Phil Ochs tribute songs (songs about), lyrics to
Rudi Schmid
Cohen's covers list. There are two parts:
(1) Tribute songs to Phil Ochs (or songs about him);
(2) Lyrics to some tribute songs to Phil Ochs (or songs about him).
Any corrections and especially additions are most welcome. In part (1) I've
indicated with "xxx" where more information is needed.
Of the various songs I've heard I think Tom Paxton's "Phil" the best.
--Rudi Schmid, Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley (sch...@garnet.berkeley.edu)
(1) Tribute songs to Phil Ochs (or songs about him)--in chronological order:
NOTE: Format is Artist/group--album (label, date) [notes, including song
title]
David Blue (S. David Cohen)--_Cupid's arrow_ (Asylum, 1976) ["Cupid's
arrow," which was written for Ochs, and which Blue also sang at Ochs's
memorial tribute]
Harry Chapin--_On the road to kingdom come_ (Elektra, 1976) [CD, 9 tracks,
TT 42:15, CD with lyrics, "The parade's still going past" (H. Chapin), TT
3:23--lyrics in part 2]
Tom Paxton--_Heroes_ (Vanguard, 1978) [CD, 10 tracks, TT 29:40, CD with no
liner notes; "Phil" (T. Paxton), TT 4:01, with Nancy Lee Baxter, a
touching tribute to Ochs--lyrics in part 2]
Paul Kaplan--"on his first album" [xxx--probably not _Life on this planet_
(Hummingbird, 1982] ["Phil"]
Leslie Fish--_Chickasaw Mountain_ (xxx 1986, cassette, out-of-print)
["Chickasaw Mountain"; info from (Catherine Macdonald).]
They Might Be Giants--_They Might Be Giants_ (Bar/None, 1986) ["The Day"
(John Linnell/John Flansburgh), TT ca. 1:25--lyrics in part 2]
John Wesley Harding--_It happened one night_ (Edsel/Demon, 1988; Rhino,
1991) [CD, 17 tracks, TT 59:30; live recording 11/88, London; "Phil Ochs,
Bob Dylan, Steve Goodman, David Blue & me" (J. W. Harding), TT 2:56, a
"mock-heroic" song--lyrics in part 2]
Brenda Kahn--_Goldfish don't talk back/Community_ (xxx 1989or1990)
["Goldfish don't talk back (B. Kahn)"--lyrics in part 2]
Billy Bragg--_The Internationale_ (Elektra, 1990) [7 tracks, TT 19:18, "I
dreamed I saw Phil Ochs last night" (words Billy Bragg, music Earl
Robinson), TT 1:27; this is a rewrite of "I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last
night." Bragg also did the notes to _There and now: Live in Vancouver
1968._ Thanks to Brian Hunt for some of this info.]
Sammy Walker--_Blue Ridge Mt. skyline_ (?Warner, 19xxx) ["Legends"]
OTHER INFORMATION: Sonny Ochs wrote this to me on 11 Dec. 1994 about
tributes to Phil Ochs: "Hi, the Harry Chapin one is called "The Parade's
Still Passing By" and is on his "On the Road to Kingdom Come" album. Paul
Kaplan wrote one called "Phil" which is on his first album, and Sammy
Walker wrote one called "Legends" which is on his "Blue Ridge Mt.
Skyline" album (I think on Warner). Richard Nardin also wrote one, and
there are several by unknown people which have been mailed to me but, to
my knowledge, never recorded. Sis Cunningham (founder of _Broadside
Magazine_) just sent me the music to one she had written a few years ago.
I'd say that my personal favorites are Paxton's and Sammy Walker's.
Sonny"
(2) Lyrics to some tribute songs to Phil Ochs (or songs about him)--in
alphabetical order by artist:
Billy Bragg I DREAMED I SAW PHIL OCHS LAST NIGHT (1990) (B. Bragg)
[lyrics from CD booklet]
1.
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
2.
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"
3.
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"
4.
"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"
5.
When the song of freedom rings out loud
From the valleys and from hills
Where people stand up for their rights
Phil Ochs is with us still
Phil Ochs inspires us still.
********************
Harry Chapin doing THE PARADE'S STILL PASSING BY (H. Chapin) (1976)
[lyrics from CD booklet]
1.
I got the news today
That you refused to play
Cause you never made number one
But it's not just the words
It's the deeds that are heard
When all is said and done
Kings take their crowns
They melt them all down
Trying to get the gold out
You went to hell and
Even when you weren't selling
You never ever sold out.
2.
You weren't no leader
You were more like a bleeder
Who was trying to cry for us all
You weren't no sage
But your sense of outrage
Sounded like a trumpet call
Fifteen years ago
In the old folky show
You were just one voice in the crowd
But now with so few singing
Your voice would have been ringing
Out 'bout twice as loud.
3.
There but for fortune
Say a small circle of friends
Some may see the changes
So few see the ends
The pleasures of the harbor
Have come to you at last
You may not be marching anyone
But the parade's still going past.
4.
I'm not taking the blame
That we killed you
You know you did that to yourself
But it was kind of a shame
That you played that game
Cause you were better than anyone else
One shot of your bottle
Got you full throttle
It was the friend that was always there
But your greatest gift
And the curse you lived with
Was that you could always care.
5.
repeat stanza 3
********************
John Wesley Harding doing
PHIL OCHS, BOB DYLAN, STEVE GOODMAN, DAVID BLUE & ME
(J. W. Harding) (1988) [lyrics transcribed from CD]
1.
Well at night he sits alone and he's lookin' at the stars.
Listens to them playin' 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 sat up past the dawn.
2.
I wonder how long this dream will go on?
3.
You know that Bob was there last week as well.
But 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," that was a some time ago.
4.
When is this dream going to stop? Heaven knows!
5.
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."
6.
Then he sings. He sings.
"This is the only thing that really matters.
It 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."
7.
You know, David died, and Steven 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 meek old obituaries.
Steve and David smiled, and they left quite soon.
8.
He wonders about this dream as he looks at the stars and the moon.
9.
Sometimes he has a party for him and the crew.
They turn up on time just cause they always do.
Phil plays "I'm marchin'." It's his favorite song.
And Bob plays the harmonica, but he plays it all wrong.
And Steve harmonizes just like he did with John Prine.
David just sits and looks blue all the time.
10.
Then the time comes round again.
When they all sit and listen to their hero playin'.
He said "You've heard it all before."
But they like it, so they shout, "Encore!"
11.
Then he sings, "The dream come true". He sings.
"This is the only thing that really matters.
It 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."
********************
Brenda Kahn doing "GOLDFISH DON'T TALK BACK" (B. Kahn) (1989 or 1990)
[lyrics from Donna M. Riley]
This song is for Phil Ochs
Hung himself with a length of rope [actually his belt]
He took his job seriously
He weren't no 9 to 5 folksinger
Like the ones on MTV
That's what Kirk Kelly said to me...
********************
Tom Paxton doing PHIL (1978)
[lyrics transcribed from CD]
1.
I opened the paper.
There was your picture.
Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
2.
I couldn't believe it.
The paper was shaking.
Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
3.
I know I am going to spend the rest of my lifetime wondering why
You found yourself so badly hurt you had to die.
4.
I opened the paper.
There was your picture.
Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
5.
The phone started ringing.
And I heard about it.
I shook every time I heard it ring.
What was my reaction? I put the phone down.
That was the only news that was fit to sing.
6.
They ask about Dylan, about McDoogle St. and Third.
Question piled on question, and each question more absurd.
7.
Oh, I opened the paper.
There was your picture.
Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
8.
Oh, I remember there but for fortune.
There but for fortune you and I would go.
Fortune turned its back on you.
So it must have seemed to you.
Christ alone knows what was the final blow.
9.
The last time I saw you. The last time I saw you,
Bleeker St. outside The Other End.
I told you I would see you.
I got distracted. I never saw your face again.
10.
I heard that you were feeling stronger everyday.
I heard that you were well with good things on the way.
11.
Then I opened the paper.
There was your picture.
Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
12.
Oh, I remember there but for fortune.
There but for fortune you and I would go.
Fortune turned its back on you.
So it must have seemed to you.
Christ alone knows what was the final blow.
13.
The last time I saw you. The last time I saw you,
Bleeker St. outside The Other End.
I told you I would see you.
I got distracted. I never saw your face again.
14.
I heard that you were feeling stronger everyday.
I heard that you were well with good things on the way.
15.
Then I opened the paper.
There was your picture.
Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
********************
They Might Be Giants doing THE DAY (John Linnell/John Flansburgh) (1986)
[complete lyrics, from Brian Hunt]
The day Marvin Gaye and Phil Ochs got married
The trees all waved their giant arms
And happiness bled from every street corner
And biplanes bombed with fluffy pillows.]
--Rudi Schmid, Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley (sch...@garnet.berkeley.edu)
M. Jonas
Rudi Schmid <sch...@garnet.berkeley.edu> wrote:
> Tom Paxton doing PHIL (1978)
> [lyrics transcribed from CD]
> 4.
> I opened the paper.
> There was your picture.
> Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
> 5.
> The phone started ringing.
> And I heard about it.
I think this is "Had I heard about it?" (at least that's the way I
transcribed it for the Digital Tradition), which seems like a minor
change but sets quite a different scene - Tom describes how the
newshounds keep ringing him for a reaction to Phil's suicide. He
*didn't* learn about it from their calls, he already knew it, but
they all opened up their get-a-quote-from-old-colleague calls with
this question and keep on asking more absurd ones, but Tom is too
numb to answer. A great verse, I think.
> I shook every time I heard it ring.
> What was my reaction? I put the phone down.
> That was the only news that was fit to sing.
> 6.
> They ask about Dylan, about McDoogle St. and Third.
> Question piled on question, and each question more absurd.
Martin
Rudi Schmid
Had I heard about it?
EMikeCohen
what exactly you all are on about, or if someone else has already posted
something like this but...
Have you checked out "I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night" (or something
like that) on Billy Bragg's "The Internationale"?
Ethan Cohen
EMike...@aol.com
Ira . Hessel
called"Phil"
Actually I always thought that L. Cohen's "A Singer Must Die " was about
Ochs. I believe it was written before Och's physical death but Cohen's
Lyrics have no earthy boundery.
Rudi Schmid
reposted because a number of people missed it.
In a way, this listing of tribute songs to Phil Ochs is a companion to Dave
Cohen's (la...@pobox.upenn.edu) list of covers of Ochs's songs. There are
two parts:
(1) Tribute songs to Phil Ochs (or songs about him);
(2) Lyrics to some tribute songs to Phil Ochs (or songs about him).
Any corrections and especially additions are most welcome. In part (1) I've
indicated with "xxx" where more info is needed. In particular, info is
needed for Sammy Walker and Dar Williams.
Of the various songs I've heard I think Tom Paxton's "Phil" the best.
--Rudi Schmid, Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley (sch...@garnet.berkeley.edu)
(1) TRIBUTE SONGS (OR SONGS ABOUT)--in chronological order: NOTE: Format is
Artist/group--album (label, date) [notes, including song title]
David Blue (S. David Cohen)--_Cupid's arrow_ (Asylum 53056, 1976) ["Cupid's
arrow," which was written for Ochs, and which Blue also sang at Ochs's
memorial tribute]
Harry Chapin--_On the road to kingdom come_ (Elektra, 1976) [CD, 9 tracks,
TT 42:15, CD with lyrics, "The parade's still going past" (H. Chapin), TT
3:23--lyrics in part G2]
Tom Paxton--_Heroes_ (Vanguard, 1978) [CD, 10 tracks, TT 29:40, CD with no
liner notes; "Phil" (T. Paxton), TT 4:01, with Nancy Lee Baxter, a
touching tribute to Ochs--lyrics in part G2]
Paul Kaplan--"on his first album" [xxx--probably not _Life on this planet_
(Hummingbird, 1982] ["Phil"]
Leslie Fish--_Chickasaw Mountain_ (xxx, 1986, cassette, out-of-print)
["Chickasaw Mountain"; info from (Catherine Macdonald).]
They Might Be Giants--_They Might Be Giants_ (Bar/None, 1986) ["The Day"
(John Linnell/John Flansburgh), TT ca. 1:25--lyrics in part G2]
John Wesley Harding--_It happened one night_ (Edsel/Demon, 1988; Rhino,
1991) [CD, 17 tracks, TT 59:30; live recording 11/88, London; "Phil Ochs,
Bob Dylan, Steve Goodman, David Blue & me" (J. W. Harding), TT 2:56, a
"mock-heroic" song--lyrics in part G2]
Brenda Kahn--_Goldfish don't talk back/Community_ (xxx, 1989or1990)
["Goldfish don't talk back (B. Kahn)"--lyrics in part G2]
Billy Bragg--_The Internationale_ (Elektra, 1990) [7 tracks, TT 19:18, "I
dreamed I saw Phil Ochs last night" (words Billy Bragg, music Earl
Robinson), TT 1:27; this is a rewrite of "I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last
night." Bragg also did the notes to _There and now: Live in Vancouver
1968._ Thanks to Brian Hunt for some of this info.]
Sammy Walker--_Blue Ridge Mt. skyline_ (?Warner, 19xxx) ["Legends"]
Dar Williams--_All my heroes are dead_ (xxx, 19xxx, cassette) ["All my
heroes are dead"]
OTHER INFORMATION: Sonny Ochs wrote this to me on 11 Dec. 1994 about
tributes to Phil Ochs: "Hi, the Harry Chapin one is called "The Parade's
Still Passing By" and is on his "On the Road to Kingdom Come" album. Paul
Kaplan wrote one called "Phil" which is on his first album, and Sammy
Walker wrote one called "Legends" which is on his "Blue Ridge Mt.
Skyline" album (I think on Warner). Richard Nardin also wrote one, and
there are several by unknown people which have been mailed to me but, to
my knowledge, never recorded. Sis Cunningham (founder of _Broadside
Magazine_) just sent me the music to one she had written a few years ago.
I'd say that my personal favorites are Paxton's and Sammy Walker's.
Sonny"
(2) LYRICS TO SOME TRIBUTE SONGS (OR SONGS ABOUT)--in alphabetical order by
artist:
Billy Bragg doing I DREAMED I SAW PHIL OCHS LAST NIGHT (1990)
(lyrics B. Bragg; music Earl Robinson)
Tom Paxton doing PHIL (1978)
[lyrics transcribed from CD]
1.
I opened the paper.
There was your picture.
Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
2.
I couldn't believe it.
The paper was shaking.
Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
3.
I know I am going to spend the rest of my lifetime wondering why
You found yourself so badly hurt you had to die.
4.
I opened the paper.
There was your picture.
Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
5.
The phone started ringing.
Had I heard about it?
I shook every time I heard it ring.
What was my reaction? I put the phone down.
That was the only news that was fit to sing.
6.
They ask about Dylan, about McDoogle St. and Third.
Question piled on question, and each question more absurd.
7.
Oh, I opened the paper.
There was your picture.
Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
8.
Oh, I remember there but for fortune.
There but for fortune you and I would go.
Fortune turned its back on you.
So it must have seemed to you.
Christ alone knows what was the final blow.
9.
The last time I saw you. The last time I saw you,
Bleecker St. outside The Other End.
I told you I would see you.
I got distracted. I never saw your face again.
10.
I heard that you were feeling stronger everyday.
I heard that you were well with good things on the way.
11.
Then I opened the paper.
There was your picture.
Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
12.
Oh, I remember there but for fortune.
There but for fortune you and I would go.
Fortune turned its back on you.
So it must have seemed to you.
Christ alone knows what was the final blow.
13.
The last time I saw you. The last time I saw you,
Bleeker St. outside The Other End.
I told you I would see you.
I got distracted. I never saw your face again.
14.
I heard that you were feeling stronger everyday.
I heard that you were well with good things on the way.
15.
Then I opened the paper.
There was your picture.
Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
Gone, gone, gone, by your own hand.
********************
They Might Be Giants doing THE DAY (John Linnell/John Flansburgh) (1986)
[complete lyrics, from Brian Hunt]
The day Marvin Gaye and Phil Ochs got married
The trees all waved their giant arms
And happiness bled from every street corner
And biplanes bombed with fluffy pillows.]
--Rudi Schmid, Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley (sch...@garnet.berkeley.edu)
Gerry Myerson
(Rudi Schmid) wrote:
>
> This is a slightly corrected repost of my post several weeks back. It is
> reposted because a number of people missed it.
Like me, for instance --- many posts do not survive the arduous ocean
voyage to my site. So, I may also have missed it if someone noted that
Schooner Faire recorded a tribute to Ochs that wasn't in your list.
I'll try to remember to get the details and post them sometime.
Gerry Myerson (ge...@mpce.mq.edu.au)
Rudi Schmid
or when a certain volume of posts is reached.
The Schooner Faire Ochs tribute is news to me and thus I'd really appreciate
details when you have a chance. In fact, I've never heard of Schooner Faire.
Wil Leigh
ly and don't remember anyone mentioning Eric Anderson's very fine "Thirsty
Boots" (Arista Lp 4128.) The liner notes (with lyrics) have "For Phil
Ochs" next to the title. I liked the song long before I noticed, and I
like it all the more now...
Wil.
--
Wil Leigh Atlanta 1996
wbl...@crl.com
David Harley
: I followed the previous thread about Ochs tribute songs pretty close-
: ly and don't remember anyone mentioning Eric Anderson's very fine "Thirsty
: Boots" (Arista Lp 4128.) The liner notes (with lyrics) have "For Phil
: Ochs" next to the title. I liked the song long before I noticed, and I
: like it all the more now...
Interesting. Thirsty Boots goes back long before Phil's death, though, doesn't
it?
David Harley
ICRF
Wil Leigh
: Interesting. Thirsty Boots goes back long before Phil's death, though,
: doesn't it?
Yes. I believe TB was written circa 1965, though the version I men-
tioned was recorded in 1977. Obviously if TB was a tribute to Ochs, it
was not of the posthumous variety. (I wonder if Andersen and Ochs were
close back in the sixties...)
Rudi Schmid
about "Thirsty Boots" and Phil Ochs. The message was posted on the Phil Ochs
and Eric Anderson mailing lists. For subscription info see at the end below
the ***** line.
--Rudi Schmid, Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley <sch...@garnet.berkeley.edu>
Subject: Re: Thirsty boots (fwd)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 07:43:47 -0400
From: Skyl...@aol.com
To: sch...@umich.edu
You may want to repost this to the EA and Ochs lists.
I spoke to Eric today - he was in the US for some family business and a
private concert. He is very flattered by the attention and had this response
to the "Thirsty Boots" question:
It was written for a civil rights worker friend, but the Phil Ochs connection
is strong. Eric first sang a part of the song to Phil in the 14th Street
Subway Station in NYC on their way to the Village. Phil loved it and
encouraged him to finish it. Then Phil brought him up on stage at the
Philadelphia Folk festival to perform the completed song live for the first
time. It was also Phil who brought Eric around to other Village folk
performers to have him play the song for their possible inclusion in their
albums...and one of them as you all know certainly did!
Watch for his Ghost record to be rereleased in the fall on the new label
Plump distibuted by Alliance. It's run by his manager Ron Fierstein of AGF
(Colvin, Vega, others).
More news soon.
Bruce Houghton
<---- End Forwarded Message ---->
*****************************************************************************
PHIL OCHS MAILING LIST
Here is the information for the Phil Ochs mailing list. It is under
the control of the Majordomo list manager. SUBSCRIBE by sending a
message to
majo...@cs.pdx.edu
with a text of "subscribe no-more-songs"! SEND MESSAGES to
no-mor...@cs.pdx.edu
Trent Fisher <tr...@gnurd.uu.pdx.edu> is in charge of the list.
ERIC ANDERSEN MAILING LIST
Welcome to Ghosts Upon the Road, the Eric Andersen mailing list. Any
questions, comments, or discussions pertaining to Eric Andersen are welcome.
To send a message to the list, send email to:
ghosts.upo...@umich.edu
To send a request to be added to or deleted from the list, send email to:
ghosts.upon.th...@umich.edu
List manager:
The list manager is Mena Schmid. Her address is: sch...@umich.edu
Jackyl 28
Andersen and Ochs were on a trip together when Ochs wrote "Hills of West
Virginia"
By the way, Ochs old Elektra IN CONCERT should be out on CD this summer.