REMEMBER PHIL OCHS
(Voice of Reason)

One naked drunk in the rain feeling no pain I looked away
Jumped in my car drove to the high school
Friend called me up on the phone I wasn't home, left was a note
The news is a nightmare how did it hit you
And it seemed like a line from a song that I knew
But I just couldn't place it so I didn't call 'til I knew

Chorus
Remember Phil Ochs all his songs all his jokes
And remember he cared for his brothers and sisters
Remember he stood for the true and the good
And his poetry spoke with a sensitive whisper
To the tender resister

Out from the west like a flash, Siamese clash, protest at last
He sang through the village stood in the front lines
There but for fortune a hit, that's when he split kissed by a miss   
Moved to the West coast the island of gold mines
Wrote some magical songs and recorded with care
And the harbour still shines, but the top forty wasn't aware

Chorus

Just like a reporter with news of the highway
He kept his mind open while feeding his soul
But what more could he give when they looked at him sideways
He'd given his best all in vain, where else could he go

He grew defensive and drunk, his writing was blocked, it seemed all was lost
The ultimate gamble, he'd make them listen
Exits create such a scene, the Kennedy dream, like Holly and Dean
He hung in the closet to be a legend
So I put on a tape, loop and went for a ride
And the song that I heard was called 'Don't Give Up You've Still Got Time'

Chorus

Notes: Song included on "Voice of Reason", (Tomorrow Records TLP-21088, 1987). Assume the writer was one of the band, but have no names.

RP Jul10