The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #102943   Message #3870010
Posted By: Rog Peek
04-Aug-17 - 07:24 PM
Thread Name: Songs for/about Phil Ochs
Subject: RE: Songs for/about Phil Ochs
THE REFRAIN OF JOHN BUTLER TRAIN
(Kyle Donovan/David Baldo)

Chorus
That day John Butler Train Became a martyr
At the risk of his life and limb,
And Psyche first and foremost
Cursed the drunken John Butler Train

He told how they love the reformer,
A radical ritual of sorts
Then they'll pull them off their pedestal
Hastily hunt 'em for sport
Train reported in song
Tracing the tracks of his time
In restless refrain he complained
Of martyrs and murderous crime

Chorus
The caricature is crude
And always cannibalized
Poor John knew it all too well
He could see through the whites of their eyes
Glitter fell from the sky
While the awe-struck were stuck in cement
Train cried out his refrain
As if it were heaven sent

Chorus
His current began to run counter
As he ran from pole to pole
His turret turned, he heard
The cracks crumblin' below
Swept up in the storm he swam
A reformer that day he became
The name of the man he was former
Was hung by John Butler Train

Chorus
Repeat last two lines

Notes: Written by Kyle and David in 2015, performed and recorded on The Sound Cloud under the name "The Baldo Bin".

RPAug2017