I saw a one-man theatrical show recently called "The Ballad of Phil Ochs". It features a young actor named Zachary Stevenson performing a combination of songs (about a dozen of them) and narration, portraying Phil's character from the early sixties to his difficult and tragic last years. His singing voice is very reminiscent of Phil's; I would say his onstage mannerisms are somewhat exaggerated.

Website is Balladproductions.com

The show will be touring Ontario for the second time in January/February--and Ballad Productions is based in B.C. Check out the website for details. It is quite something.

I saw Ochs perform at Le Hibou coffeehouse in Ottawa around '73. He was a clearly unhappy camper, but did a great, powerful show. (This was before his throat injury and final, devastating breakdown).   I still remember him singing, not perhaps one of his finest lyrics:

How high's the Watergate Momma?
Six feet high and rising.
If there ever was a thief, he's it,
Pass the shovel, he's full of shit...

...and lamenting that formerly political-minded college campuses had "all been taken over by spiritual assholes".

In "The Ballad of Phil Ochs", he delivers this memorable definition:

"A protest song is a song which is so specific in detail that it cannot possibly be mistaken for bullshit."

I was asking myself as I watched the performance, "which of these songs could I add to my repertoire today". I used to play "I Ain't Marching Anymore", but I have a little trouble putting myself in the American soldier persona anymore. I was surprised that in the end, it was the sad lyrical eloquence of "When I'm Gone" that captivated me, and I downloaded the lyrics the next day. (OK, I haven't actually learned it, but I will...) I usually don't go for "me songs", and it certainly is in that category, and a bit repetitive considering its length, but it's such a polished gem that the singer-writer crowd of today could learn an awful lot from it...

Most compelling example of why Phil Ochs is relevant: "Cops of the World."

W-O