The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #102943 Message #2094341
Posted By: Rog Peek
04-Jul-07 - 07:55 PM
Thread Name: Songs for/about Phil Ochs
Subject: Lyr Add: PHIL OCHS, BOB DYLAN, STEVE GOODMAN ...
PHIL OCHS, BOB DYLAN, STEVE GOODMAN, DAVID BLUE AND ME. (John Wesley Harding)
Well at night, he sits alone and he's looking at the stars Listens to them playing guitars Him and Phil go back a long long way They talked about marching and dying all in one day They played songs together, they sit up past the dawn I wonder how long this dream will go on.
You know that Bob was there last week as well Well he's a quiet guy but he's got stories to tell Our hero sits and listens without asking why And teaches Bob A minor with a glint in his eye Bob used it on Hollis Brown, but that was sometime ago When is this dream gonna stop? Heaven knows
Then our hero picks up his guitar To play them the only tune he knows He played it to me once He said "Wes, it's short, but this is how it goes." And then he sings Sings "This is the only thing that really matters Keeps me going, retains my sanity The nights I spend alone when there's just Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan, Steve Goodman, David Blue and me"
You know David died and Stephen died But only to the papers that live outside Last Thursday they were in the room where he sits The three of them making jokes about the meagre obituaries Steve and David smiled and they left quite soon He wonders about that dream as he looks at the stars and the moon
Sometimes he has a party for him and the crew They turn up on time just 'cos they always do Phil plays I Ain't Marching, it's his favourite song And Bob plays the harmonica but he plays it all wrong And Steve harmonises just like he did with John Prine David just sits and looks blue all the time
And then the time comes round again When they all sit and listen to their hero playing He says "You've heard it all before" But they like it so they shout "encore!" And then he sings, it's a dream come true and he sings "This is the only thing that really matters Keeps me going, retains my sanity The nights I spend alone when there's just Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan, Steve Goodman, David Blue and me And me Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan, Steve Goodman, David Blue and me."
Notes: The earliest recorded version of this song (1986) was released on 'Dynablob' (Mod Lang WOW1) in 1996. The version transcribed here is of a live recording in London in November 1988 and can be found on 'It Happened One Night' (Edsel/Demon L-Fiend CD137) released in 1988, and (Rhino R270764) released in 1991. RP jul07