This one really got me the other day: My Life Phil Ochs My life was once a joy to me, Never knowing, I was growing, everyday. My life was once a toy to me, And I wound it and I found it ran away. So I raced through the night with a face at my feet, like a god I would write, All the melodies were sweet, and the women were white. It was easy to survive, my life was so alive. My life was once a flag to me And I waved it and behaved like I was told. My life was once a drag to me And I loudly, and I proudly, lost control I was drawn by a dream I was loved by a lie, every serf on the scene Begged me to buy. But I slipped through the scheme So lucky to fail My life was not for sale. My life is now a myth to me Like the drifter, with his laughter in the dawn. My life is now a death to me So I'll mold it and I'll hold it till I'm born So I turned to the land Where I'm so out of place Throw a curse on the plan In return for the grace To know where I stand Take everything I own Take your tap from my phone And leave my life alone My life alone. I think knowing his earlier songs gave this one more impact, because you can see the idealism falling apart as his songwriting career progressed.
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