Phil Ochs Quotes
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When they show the destruction of society on color TV, I want to be able to look out over Los Angeles and make sure they get it right.
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The final story, the final chapter of western man, I believe, lies in Los Angeles.
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God isn't dead - he's just missing in action.
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I'm gonna give all I've got to give Cross my heart, and I hope to live.
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The fortunes of the entire world may well ride on the ability of young Americans to face the responsibilities of an old America gone mad.
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I write all my own songs and they are just simple melodies with a lot of lyrics. They usually have to do with current events and what is going on in the news. You can call them topical songs, songs about the news, and then developing into more philosophical songs later.
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America is two Mack trucks colliding on a superhighway because all the drivers are on amphetamines.
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In the green fields a turnin', a baby is born His cries crease the wind and mingle with the morn An assault upon the order, the changing of the guard Chosen for a challenge that is hopelessly hard And the only single sound is the sighing of the stars But to the silence and distance they are sworn.
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They say they can't believe it, it's a sacrilegious shame Now, who would want to hurt such a hero of the game? But you know I predicted it; I knew he had to fall How did it happen? I hope his suffering was small. Tell me every detail, I've got to know it all, And do you have a picture of the pain?
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Now they sing out his praises on every distant shoreBut so few remember what he was fightin' forOh why sing the songs and forget about the aim?He wrote them for a reason, why not sing them for the same?
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The American Politician has developed into the gutless master of procrastination with a maximum of non-committal statement and the barest minimum of action. This moral vacuum is exceeded only by the apathetic public who allows him to stay in power.
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Call it peace or call it treason,Call it love or call it reason,But I ain't marching anymore!
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In every American community there are varying shades of political opinion. One of the shadiest of these is the liberals. An outspoken group on many subjects. Ten degrees to the left of center in good times. Ten degrees to the right of center if it affects them personally. Here, then, is a lesson in safe logic.
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It's always the old to lead us to the warIt's always the young to fallNow look at all we've won with the sabre and the gunTell me is it worth it all.
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The painter paints his brushes blackThrough the canvas runs a crackPortrait of the pain never answers back.
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In such ugly times, the only true protest is beauty.
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Time takes her toll and the memory fades but his glory is broken, in the magic that he made. Reality is ruined; it's the freeing from the fear The drama is distorted, to what they want to hear Swimming in their sorrow, in the twisting of a tear As they wait for a new thrill parade.
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It is wrong to expect a reward for your struggles. The reward is the act of struggle itself, not what you win.
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Yet she's only as rich as the poorest of the poorOnly as free as a padlocked prison doorOnly as strong as our love for this landOnly as tall as we stand!
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I can spare a dime, brother, but in these morally inflationary times, a dime goes a lot farther if it's demanding work rather than adding to the indignity of relief.