Phil Ochs quotes

" The final story, the final chapter of Western man, I believe, lies in Los Angeles. " # Cities and City Life # Books - Reading # Death and Dying

" Before the days of television and mass media, the folksinger was often a traveling newspaper spreading tales through music. There is an urgent need for Americans to look deeply into themselves and their actions, and musical poetry is perhaps the most effective mirror available. Every newspaper headline is a potential song. " # Music # Poetry and Poets # Television

" In every political 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. " # Talent # Politicians and Politics # Friends and Friendship

" Does defending liberalism leave you friendless and perhaps wondering about your breath? " # Friends and Friendship # Liberals # Love

" I was over there, entertaining the troops. I won't say which troops. " # Books - Reading

" Leave the old and dying America and use your creative energies to help form a new America, which would be de-militarized, more humanistic, where the police are less hostile and closer to the community, where the wealthy are not given unleashed power for the exploitation of the people. And, mostly because it's now a matter of life and death, reassert an ecological balance with the environment, which means the people in the oil companies and the car companies and the space industry and all the other industries will have to be brought into account, so that there will be a new definition of government which has to be closer to the people and less close to special interests which are far more harmful than any revolutionaries. " # Death and Dying # America # Government

" 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. " # Philosophers and Philosophy # Writers and Writing # Love

" The painter paints his brushes black Through the canvas runs a crack Portrait of the pain never answers back. " # Portraits # Painters and Painting # Arts and Artists

" Look outside the window, there's a woman being grabbed They've dragged her to the bushes and now she's being stabbed Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain But Monopoly is so much fun, I'd hate to blow the game And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody Outside of a small circle of friends. " # Friends and Friendship # Politics # Love

" Smoking marijuana is more fun than drinking beer, But a friend of ours was captured and they gave him thirty years Maybe we should raise our voices, ask somebody why But demonstrations are a drag, besides we're much too high. " # Drugs # Alcohol and Alcoholism # Love