Phil Ochs Birthday(19 Dec 1940), died 9 April 1976

Subject: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: pdq
Date: 18 Dec 03 - 11:06 PM

Phil Ochs was born December 19th, El Paso, Texas.

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: mack/misophist
Date: 18 Dec 03 - 11:53 PM

Thanks.

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: Peace
Date: 18 Dec 03 - 11:54 PM

Here's to you, Phil. God rest.

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 01:21 AM

According to the Allmusic Guide, here are Phil's birth and death dates.

Born Dec 19, 1940 in El Paso, TX
Died Apr 9, 1976 in Far Rockaway, NY

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: Marco
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 02:25 AM

...But his songs still here with us; so also a little bit of Phil is here!

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 05:13 AM

I dreamed I saw Phil Ochs last night
Alive as you and me
Says I to Phil "You're ten years dead"
"I never died" says he
"I never died" says he

The music business killed you Phil
They ignored the things you said
And cast you out when fashions changed
Says Phil "But I ain't dead"
Says Phil "But I ain't dead"

The FBI harassed you Phil
They smeared you with their lies
Says he "But they could never kill
What they could not compromise
I never compromised"

"Though fashion's changed and critics sneered
The songs that I have sung
Are just as true tonight as then
The struggle carries on
The struggle carries on"

With the song of freedom rings out loud
From valleys and from hills
Where people stand up for their rights
Phil Ochs is with us still
Phil Ochs inspires us still

Words: Billy Bragg Music: Earl Robinson

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 06:23 AM

Billy Bragg's song says it all -

Phil Ochs is with us still
Phil Ochs inspires us still

sandra

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 06:31 AM

Be at peace Phil, much loved and much missed.
Dave

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: JJ
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 08:27 AM

So, did Dylan make a guest appearance at the Phil Ochs Memorial Concert or didn't he?

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: Willie-O
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 08:32 AM

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

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: Michael S
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 04:46 PM

I have never forgotten Phil. I turned 14 in 1968--a precocious New York kid trying to figure out, and become, cool. I recall happening upon my older sister watching a local TV broadcast of Phil singing I Ain't Marchin' Anymore--probably at a peace rally in Manhattan or some such thing. "Phil Ochs," she said. I thought he and the song were the coolest things in the world.

I bought his three early Elektra albums--the records that were almost completely topical--and listened to them throughout that tumultuous year. I was eager to soak up "movement culture," and Phil became my benchmark. To this day, when I hear people ask if art can truly mold social beliefs, I remember that Phil's belief in humanism, pluralism and genuine democracy continues to shapes my political value system.

It was because of Phil that I learned of the sixties folk scare, which I'd missed due to my youth. It was because of Phil that I began to explore Dylan, then Van Ronk, then Gary Davis, then Doc Watson, then the whole gestalt.

You've been missed, Phil

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: PoppaGator
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 05:04 PM

I often think of Phil's "Love Me, I'm A Liberal" when I hear today's right wing nuts decrying liberals. They couldn't possibly imagine a time and a culture in which mainstream liberals were ridiculed -- justifiably so -- for being too willing to compromise with the right, not being radical/leftist enough!

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: harvey andrews
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 07:58 PM

Song for Phil Ochs.

You were my finest friend
I spent so many hours with you
I listened to each line
The way I knew you'd want me to
You never told a lie
But honest men don't prosper now
Your truth will never die
Although you've made the final bow

Chorus;
The stranger in the dark
The face inside the looking glass
And now you've slipped away
There's no one left to watch us pass

If only I had known
How sad it was to be denied
How bad it was to feel
The loneliness you locked inside
When all the words were gone
And there were no more songs to rhyme
The empty pages turned
To mark the passing of your time

Chorus

I'll keep you every day
As close as loving ever can
I'll sing them all the pain
And hope that they can see the man
The torch bright in your hand
The lost ones standing all around
The ragged flag of peace
You carried on the battleground

Chorus

So now your race is run
When all the blossom told of spring
The story now is done
The saddest song I'll ever sing

Written on the train to London after having read of his death in the newspaper I'd bought for the ride. Phil spent two days with me on his British tour and I have a tape of him teaching me his two new songs "Flower Lady" and "Cannons of Christianity".
Every singer of conscience in America should learn and sing "Cops of the world" today...it says it all.

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 10:49 AM

Not to mention Tom Paxton's heartfelt tribute. Here it is in the DT, complete with links to other relevant threads, etc.

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: pdq
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 07:54 PM

Another year has passed.

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: GUEST,Mary Katherine
Date: 20 Dec 04 - 10:49 AM

Yes, another year has passed, and in that year a new life has come: Phil's first grandchild arrived earlier this year, when Phil's only child, his duaghter Meegan, and her husband had a little boy. Wonder if he'll learn to play the guitar?

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 20 Dec 04 - 11:23 AM

Another rotten, damn shame. The good news is, he lived and wrote and sang. He will one day be part of the overall history lesson of how we learned to stop war, gummint secrets, injustice. From my keyboard to God's email program.    Tw

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: woodsie
Date: 20 Dec 04 - 06:25 PM

A huge influence on my life.

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: The Shambles
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 06:02 PM

Happy Birthday Phil

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 07:06 PM

Here are some memories thanks to youtube. Still miss you, Phil.

I Ain't Marching Any More

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: GUEST,wordy
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 07:32 PM

Hard to watch today when it's more relevant than ever.
Who's singing now?

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 07:37 PM

To me---still the writer who could write and do the topical and also the beautiful literate ballads. He was more than a "reporter" as one person claimed. Not on this list---a more celebrated person.

Sadly, we lose the best too soon so many times.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: pdq
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 07:48 PM

Phil Ochs wrote some of the most beautiful melodies of alltime. Complex and using relative minor chords a lot, they are still 'singable'. Songs like "Celia", "The Bells", "The Highwayman", and even "I'm Going To Say It Now" are timeless and the meoldies stand right there with some of his more popular songs.

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: bobad
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 08:00 PM

"Who's singing now?"

Here's one for ya

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: GUEST,wordy
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 08:11 PM

Forgive me, I don't know who this is. The song is okay, but I don't think it's by some young charismatic writer like Ochs and others of his generation who's going to appeal to students and hold a mirror up to the world they mostly seem to want to ignore today. Am I wrong?

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: GUEST,Woodsie
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 09:19 PM

Discovered Phil's music in 1972 Mick Jones (Clash) played me "tape from California" albun. When In Rome was the track that got me.

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: TrishB
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 04:23 AM

What a funny and sweet coincidence that I should suddenly feel like listening to Phil Ochs this evening, decide to do some Googling about him, and discover your site to learn that today is Phil's birthday! (Technically, by the time I've registered and get this posted it won't be, but...)

I loved Phil. In the mid- to late-sixties you couldn't turn on the radio w/out hearing one of his songs - either sung by him or by Jim & Jean, Joan Baez, etc. Some people think the Beatles were the '60s, but for me, the '60s was Phil Ochs. I remember where I was working in 1976 when I heard on the news that he'd killed himself - I was devastated. I always wondered if he just didn't have a cause anymore and felt irrelevant after Nixon pulled the US troops out of Viet Nam. He seemed to start fading out of the scene after the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention...

Likewise, he sort of faded into the background of my conscience over the decades, tho I never forgot about him. Occasionally, I'd find myself humming "Changes" or "Draft Dodger Rag", but he was sort of a pleasant/sad memory. Then Sept 11th happened and on that horrible day as I watched all these poor people being interviewed in their shock and grief, TV reporters sticking their microphones into the faces of people looking for their loved ones and pounding them with questions, the line from"Crucifixion", "...and do you have a picture of the pain?" kept going through my head over and over, coupled with the image of the poor souls on the hijacked airliners slamming into buildings, "...with the speed of insanity they die." I just couldn't get those lines out of my head.

When we finally crawled out of the house a week later and started trying to pretend like life was normal, I went to a record store to see if I could find "Crucifixion". I found the 3-CD compilation "Farewells & Fantasies". When I played it, I was amazed at how prolific Phil was! It had been 30 yrs since I'd heard anything of his, so many of the titles didn't ring a bell offhand, but as soon as I played them, I remembered every song on those discs - they'd all gotten airtime. Many were "hits" (for lack of a better term), but all were played. He didn't seem to have any bad 'B' sides.

Every time Bush, Cheney & Company open their mouths and tell us unspeakable lies about the need to go to war and the righteousness of it as US troops are dying and Iraqi civilians by the tens of thousands are being slaughtered (euphemistically called "collateral damage"), I wish Phil were here to document the deceit.

Phil Ochs was a amazing force, and it still breaks my heart when I think about his loss, but I'm so happy to have stumbled across this site on his birthday! Thanks.

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 10:15 AM

"He was more than a "reporter" as one person claimed. "

You have to look at that statement in the context and time it was made. I assume you are referring to Bob Dylan's supposed observation of Och's work. While I don't doubt that Dylan said it, I don't think the story has been verified. Supposedly Dylan uttered the words to Ochs in anger after Ochs criticized one of Dylan's "folk rock" songs. This would have been around 1965. The quote from Dylan was "You're not a folksinger, you're a journalist".

At the time, there was a great deal of truth to that statement, and it wasn't necessarily a knock on Ochs work. Ochs was a journalism student and in the early days of his career he actually called himself a "singing journalist" and a "troubadour journalist". He was very much involved with Broadside magazine and he would tell people that he received his inspiration from stories that he read in Newsweek.   Look at the early songs, they are newspaper stories set to music - and that is not a criticism! Because of what he learned as a student, he had a gift to tell a story in short form while getting the facts out and informing his audience.   His first album was "All the News that's Fit to Sing" - a takeoff on the New York Times slogan.   Ochs was proud of his journalistic integrity.

It should also be remembered that Dylan also is on record as saying "I just can't keep up with Phil. And he's getting better and better and better."

It was after the events of 1968 that you could see Och's music changing and moving away from folk and topical songs. Eventually he suffered from writers block which started the dark period of his life.

No doubt about it - he was an amazing songwriter.   Credit should also be given to Bob Gibson, who was a huge influence on Ochs. Gibson wrote that beautiful melody for "Two Many Martyrs".

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs Birthday
From: TrishB
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 02:40 PM

I said:

What I meant, of course, was CONSCIOUSNESS, which I was on the verge of losing when I wrote that, as it was waayyy past my bed time...

Trish