singing and wonderful poetry. Thanks...we miss you Phil as we could use your cleverness, humor and poignancy today.
great fkin classic protest song. and then as soon as it ended, a google advert kicked in tellin me how cool it would be to join the Amerikan military hahahaha. fkin irony? no just pathetic
I remember when Kitty Genovese was murdered -- that story is the inspiration of the first lines. She was grabbed and murdered, within earshot of hundreds of people, in 1965, in NYC. My family moved there the same year. It was still being discussed, and I heard the adults talking. I had nightmares for years. Only Phil Ochs put her into a song -- and what a song. No, people don't pay attention, unless things are about THEM. What a piece of work is [humanity]. Miss you Phil.
I wasn't alive during the sixties, but all of Phil Ochs songs are really applicable today. I accidently stumbled upon Phis Ochs and am now completely obsessed. IMO, he sacrificied his own health and happiness to tell the truth and help us question the pervasive "partriotic/nationalistic/ Facist mentality.
@Janko1492: don't know what turned your soul so bitter, but I'll answer you with some of Phil's lyrics. To all the the young folks out there, always question what you hear. We could use a few more like Phil today.
And I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone
And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone
I was going to a comment about how this song brought back memories of my misspent youth. Time spent hating Nixon and admiring Castro. Then all of a sudden a fighter jet flew over my house. Cool! Comforting! Grow up gang! Those days are over and guys like Ochs just unknowingly led us down the garden path. Commie Folk Music propaganda. "Imagine all the people, living life in peace...ooh a ooh ooh.. Horse Shit!
@Nothiean LOL??? Does that mean Laugh Out Loud? Did you really laugh out loud or is that just something you say because you have nothing intelligent to offer? You should watch the movie "Idiocracy". It shows what the world will be like when people lose the English language and follow pop idols. Think for yourself. Don't follow uneducated banjo pickers.
@Janko1492 No, I lol'ed pretty hard. "Lol" is a very common internet phrase. I don't "Follow pop Idols", and me using a very accepted word shouldn't imply I do. If you were refering to Phil as the banjo picker, then i'd ask how im "Following him"? Do you know how well Cuba is doing compared to other countries in the hemisphere? Its doing the best, in some ways, it beats the USA. (You can look that up, the CIA admits it.) Have a nice day.
@Nothiean The "Banjo Picker" reference was really about Pete Seegar, who was probably the first folk singer indoctrinated by the KGB. I am not going to try to convince you that that the KGB had heavily infiltrated the Folk scene, but it is true. Ochs may have not had a best buddy with a Russian accent, but the spread of anti-American ideas inside of the music community of the 50s and 60s was not a grass roots movement.
Just last week a man was stabbed in NYC when he came to the aid of a woman who was being mugged. He bled and died on the sidewalk over the course of the next hours as pedestrians walked by without calling for help. The surveillance video shows a passerby taking pictures of the dying hero, then walking on. I remember this song from sixties protest marches. Is it relevant today? Sure is.
@sekhmetraptah Steve Goodman said it best: "It's not that hard to get along with somebody else's troubles. They don't make you lose anysleep at night."
the begining melody sounds like the volcal melody on ''just like a woman'' by bob dylan when he sings, ''every body knows, that babybs got new clothes''.
@MickyRicardo Yeah, apparently about 20 people witnessed her getting murdered, yet they thought someone else would do something, so they just watched from inside of their houses.
Love to hear this again! I first heard this in 1976, shortly after he died. I was so bummed that I wouldn't be able to go see him in concert...ah well. There's life for ya!
Personally, I find the song to be extremely downbeat in nature, but the upbeat music that accompanies the lyrics makes it that much more effective. Really creepy, actually.
I know I probably just repeated what you wrote with different words, but I wondered if that's what you were getting at. Thoughts?
Always liked this song. When I first heard it on the radio in the late 60's I went out and immediately bought the record and played it over and over and wrote down all of the verses.
I had forgotten how great this one was and Phil's contribution in "educating" the world to what was happening back in the day.....the good old Village days.
Phil Ochs fans, help me out. Does anyone have an extra $150.00 if so you could get the DVD footage of Phil Ochs with his backup rock band. It's a dream to see Phil's 3 David Frost episodes, and his 1 Mike Douglas show. If you have the spare cash to buy one episode, please email me. They're for sale from the people who have the shows films. They'll put any episode on DVD. Live footage of Phil playing Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends, and Elvis/Buddy Holly Melodies with a rock band!
Exactly, I have quite a few quotes that exemplify this.
"All that is required foe evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."
Also, Martin Neomoller's poem "First they came", he experienced the problem with apathy first hand. People always make excuses and just don'e like getting involved.
Listen to Harry CHAPIN's "The Parade's Still Passing By" and you'll get chills. I think that this is a testament to the greatness of this type of music. It transcends age and time and is relevant to all of us. I've turned on Many friends who are my age (32) and even younger to this music. I strongly encourage you to do the same. Now more than ever, we need to hear songs like these. We all need to take it upon ourselves to do something to make this world a better place to be. -Mike Tocci
So, I was watching a Jeremy Warmsley video and read a comment someone made about him sounding like a British version of Phil Ochs. So I had a wee looky and am very glad I did!
We cut off all their money so they robbed the storehouse blind Now maybe we should ask some questions, maybe shed a tear But I bet you a copper penny, it cannot happen here And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody Outside of a small circle of friends.
I learned about this in a psych class, it's an event called "by-standard syndrome" where everyone is waiting for someone to make the first move. The human condition can be faulty and quite awful at times.
Don't subscrib to smokin' mj is more fun then drinkin' beer.One compliments the other.If i am able to help.I do.Stands to reason.What else is there?G-d speed James.Your back is safe...Brothers,sisters,pay attention.We are all we've got.Sleep well.Don't take it for granted.
OMG! It was a folkie protest song back when I was 16. Now I'm 56 and it is a trad jazz tune that I can play and sing at the moldy-fig dance parties. (I wonder if they'll get it.) Thanks for posting this 'wicknerd'.
The added verse form 1974 is all too current: then Phil was damning the military coup that deposed elected reform government of Allenda, the "copper penny" and "mines" refers to the then (and still) large copper industry controlled by US corporations and their paid-off Chilean allies. Now days go by as our government mysteriously seems powerless to have influence over the military the US has the closest relations in all the Americas, that overthrew the democracy of reformist Zelaya in Honduras.
if ur asking for the song to be explained, i can help. phil ochs was inspired to write this song by kitty geneves's murder, where 38 of her neighbors had 2 chances to save her, but none of them even CALLED THE COPS until after the 3rd attack that left her dead. he noticed that kind of immoralty every where, and then he wrote thins song.
Yeah taking out a democratic elected presidente in the middle of nigth, by a military group, is not a military coup..... Just imagine that hapening in USA!!???
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Phil Ochs was a lush and drug addict, there was little nice about him. He rode the wave of the drug culture and pop music to fame and wealth. He endlessly preached the destruction of the present order but didn't seem to have anything to replace it with. His personal life would seem to indicate that what he wanted would be a disastern if adopted.
just tell me how someone preach destruction by sing peace songs?And besides he didnt wanted wealth, the most part of his shows where charity events, and students Rally for peace in 'nam.But i guess ur too deep in ur hate to think anything else but the worst tabloids information.
Students didn't rally for peace in Vietnam. Students didn't want to be put in danger in Vietnam. The war protests were not a very noble thing. They were in fact acts of selfishness. I know, I was there.
yeah, i was there too, and what i saw, was young mans being slaugthered in a senseless war, just so that USa could prove it that was better then URSS, a personal figth betwen Nixon and Stalin, where young lives where at stake....And Thats why he wanted peace.
Stop kiling inocent vietnamise children was indeed a very well slefish action, the true good guy is nixon, kiling milions of inocents just to prove that he was powerfull enougth to do it... What a Real Hero!
I doubt very much if you were there, or you would realize that Stalin was long dead, and that the personality clash was between Kruschef and Kennedy, and that Lyndon Johnson escalated the war ate the behest of his left wing advisors in order to prove how powerful he was. You would also know that our biggest protest was at the democrat presidential convention in Chicago.
If you had been there you would know that Nixon was a very late player in this war who changed from the Westmoreland/Johnson tactics of more troops and killing many people to the Abrams/Nixon tactic of fewer troops and protecting the native population and training the South Vietnamese to defend themselves.
But my first comment had nothing to do with whether the war was good of bad, I was addressing the motives of the war protesters. Though we paid a lot of lip service to the people of Vietnam we were only really concerned about our own skins and having a good time.
Mosely lives on today and is actually eligible for parole. Since he wasn't executed he has murdered and maimed several people (while in prison).
I was a child when this happened, and while I don't think the neighbors can be faulted for the fact that they did not react strenuously enough to the situation, my experience of this event has led me to go out of my way to react more vigorously to others who may be in trouble. I think that people today would be even less likely to react.
The police were called again with a more accurate description of the crime and so arrived quickly. Medical help arrived quickly but it was too late. It became an urban legend that the people ignored the situation, but in fact no one saw enough of the crime to realize how seriously injured Genovese was. Am inaccurate portrayal of the crime was produced for television. Mosely confessed to 2 other similar murders, He received the death penalty but it was commuted to life in prison.
Kitty Genovese was the victim, She was assaulted at 3:15 AM as she returned home from work. A random pervert (necrophile), Winston Moseley, attacked her ans stabbed her but ran away in fear of being caught. She staggered to her doorway and collapsed. The police were called, but the caller thought of it more as a lovers row than a real assault so the police delayed responding. 30 minutes later Mosley returned and completed the murder and rape in the hallway to Genovese's apartment.
really? i read some thing that said she was attaked,and she sceamed, "Oh my God, he stabed me! Help me!" people saw, so he ran away. then he came back again because people were ignorring her again.when she screamed again, "I'm dying!" people opened theyre windows again, so he drove away. then he came back, found her in a hallway semi-concious and stabbed her a 3rd time, killing her. THEN police got a call and arived 2 min later. plus, mosely had 2 previous victims.
This brings back memories of listening to Pete Fournatelle on WNEW-FM. Thanks for posting it.
osscouter 2 weeks ago 2
101,001 viewer!
porterbehling 3 weeks ago
this song is sooo violent
oddjob19991 3 weeks ago
"Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune'" is an excellent documentary on the folk singer, Phil Ochs. It has a wide variety of his songs, including duets with Joan Baez and the finale to his final Madison Square Gardens sold out show with Bob Dylan etc... And it ends with... well it's a treat so watch it to see! It is available on Netflix on DVD and Instant Streaming! Produced by Michael Ochs, Phil's brother. Phil was bipolar and an alcoholic at the end of his life. He died at 35. Luv you all, BluzCat
dadzbluz 1 month ago 2
Greatest protest music writer of the 60's-Bob was #2.
RPenta 1 month ago in playlist YouTube Mix for Phil Ochs
I think that the previous comment, (foucault) said most of what I would say, but I just heard this song again on folkalley after about 20 years of not hearing it, and was amazed at how timeless it is. Harlan Ellison wrote a story about Kitty Genovese called "The Whimper of Whipped Dogs", about how we can let these injustices continue. Just glad to see that at least a few of us still care, otherwise you would not be listening to Phil
fubar50cat 1 month ago
Poignant sad, & true. Kitty Genovese. And Ginsberg was jailed by the Supreme Kangaroo Court for porn. The world could use a million more Phils. And yes- Rochefeller Law- 30 years for pot aka grass/weed. Phil-"Ain't Marching Anymore"- segue to the richly financed OWS. At least it gets kids out of their electronic doll houses. And yes- in Harlem there were rats sleeping on the floor c/ babies. Very very sad ending in Queens for him. Who knows.
foucault1020 1 month ago
@foucault1020 Allen Ginsberg was never jailed for anything in his life. Get your facts straight before you right an editorial.
johnbleroy 3 hours ago
Look outside in Oakland, there's a veteran being hurt. They knocked him to the pavement and they treated him like dirt....
nbelsky 2 months ago 4
This has been flagged as spam show
"Oh, look into the shower, there’s a schoolboy being raped
I saw the old man dogging him, but now he has escaped
Guess I could have done more than call Dad and tell JoePa
But what do lowly grad assistants know about the law?
And I’m sure it wouldn’t interest anybody …"
Seasass 2 months ago
Look up 'Murder of Kitty Genovese' on Wikipedia. That's what the song is based on. Penn State comes to mind in more contemporary times.
1kervoelen 2 months ago
DUDE YOU GOT THERE AN HOUR BEFORE ME.....JOEPA WTF!
obamaican 2 months ago
This should be the new fight song for Penn State.
Seasass 2 months ago 3
@Seasass: Exactly!
1kervoelen 2 months ago
Monopoly isn't even that fun
Lazenich 3 months ago
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SmallerOnTheInside 3 months ago
Never out of style. Ever present and fully prescient. Echos the Gospel.
It's ALWAYS time to give a shit. We Are ALL in this together. Ever and always thanks Phil for that reminder. God Bless you. 35 years gone but yet still always here. All the BEST in your journeys on the "Other side" but stay with us here too. Peace to ALL!!!
LakewooodWestPark 3 months ago
Absolutely brilliant! What a great song. Make one think.
badmoonryzn 3 months ago 2
one of all time favorite songs
phildirt3 4 months ago in playlist More videos from wicknerd 2
I said it was a "RUMOR" that circulated back then.I WAS there and I have no proof either way.It is NOT my opinion.
batalarms 5 months ago
It was rumored (back then) that he was killed by the CIA due to his views about the (Vietnam) war.I was there :(
batalarms 5 months ago
@batalarms that is just conspiracy stupidity at it's highest.
porterbehling 5 months ago
perhaps a shallow perspective for such a deep artist,but i find this is my favorite tune by Phil.just too much humor and irony mixed together.brillant!
nomiclas 5 months ago
what a damn sorry shame he's gone.
but no, he wouldn't be here. his voice was gone. his heart was broken. his mind had taken flight. and outweighing all that was how his country, this system, killed him like it would shoot down a dog in the street.
he may have had the germ of mental illness inside him, but this country brought it out and fanned its flames.
we mourn his loss. we mourn for all the "could have beens" that this system crushes into early graves.
mikeferner1 6 months ago 6
@mikeferner1 you are so right and he is so missed!
cramerd94 5 months ago
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mikeferner1 6 months ago
You were right Phil... smoking marijuana IS more fun than drinking beer!
johngalt23g 6 months ago
Genovese Syndrome.
GuildOfWhores 6 months ago
Too bad he's gone....I believe he committed suicide many years ago. What a waste!
tovahsez 7 months ago
@tovahsez
Yes, rip 1076: search for Tom Paxton's fine tribute song 'Phil'
Aguathuna1 5 months ago
1 people were in those cars on the cliff
1 was the stabbed woman
1 was the one in the ghetto
1 was using sex to make a sale
1 thinks smoking marijuana is not more fun than drinking beer
that makes 5 dislikes
rosedawson12 7 months ago 3
This song wouldnt interest anyone outside of a small circle of friends
rosedawson12 7 months ago
@rosedawson12
so true man.
ugoodHomeBoy 7 months ago
Sadly, I know a guy who would fit the 3rd, 4th, and 5th verses. =(
ItalianDevil22 8 months ago
Neil Young & Phil Ochs connection " Wrote this for a city girl on peeling pavement coming at me thru Phil Ochs eyes playing finger cymbals". Neil Young adds that he considered Ochs & Dylan .. on the same level. Yes the same level though Phil was taller I say. Today who is doing what Phil Ochs did? Billy Braggs song writing is so weak. Neil's the "peeling pavement calling" sound like a line from a Phil Ochs nugget , but isn't. Neil and Phil - my heroes. The young bobby dylans - Phil & Neil
11xzxzxz 8 months ago
@11xzxzxz Yeaa phil ochs surpassed dylan in songwriting [and he also wrote articles and record reviews ]and his voice is bettter we owe a debt of gratitude to jim glover for teaching phil how to play the guitar
spacepatrolman 7 months ago
Comment removed
11xzxzxz 7 months ago
@11xzxzxz their is a jim and jean club in myspace but the clubs are temporaily shut off
spacepatrolman 7 months ago
Daddy suggested I check this out, He was born in 1950 and I am realizing that history is still my favorite subject and I am a lucky woman to have a Man (Dad) to enlighten me in all sorts of old or new to me subjects. This song means so much today that younger people need to hear it ! I sometimes wish that I was born years before I was but that is what Dad is for!! Thank you Dad. Monopoly and playboy it hasn't changed, LOL
77GoldenBrown 9 months ago 2
@77GoldenBrown Off topic note: Have you heard the song "Golden Brown" by the Stranglers? I think you ought to make it your song. It truly is a great song. It's here on YouTube. youtube.com/watch?v=d7R7q1lSZfs
Also, I admire your love and respect for your dad. Sounds like he did a fine job in raising you. Take care and God bless.
MrMidwestgreg 7 months ago
I love this Song, though people say i'm too young too...
TheNukeGeneral 9 months ago
@TheNukeGeneral Balderdash, bunk, drivel, piffle, poppycock, rubbish, twaddle, udder nonsense. Those people have no respect for the General. Besides....who's the General anyway --- not any of them (I presume). Take care.
MrMidwestgreg 7 months ago
Comment removed
ugoodHomeBoy 9 months ago 3
one of the great commentaries on public apathy via the Kitty Genovese murder in NY.
judk1 9 months ago
Could be today's headlines.
actionnewsreporter 10 months ago
RIP Phil Ochs. You were a great man!
SgtErnestBilko 10 months ago 2
I knew the Kitty Genovese story from HS Freshman Psych 101 in the late 70's. As soon as I heard this song courtesy of the college radio station I tuned into in the late 80's, I knew what Phil was singing about. Clue your kids in. Her story needs to be told. And Phil's music needs to be heard.
gropingwithastoker 10 months ago 3
Kitty Genovese, 28, was stabbed to death near her Queens, New York, home on this date in 1964.
CKDStrider 10 months ago 2
Phil Ochs really touched every corner of hypocrisy in this brilliant song.
caroltubeyou 10 months ago 4
Can anyone post "One Way Ticket Home"?
aureasunrise 11 months ago
@aureasunrise Yeah but that wouldn't interest anybody .. so many good songs of Phil not on YT.
11xzxzxz 8 months ago
God could we use a Phil Ochs now with the fascists going berserk and the working people finally starting to stand up against them.
MiserableOldFart 11 months ago 6
so what IS the message here lol. the worlds fucked, dont go do something about it, tell your small circle of friends instead?
Aom567 1 year ago
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@Aom567 Seriously? The message is that we should stop rationalizing why we don't take action against injustice and get up and do something about it. As many other posters have said, it's satire!
jerryg1964 1 year ago 3
@Aom567 It's called being ironic. If we limit our concern to our small circle of friends then the world really is fucked.
MTAllenby 1 year ago 23
@MTAllenby phil based this song on the kitty genovese case where a woman was repeatdly stabbed to death and nobody called the police
spacepatrolman 7 months ago
@MTAllenby it is fucked
phildirt3 4 months ago in playlist More videos from wicknerd
@MTAllenby How true. One of the worst kind of lifestyles a man can live is an indifferent one. To look out the window or turn on the TV and watch as a wrong is taking place and sit back and say "It's not my problem". It happens far too often.
theoneandonlygrod 3 months ago
What a masterpiece. I used to play this endlessly at Wayne State in Detroit when I was a campus DJ. Loved it then, love it now. His suicide was so tragic! What a loss.
j1me2ra3j 1 year ago 4
My teacher was talking bout this song LOL i searched it up
Jomm420 1 year ago
This song is so damn upbeat and positive.
THENASTYQUADRUPLE 1 year ago 2
@THENASTYQUADRUPLE It's called "irony".
mmedefarge 1 year ago
@mmedefarge It is a satire, mocking modern society's behavior, but yes it would be considered verbal irony in a way nonetheless it is satirical.
eaglespear1 1 year ago
@eaglespear1 I was responding to another poster who called the tune "upbeat & positive". The juxtaposition of an "upbeat & positive" tune with the satirical lyrics constitutes irony.
mmedefarge 1 year ago 2
Thanks Phil.
Youll be saddened to know...little has changed.
Great song.
fab42 1 year ago 3
I have been searching for this song since its debut! it has been censored and kept out of the music stores because of the stanza that says " smoking marijuana is more fun than drinking beer." This entire song is ridiculing apathy. It is still applicable and I want it in my personal files.
sokalady 1 year ago
@James R..child,
You Are The Real Julian Assange,
But I will not tell anyone.
gerkins1 1 year ago
as depressing as this song is the tune is SO DAMN CATCHY!
Joypadjunkginger 1 year ago 2
30 years later ......
SPARKSNEVADA777 1 year ago
i feel scared listening this and knowing the story behind it!
RamonNichols 1 year ago 2
3 people have no taste in music.
thoraxtimpaler 1 year ago 7
Is there any footage of him doing this live?
WrestlingHeretic 1 year ago
Kubrick should have used this in A Clockwork Orange.
Dukeobelding 1 year ago
Not my generation but god Mr.Ochs had his values right. This song fits our time well and Phil man I hope there is some peace and love out there and you found it.
Dalin1000 1 year ago 2
I don't know...I just like it.
wolfmantip 1 year ago
This Really speaks to me .. I had an incident just a week ago :(
Funny the stuff that soooo applies .. :( .. ok .. not really funny at all .. :(
Heartbreaking .. absolutely heartbreaking. and Some of You call yourself Christian!! holishit.. Jesus would come right down of the cross and b=slap half of thsoe who label themselves that way! the other half would just make him cry.
Shame Shame Shame.
alindartist 1 year ago
@alindartist oh fuck off. Nobody wants to hear you cry and bitch.
porterbehling 1 year ago
Loved Phils rye sense of humor...his poignant messages were laced into sweet singing and wonderful poetry. Thanks...we miss you Phil as we could use your cleverness, humor and poignancy today.
chev39rsh 1 year ago 42
let em have it, Phil--I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody outside of a small circle of
friends....
1000bamamomma 1 year ago
let em have it, Phil--
1000bamamomma 1 year ago
Loved this in 1965 and love Phil NOW--- thanks for sharing..
1000bamamomma 1 year ago 2
Phil Ochs was the greatest of them all - I just hope the day will come when his name is on the lips of every right-thinking person again.
PhilipSilver 1 year ago 3
a real american guys.
liamag92 1 year ago
awesome
uninvited13 1 year ago
great fkin classic protest song. and then as soon as it ended, a google advert kicked in tellin me how cool it would be to join the Amerikan military hahahaha. fkin irony? no just pathetic
Surfbat45 1 year ago
i'll say this much, if anyone does a movie about him, sean penn should play phil
noneyageorge85 1 year ago
I remember when Kitty Genovese was murdered -- that story is the inspiration of the first lines. She was grabbed and murdered, within earshot of hundreds of people, in 1965, in NYC. My family moved there the same year. It was still being discussed, and I heard the adults talking. I had nightmares for years. Only Phil Ochs put her into a song -- and what a song. No, people don't pay attention, unless things are about THEM. What a piece of work is [humanity]. Miss you Phil.
Stannage17 1 year ago
I couldn't care less if he WAS a communist, THIS is the way it WAS and IS.
wolfmantip 1 year ago 6
Remarkable song and music. I saw him live and still come here to remind me of what this song is all about.
doctor02new 1 year ago
I wasn't alive during the sixties, but all of Phil Ochs songs are really applicable today. I accidently stumbled upon Phis Ochs and am now completely obsessed. IMO, he sacrificied his own health and happiness to tell the truth and help us question the pervasive "partriotic/nationalistic/ Facist mentality.
55timdogg 1 year ago
Incredible singer and songwriter
fifthworld 1 year ago
Hey, it's a freakin' funny song okay? Folks need not fret over it. I was stoned the first time I heard it on fm radio and laughed my ass off.
catman605 1 year ago
@Janko1492: don't know what turned your soul so bitter, but I'll answer you with some of Phil's lyrics. To all the the young folks out there, always question what you hear. We could use a few more like Phil today.
And I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone
And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone
Can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here
syzygy123 1 year ago
Phil Ochs was soooo great. Loved his Vietnam protest songs.
dfbrod 1 year ago
I was going to a comment about how this song brought back memories of my misspent youth. Time spent hating Nixon and admiring Castro. Then all of a sudden a fighter jet flew over my house. Cool! Comforting! Grow up gang! Those days are over and guys like Ochs just unknowingly led us down the garden path. Commie Folk Music propaganda. "Imagine all the people, living life in peace...ooh a ooh ooh.. Horse Shit!
Janko1492 1 year ago
@Janko1492 Lol, you're a fool.
Nothiean 1 year ago 2
@Nothiean LOL??? Does that mean Laugh Out Loud? Did you really laugh out loud or is that just something you say because you have nothing intelligent to offer? You should watch the movie "Idiocracy". It shows what the world will be like when people lose the English language and follow pop idols. Think for yourself. Don't follow uneducated banjo pickers.
Janko1492 1 year ago
@Janko1492 No, I lol'ed pretty hard. "Lol" is a very common internet phrase. I don't "Follow pop Idols", and me using a very accepted word shouldn't imply I do. If you were refering to Phil as the banjo picker, then i'd ask how im "Following him"? Do you know how well Cuba is doing compared to other countries in the hemisphere? Its doing the best, in some ways, it beats the USA. (You can look that up, the CIA admits it.) Have a nice day.
Nothiean 1 year ago
@Nothiean The "Banjo Picker" reference was really about Pete Seegar, who was probably the first folk singer indoctrinated by the KGB. I am not going to try to convince you that that the KGB had heavily infiltrated the Folk scene, but it is true. Ochs may have not had a best buddy with a Russian accent, but the spread of anti-American ideas inside of the music community of the 50s and 60s was not a grass roots movement.
Janko1492 1 year ago
The KGB also staged the moon landing.
Nothiean 1 year ago
@Janko1492
George Crumb wrote for banjo, and I imagine you wouldn't understand his music in the least.
WrestlingHeretic 1 year ago
corny poopie, i love you~
jackmf77 1 year ago
This is the only Phil Ochs song that I really like.
corrina253 1 year ago
Phil was my hero. I cried when he died. Verdad!
Wisegeorge 1 year ago
This a great commentary on social apathy.
MegaJman29 1 year ago
omg i remember seeing him when i was a teenager..now 64 ...still love him
ngm0815 1 year ago
Just last week a man was stabbed in NYC when he came to the aid of a woman who was being mugged. He bled and died on the sidewalk over the course of the next hours as pedestrians walked by without calling for help. The surveillance video shows a passerby taking pictures of the dying hero, then walking on. I remember this song from sixties protest marches. Is it relevant today? Sure is.
saaut 1 year ago
This is the most sick Song My Art Teacher Told me about!.
What the fuck was this man thinking. And The part of the
woman was real too.True Story!..
What The Fuck!
FrankieAlcala09 1 year ago
@FrankieAlcala09
you have to understand the double entendre, which this was
people don't care that there are others suffering while they turn a blind eye and pretend they don't see is what phil was saying
it's apathy that's sick
too bad parents don't teach their children that observing others being killed is not a sport, but a need for a call to action
sekhmetraptah 1 year ago
@sekhmetraptah Steve Goodman said it best: "It's not that hard to get along with somebody else's troubles. They don't make you lose anysleep at night."
Wisegeorge 1 year ago
why'd you have to hang yourself, Phil Ochs? :( musical genious..
iammidknight 1 year ago
the world lost a great man when Phil Ochs died. I saw him perform a few times in the sixties. Brilliant - I miss him, but thank God for his music....
booper521 1 year ago
the begining melody sounds like the volcal melody on ''just like a woman'' by bob dylan when he sings, ''every body knows, that babybs got new clothes''.
its nice. my ears are amazing ha
sembo1 1 year ago
The 1st verse (which is repeated at the end) was about the true story of the murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964 near Hollis, Queens, NY.
MickyRicardo 1 year ago 2
@MickyRicardo Yeah, apparently about 20 people witnessed her getting murdered, yet they thought someone else would do something, so they just watched from inside of their houses.
Dannypc14 1 year ago
Love to hear this again! I first heard this in 1976, shortly after he died. I was so bummed that I wouldn't be able to go see him in concert...ah well. There's life for ya!
mrsmoose1478 1 year ago
i wasn't imagining this song to be so upbeat when i read the lyrics.
imarchclarinet 1 year ago
@imarchclarinet
Personally, I find the song to be extremely downbeat in nature, but the upbeat music that accompanies the lyrics makes it that much more effective. Really creepy, actually.
I know I probably just repeated what you wrote with different words, but I wondered if that's what you were getting at. Thoughts?
benmcfee 1 year ago
Always liked this song. When I first heard it on the radio in the late 60's I went out and immediately bought the record and played it over and over and wrote down all of the verses.
markess48 1 year ago
I had forgotten how great this one was and Phil's contribution in "educating" the world to what was happening back in the day.....the good old Village days.
Bonairelover 1 year ago
Phil Ochs was a huge influence on me. When he killed himself, I was heartbroken.
Rusty626 2 years ago 2
This tune was written in the 60's if I'm not mistaken? Funny how what goes around comes back around. Or maybe not so much? Thanks for posting it.
roadieric 2 years ago 2
Love how the music is so happy go lucky, while he is singing about horrible circumstances. Genius.
thadbrains 2 years ago
I know! I thought it was serious until the lyrics started. XD
Kilfio 1 year ago
If your old enough to relate, check out the "Merry Minuet" by the Kingston Trio. Youngin's have no concept even recent history.
PDQubicul 2 years ago 2
As a young person who does have a concept of modern World history I take offense to this comment. Nevertheless, Merry Minuet Is a great little song.
bmeade32 1 year ago
He was an icon in the hippy days
ditwitster 2 years ago
Check out his Draft Dodger Rag
ditwitster 2 years ago
I was reading a book about Woodstock when the title to this song and randomly decided to listen to it. Lol.
ChubbieGurl 2 years ago
That doesn't make any sense. Stop laughing.
waronpepper 2 years ago
That was supposed to say when I saw the title to this song. Why start fights?
ChubbieGurl 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Phil Ochs fans, help me out. Does anyone have an extra $150.00 if so you could get the DVD footage of Phil Ochs with his backup rock band. It's a dream to see Phil's 3 David Frost episodes, and his 1 Mike Douglas show. If you have the spare cash to buy one episode, please email me. They're for sale from the people who have the shows films. They'll put any episode on DVD. Live footage of Phil playing Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends, and Elvis/Buddy Holly Melodies with a rock band!
philochs 2 years ago
I remember learning about "bystander effect" in Psych101 @ Cornell... now, reading Superfreakonomics, it brings up some interesting doubts:
1. Police commissioner was major source of bystander spin to editor of NY Times.
2. More likely that maybe 6 people woke up at first screams, not 38.
3. 3am, so most were dead asleep.
4. Killer was captured by bystanders calling in a theft several days later. He confessed.
5. At least one person did call the police, but thought it was a domestic issue.
EatingMind 2 years ago
wow, that comment reads as rather random for an Ivy Leaguer, what the hell are you talking about?
jazzbobobo 2 years ago
oh wait, they let everyone into Cornell...
jazzbobobo 2 years ago
this social apathy ditty is still applicable today, more so than ever...rip phil ochs and kitty genovese and all the others we've turned our backs on
sekhmetraptah 2 years ago 55
@sekhmetraptah
Exactly, I have quite a few quotes that exemplify this.
"All that is required foe evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."
Also, Martin Neomoller's poem "First they came", he experienced the problem with apathy first hand. People always make excuses and just don'e like getting involved.
BenjaminWirtz 1 year ago
Listen to Harry CHAPIN's "The Parade's Still Passing By" and you'll get chills. I think that this is a testament to the greatness of this type of music. It transcends age and time and is relevant to all of us. I've turned on Many friends who are my age (32) and even younger to this music. I strongly encourage you to do the same. Now more than ever, we need to hear songs like these. We all need to take it upon ourselves to do something to make this world a better place to be. -Mike Tocci
miketocci 2 years ago 2
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I love this song its so funny and yet so true :)
Soraloverx200 2 years ago
So, I was watching a Jeremy Warmsley video and read a comment someone made about him sounding like a British version of Phil Ochs. So I had a wee looky and am very glad I did!
Adore.
DiscoShapes 2 years ago
[ Additional verse, 1974 ]
Down in Santiago where they took away our mines
We cut off all their money so they robbed the storehouse blind Now maybe we should ask some questions, maybe shed a tear But I bet you a copper penny, it cannot happen here And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody Outside of a small circle of friends.
ConnDevi88 2 years ago
I learned about this in a psych class, it's an event called "by-standard syndrome" where everyone is waiting for someone to make the first move. The human condition can be faulty and quite awful at times.
mcmonsterdevastator 2 years ago 2
For sure. Unfortunately, this will always be the case. Lyrics, perfect.
Heathermb103 2 years ago
Don't subscrib to smokin' mj is more fun then drinkin' beer.One compliments the other.If i am able to help.I do.Stands to reason.What else is there?G-d speed James.Your back is safe...Brothers,sisters,pay attention.We are all we've got.Sleep well.Don't take it for granted.
davethesack 2 years ago
He's always, always been a hero of mine, and I still miss him very much.
VeganaExPuta 2 years ago 2
As long as we carry the banner, he will never really be dead.
hollywoodartchick 2 years ago
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Different Formats Supported for this Video at w w w .Y80 . org
terriakop 2 years ago
That first part, is it about Kitty Genovese?
prominantfrontman 2 years ago
Yes!
Curmudgeon1221 2 years ago
Yeah.
EllaLovesMakeup 2 years ago
Yeah, I think so. It was the Summer of Sam wasn't it?
Ulriche912 2 years ago
yupp yupppp.
ILoveReba13 2 years ago
I am embarassed that i was unfamiliar with Phil. What a talent.
nordiclovequeen 2 years ago
OMG! It was a folkie protest song back when I was 16. Now I'm 56 and it is a trad jazz tune that I can play and sing at the moldy-fig dance parties. (I wonder if they'll get it.) Thanks for posting this 'wicknerd'.
jazzwoman53 2 years ago 8
Now this is real music. Thanks so much for posting
josssshua 2 years ago 8
Poss. my fav Phil Ochs song.
CaptainPillowMusic 2 years ago 3
I still cheer when I hear this song...thank you Phil! You did good...
blearyeyed09 2 years ago 12
The added verse form 1974 is all too current: then Phil was damning the military coup that deposed elected reform government of Allenda, the "copper penny" and "mines" refers to the then (and still) large copper industry controlled by US corporations and their paid-off Chilean allies. Now days go by as our government mysteriously seems powerless to have influence over the military the US has the closest relations in all the Americas, that overthrew the democracy of reformist Zelaya in Honduras.
marimbadearco 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Zelaya is nothing but a dictator wanna-be who was rightfully ousted for violating the Honduran Constitution.
The Honduran Supreme Court ordered his ouster, it was not a military coup.
randomstuff3201 2 years ago
Explain!
autodelete66 2 years ago
if ur asking for the song to be explained, i can help. phil ochs was inspired to write this song by kitty geneves's murder, where 38 of her neighbors had 2 chances to save her, but none of them even CALLED THE COPS until after the 3rd attack that left her dead. he noticed that kind of immoralty every where, and then he wrote thins song.
thehorserocks 2 years ago
If wasnt a military group, why the police on the streets, the martial law, and the army appointed ministers???
Sily man, make some research before make an comment
untmortadela 2 years ago
Yeah taking out a democratic elected presidente in the middle of nigth, by a military group, is not a military coup..... Just imagine that hapening in USA!!???
Wich one u are, dumb or blind?
untmortadela 2 years ago
Thankyou wick...
davethesack 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Phil Ochs was a lush and drug addict, there was little nice about him. He rode the wave of the drug culture and pop music to fame and wealth. He endlessly preached the destruction of the present order but didn't seem to have anything to replace it with. His personal life would seem to indicate that what he wanted would be a disastern if adopted.
AppleSpar 2 years ago
just tell me how someone preach destruction by sing peace songs?And besides he didnt wanted wealth, the most part of his shows where charity events, and students Rally for peace in 'nam.But i guess ur too deep in ur hate to think anything else but the worst tabloids information.
Research before comment, so u dont look so stupid
untmortadela 2 years ago
Students didn't rally for peace in Vietnam. Students didn't want to be put in danger in Vietnam. The war protests were not a very noble thing. They were in fact acts of selfishness. I know, I was there.
AppleSpar 2 years ago
yeah, i was there too, and what i saw, was young mans being slaugthered in a senseless war, just so that USa could prove it that was better then URSS, a personal figth betwen Nixon and Stalin, where young lives where at stake....And Thats why he wanted peace.
Stop kiling inocent vietnamise children was indeed a very well slefish action, the true good guy is nixon, kiling milions of inocents just to prove that he was powerfull enougth to do it... What a Real Hero!
untmortadela 2 years ago
I doubt very much if you were there, or you would realize that Stalin was long dead, and that the personality clash was between Kruschef and Kennedy, and that Lyndon Johnson escalated the war ate the behest of his left wing advisors in order to prove how powerful he was. You would also know that our biggest protest was at the democrat presidential convention in Chicago.
AppleSpar 2 years ago
If you had been there you would know that Nixon was a very late player in this war who changed from the Westmoreland/Johnson tactics of more troops and killing many people to the Abrams/Nixon tactic of fewer troops and protecting the native population and training the South Vietnamese to defend themselves.
AppleSpar 2 years ago
But my first comment had nothing to do with whether the war was good of bad, I was addressing the motives of the war protesters. Though we paid a lot of lip service to the people of Vietnam we were only really concerned about our own skins and having a good time.
AppleSpar 2 years ago
Mosely lives on today and is actually eligible for parole. Since he wasn't executed he has murdered and maimed several people (while in prison).
I was a child when this happened, and while I don't think the neighbors can be faulted for the fact that they did not react strenuously enough to the situation, my experience of this event has led me to go out of my way to react more vigorously to others who may be in trouble. I think that people today would be even less likely to react.
AppleSpar 2 years ago 2
The police were called again with a more accurate description of the crime and so arrived quickly. Medical help arrived quickly but it was too late. It became an urban legend that the people ignored the situation, but in fact no one saw enough of the crime to realize how seriously injured Genovese was. Am inaccurate portrayal of the crime was produced for television. Mosely confessed to 2 other similar murders, He received the death penalty but it was commuted to life in prison.
AppleSpar 2 years ago
Kitty Genovese was the victim, She was assaulted at 3:15 AM as she returned home from work. A random pervert (necrophile), Winston Moseley, attacked her ans stabbed her but ran away in fear of being caught. She staggered to her doorway and collapsed. The police were called, but the caller thought of it more as a lovers row than a real assault so the police delayed responding. 30 minutes later Mosley returned and completed the murder and rape in the hallway to Genovese's apartment.
AppleSpar 2 years ago
really? i read some thing that said she was attaked,and she sceamed, "Oh my God, he stabed me! Help me!" people saw, so he ran away. then he came back again because people were ignorring her again.when she screamed again, "I'm dying!" people opened theyre windows again, so he drove away. then he came back, found her in a hallway semi-concious and stabbed her a 3rd time, killing her. THEN police got a call and arived 2 min later. plus, mosely had 2 previous victims.
thehorserocks 2 years ago