PHIL OCHS AS I KNEW HIM
(David Kleiner)

Sometimes on a quiet Sunday Night at the Main Point
Before he was well known
There'd be just a few of us out there for the evening show
And he'd rap to the crowd about this world of ours
From the news that he'd read that day
He'd make us all laugh and see things a different way

Chorus
And he'd come out on stage with that battered old Gibson
Each strum is louder than I ever heard before
Singing his songs of yesterday's ideals
Songs of love, songs of war

The tunes were simple, so were the chords
And his voice would kinda' shake when he'd sing
But you'd hear each word 'cause the lyrics were the thing
I was in High School back in those days
But I'd always find a way
When he came to Philly' I'd here him play

Chorus

Sixty Eight in Chicago I saw him again, he'd reached the height of his fame
We lost touch in Chicago, we all had changed
Last night two friends from my past called me up
To tell me what they hadn't read
Phil Ochs hung himself 'cause the words wouldn't come
My high school hero was dead.

Chorus

Notes: This song appears on "The News That's Fit To Sing" (David Kleiner 884401003087) released 2008. Dedicated to Phil Ochs, the title is similar to Phil's classic 60's album, 'All The News That's Fit To Sing'.

RP April10