Me playing Phil Ochs's "The Bells"

The words are taken from Edgar Allan Poe... "one of the finest of the protest writers," in Phil's words. I got my computer's microphone working mildly well, though not as well as my usual one. However, the audio does not line up with the video. Oh, well.

Comments would be appreciated.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folk
• acoustic
• phil
• ochs
• bells
• edgar
• allan
• poe
• poetry

[davidlenander]

I like this. I never was that keen on the Poe lyric, and wasn't that taken with Phil's recording. But I loved Jim & Jean's cover and the Roches' cover, and I'd come to appreciate Phil Ochs' original in the past year or so. Now you've given us an effortless and light reading that is (apparently) just what the song required. You're looking well, and your singing here is sweet--that northern climate must be agreeing with you.

[Kirobaito]

Actually, this climate ain't agreeing with me at all - I'm surprised my voice is working as well as it is, as I have had no voice the last two days. I used to think I liked the cold. I no longer think that.

[TamsusElfas]

Man you have a talent, get your name out there.

[davorb]

That went way better than I expected. You don't happen to have the sheet music for that piece?

[Blueminie96]

When i heard you singing this first thing came to my mind was Cat Stevens's voice and music; and i'd love to put it in my ipod (i mean, in youtube yours is the best version i've heard)

[godaimh]

WOW! A new appreciation. I confess to having never heard of Phil Ochs. But this is truly a wonderful piece of music and it is quite well handled here. Kudos to the artist and the singer!

Yours most truly,

GodaiMH

[jmh423]

Thanks for singing & uploading this....Beautiful!! The last time I saw Phil at the Troubadour in LA he sang this one, he died shortly thereafter & I haven't heard it since....Cheers

[tucker2k4]

OMG dude this is incredible. Phil Ochs is probably my favorite singer/songwriter of all time, even if everyone else i know has no clue who he is.

[InamurasZ]

pretty awesome

but missed one part

"while the stars that oversprinkle

all the heavens seem to twinkle"

well..

thats only a detail heheh

anyway

keep it up my friend

[PiratePenguin619]

I love it! Very amazing!!

[folkmusicgirl]

I really enjoyed your cover of this song.

Although I thought that Phil Ochs was a brilliant songwriter/guitarist I somehow never really liked his singing voice that much. He was a great prolific writer that you don't find in most songwriters these days. But I have to say that I feel you really have a very nice voice & do justice in covering this song. Do you sing, "There But For Fortune" by Phil Ochs? My favourite cover of that song is by Joan Baez, my favourite female folk singer of all time!