Phil Ochs

[resisting arrest with violence]

http://www.altmanphoto.com/phil.ochs.sm.jpeg

"Intensely disappointed by his lack of commercial success, and haunted by other personal demons — namely alcoholism, writer's block and depression — Phil Ochs hanged himself in 1976. After his death, it was revealed that the FBI had a 410 page file on Ochs. Many believe that an attack by an unknown assailant on Ochs in Africa, in which his vocal chords where partially damaged, was an act of the FBI."
Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Ochs

Artist/Band: Ochs Phil
Lyrics for Song: I Ain't Marching Anymore
Lyrics for Album: There But for Fortune

Oh I marched to the battle of New Orleans
At the end of the early British war
The young land started growing
The young blood started flowing
But I ain't marchin' anymore

For I've killed my share of Indians
In a thousand different fights
I was there at the Little Big Horn
I heard many men lying I saw many more dying
But I ain't marchin' anymore

(chorus)

It's always the old to lead us to the war
It's always the young to fall
Now look at all we've won with the saber and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all

For I stole California from the Mexican land
Fought in the bloody Civil War
Yes I even killed my brothers
And so many others But I ain't marchin' anymore

For I marched to the battles of the German trench
In a war that was bound to end all wars
Oh I must have killed a million men
And now they want me back again
But I ain't marchin' anymore

(chorus)

For I flew the final mission in the Japanese sky
Set off the mighty mushroom roar
When I saw the cities burning I knew that I was learning
That I ain't marchin' anymore

Now the labor leader's screamin'
when they close the missile plants,
United Fruit screams at the Cuban shore,
Call it "Peace" or call it "Treason,"
Call it "Love" or call it "Reason,"
But I ain't marchin' any more,
No I ain't marchin' any more

[Bazza]

I dreamed I saw Phil Ochs last night
Alive as you and me
Says I to Phil "You're ten years dead"
"I never died" says he
"I never died" says he

The music business killed you Phil
They ignored the things you said
And cast you out when fashions changed
Says Phil "But I ain't dead"
Says Phil "But I ain't dead"

The FBI harassed you Phil
They smeared you with their lies
Says he "But they could never kill
What they could not compromise
I never compromised"

"Though fashion's changed and critics sneered
The songs that I have sung
Are just as true tonight as then
The struggle carries on
The struggle carries on"

With the song of freedom rings out loud
From valleys and from hills
Where people stand up for their rights
Phil Ochs is with us still
Phil Ochs inspires us still

[celtopunk]

Thank you Billy Bragg, great song.

Yeah Phil wrote some great songs.