Lyr Add: Knock On The Door

Subject: Lyr Add: Knock On The Door
From: GUEST,Greg F.
Date: 23 Jul 20 - 10:56 AM

A song for Portland, and the deployment of Twitler's Waffen-SS

Knock on the Door
      
    -Phil Ochs

In many a time, in many a land
With many a gun in many a hand
They came by the night, they came by the day
Came with their guns to take us away

With a knock on the door, knock on the door
Here they come to take one more, one more

Back in the days of the Roman Empire
They died by the cross and they died by the fire
In the stone coliseum, the crowd gave a roar
And it all began with that knock on the door

Just a knock on the door, knock on the door.
Here they come to take one more, one more

The years have all passed, we’ve reached modern times
The Nazis have come with their Nazi war crimes
Yes, the power was there, the power was found
Six million people have heard that same sound

That old knock on the door, knock on the door
Here they come to take one more, one more

Now there’s many new words and many new names
The banners have changed but the knock is the same
On the Soviet shores with right on their side
I wonder who knows how many have died

With their knock on the door, knock on the door
Here they come to take one more, one more

Look over the oceans, look over the lands
Look over the leaders with the blood on their hands
And open your eyes and see what they do
When they knock over their friend, they’re knocking for you

With their knock on the door, knock on the door
Here they come to take one more
With their knock on the door, knock on the door
Here they come to take one more, one more

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Knock On The Door
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jul 20 - 03:14 PM

Thanks, Greg.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Knock On The Door
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 23 Jul 20 - 07:27 PM

I think last line of last stanza should be, "When they knock over there, friend, they're knocking for you".

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Knock On The Door
From: Daniel Kelly
Date: 23 Jul 20 - 07:52 PM

A very poignant re-write Greg. I wrote a similar adaptation for Hong Kong last year.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Knock On The Door
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 24 Jul 20 - 01:02 AM

Daniel, I don't think that's a rewrite, that's the Phil Ochs original.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Knock On The Door
From: GUEST,Guest Tom Patterson
Date: 26 Jul 20 - 07:04 AM

A song with the same title:

Knock On The Door

They say you always know, somehow you can be sure
Even when it comes at dead of night, you can tell that knock on the door
The clothes they wear are black, these messengers of war
They quickly give their news then disappear, when you hear that knock on the door.
And I try to remember what he was like, how did he feel inside
The taste of his kiss, have I forgotten all this?
Why wasn't it him at the door? At the door...
My days are dark with dreams, scenes of horror, death and gore
I think about him lying in the desert there, since I heard that knock on the door.
My friends have rallied round, their love I can't ignore
They do the shopping wake me up each afternoon, since I heard that knock on the door.
And I try etc.
I've kept his uniform, his medals in a cupboard drawer
There's nothing else just wedding cards and photographs, since I heard that knock on the door
I feel so lost alone, when evening comes I miss him more
I reach out try to touch him in my empty bed, since I heard that knock on the door.
And I try etc.
I hear the bugles play, watch poppies flutter to the floor
November's always waiting for those aching hearts that have heard that knock on the door.
But still the wars go on, sometimes I wonder what they're for
But peace is one thing no-one ever understands 'til they've heard that knock on the door.
And I try etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Knock On The Door
From: Daniel Kelly
Date: 26 Jul 20 - 07:08 AM

Right you are Gerry. I could have swore what I originally read didn't match the lyrics I knew from Phil.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Knock On The Door
From: JHW
Date: 27 Jul 20 - 08:58 AM

I remembered a different, humourous dig sort of song
'It's the knock on the door and the night squad
ratat, ratat, ratat,
It's the knock on the door and the night squad come to see just what you're at'