Phil Ochs - Here’s To The State Of Richard Nixon
Oh, you tell me that your last good dollar is gone
And you say that your pockets are bare
And you tell me that your clothes are tattered and torn
And nobody seems to care
Now don’t tell me your troubles
No I don’t have the time to spare
But if you want to get together and fight
Good buddy that’s what I want to hear
And you tell me that your job was taken away
By a big ol’ greasy machine
And you tell me that you don’t collect no more pay
And your belly is growing lean
Now if I had the jobs to give
You know I’d give them all a way
But don’t waste your breath calling out my name
If you don’t have nothing to say
And you tell me that you don’t have nothing to do
And you keep on wasting your time
And you say when you want to get your family some food
You gotta stand in a relief line
Now it’s a sin and a bloody shame
‘Bout the way they’re pushing you ‘round
But when you decide not to take no more
You know I’ll put my money down
‘Cause I’ve seen your kind many times before
And I’ll see ‘em many times again
Oh, but every bad thing that’s happened to you
Has happened to better men
So don’t explain that you’ve lost your way
That you’ve got no place to go
You’ve got a hand and a voice and you’re not alone
Brother that’s all you need to know
And if you’re still wondering what I’m trying to say
Let me tell you what it’s all about
Now nobody listens to a single man
When he’s walkin’ ‘round down and out
So if you’re looking for an answer
He’s standing there by your side
And you’ll never really know how far you’ll go
‘Til you join together and try
So you tell me that your last good dollar is gone
And you say that your pockets are bare
And you tell me that your clothes are tattered and torn
And nobody seems to care
Now don’t tell me your troubles
No I don’t have the time to spare
But if you want to get together and fight
Good buddy that’s what I want to hear
“What Are You Fighting For?” by Phil Ochs
And listen to your leaders, the ones who won the raceAs they stand right there before you and lie into your faceIf you ever try to buy them, you know what they stand forI know you’re set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?
Put ragged clothes upon your back and sleep upon the ground,And tell police about your rights as they drag you down,And ask them as they lead you to some deserted door,Yes, I know you’re set for fightin’, but what are you fightin’ for?
But the hardest thing I’ll ask you, if you will only tryIs take your children by their hands and look into their eyesAnd there you’ll see the answer you should have seen beforeIf you’ll win the wars at home, there’ll be no fighting anymore
(Source: rockyhorror666)
Phil Ochs performing onstage in 1966.
(Source: rockyhorror666)
Cross My Heart - Phil Ochs (Pleasures of the Harbor, 1967)


