Ochs, Phil - Changes Lyrics






Sit by my side, come as close as the air
Share in a memory of gray!
Wander in my words, dream about the pictures
That I play of changes!

Green leaves of summer turn red in the fall
To brown and to yellow they fade!
And then they have to die, trapped within
The circle time parade of changes!

Scenes of my young years were warm in my mind
Visions of shadows that shine!
Till one day I returned and found they were the
Victims of the vines of changes!

The world's spinning madly, it drifts in the dark
Swings through a hollow of haze
A race around the stars, a journey through
The universe ablaze with changes!

Moments of magic will glow in the night
All fears of the forest are gone
But when the morning breaks they're swept away by
Golden drops of dawn, of changes!

Passions will part to a strange melody
As fires will sometimes burn cold!
Like petals in the wind, we're puppets to the silver
Strings of souls, of changes!

Your tears will be trembling, now we're somewhere else
One last cup of wine we will pour
And I'll kiss you one more time, and leave you on
The rolling river shores of changes!

Sit by my side, come as close as the air
Share in a memory of gray!
Wander in my words, dream about the pictures
That I play of changes!





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Ochs, Phil Changes Comments
  1. I.... P....

    it's hard for this world to sustain such sensitive souls! I'm glad I got to know of his music, thanks to a weekend USY camp.

  2. I.... P....

    The only song I learned to Travis pick on my guitar. my Dad complained I only knew one song. I wish he had appreciated it and told me.

  3. d.... v....

    Been going through changes.. and here i am again phil..

  4. B.... F....

    WOW! Where has Phil and this fabulous song been my whole life? Thanks so much Mick and YouTube

  5. R.... S....

    https://jonimitchell.com/library/view.cfm?id=2191 This is where I saw Phil. I remember his scolding the audience for our (Canada's) role in the Vietnam war. He wasn't one to hold back.

  6. R.... F....

    Sundance,gone 4 years

  7. S.... ....

    Dirk Richardson played this song the other night on KPFA in Berkeley on what would have been Phil Ochs' 79th birthday.


    What a beautiful song. Phil left us far too soon.


    I hope he's found the peace and happiness wherever he is now that he couldn't find in this world.

  8. A.... B....

    One of my very first concerts, ever (I was 13), was seeing Phil Ochs in Central Park in about 1967 (in the skating rink during the summer. Schaeffer?). We got there late and sat in the top row of the bleachers. The tickets were either $.50 or $1.00. Much of my misspent youth was going to concerts there during the summer. I was also at the infamous Shootout at Carnegie Hall when he came out as Buddy Holly.

  9. J.... B....

    It was tragic, like Jim Croce's death and Buddy Holly, and Patsy Cline, Stan Rogers and Rick Nelson. But what can we do. He was hoping to start a movement by doing like Elvis to get a big following, and that did not work. If he had just taken it easy and recovered gradually, perhaps he would still be with us, like artists who overcame alcohol problems or even drug problems. The problem is that artists can get to emotionally involved, and that is not so good. I think I first heard this song on the Ian and Sylvia album and only hear his recordings later. It is too bad, really tragic.

  10. H.... N....

    Shame what happened to him and his career..far too many of the best folkies didnt really make it...jackson c frank, tim buckley....one can only wonder what might have been.

  11. R.... F....

    I'll kiss you one more time and leave you on the rolling river shores of changes..my Sundance

  12. M.... R....

    What a great talent that left this world too soon. . Hope to meet him on the other side. I am a singing drummer.

  13. S.... D....

    I played some of my favorite Phil Ochs songs for my daughter a few years ago. She is a singer and I made sure she studied piano...she taught herself guitar. She is now getting ready to record her first EP. Phil Ochs is her favorite singer songwriter, and his music has had a huge impact on her music. (She’s studying Public Policy in London- so music is now a “hobby,” but let’s see!). I’m so proud of her. She will make her mark on the world, in some form or another. Rest with the other angels, Phil.

  14. T.... F....

    Nice video.

  15. c.... z....

    Philip David Ochs (/ˈoʊks/; December 19, 1940 – April 9, 1976) was an American protest singer (or, as he preferred, a topical singer) and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and distinctive voice. He wrote hundreds of songs in the 1960s and 1970s and released eight albums.

    Ochs performed at many political events during the 1960s counterculture era, including anti-Vietnam War and civil rights rallies, student events, and organized labor events over the course of his career, in addition to many concert appearances at such venues as New York City's Town Hall and Carnegie Hall. Politically, Ochs described himself as a "left social democrat"[1] who became an "early revolutionary" after the protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago led to a police riot, which had a profound effect on his state of mind.

    After years of prolific writing in the 1960s, Ochs's mental stability declined in the 1970s. He eventually succumbed to a number of problems including bipolar disorder and alcoholism, and died by suicide in 1976.

    Some of Ochs's major musical influences were Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Bob Gibson, Faron Young, and Merle Haggard. His best-known songs include "I Ain't Marching Anymore", "Changes", "Crucifixion", "Draft Dodger Rag", "Love Me, I'm a Liberal", "Outside of a Small Circle of Friends", "Power and the Glory", "There but for Fortune", and "The War Is Over".

  16. D.... G....

    His songs, voice and politics were not only perfect, he was humane as well.  So many of his contemporaries' passion only came from anger, but this song and the humanity of "But nobody's buying flowers from the Flower Lady" show an empathy that one can only wish he could have brought to himself.

  17. M.... D....

    Wouldn't it be great that K D Lang cover this song?

  18. C.... C....

    Fuck I miss my grandma thus song reminds me so much of when she was terminal. I never heard any negative thing about my grandparents and they were well known in the community, i actually had people tell me how much they made a difference in their lives on the regular. I miss her so much 1938-2019

  19. O.... M....

    The Marines have landed on the shores of Santo Domingo.
    Flower Lady
    Changes
    Ringing of Revolution
    When I’m Gone
    Celia
    Tape from California
    half a century high
    cross my heart
    too many martyrs
    another age
    tape from California
    that was the president
    Bracero
    I kill therefore i am
    The men behind the Guns
    Pleasures of the Harbor
    The World Began in Eden and Ended in Los Angeles"
    The War is Over
    Cross My Heart

    O.... M....

    You are not even a liberal. Get off this site, moderate man!

    O.... M....

    Beautiful song .. if it doesn't make you cry or think you are about to cry then that is hard to understand. The world spinning madly .. a journey through the universe ablaze with changes.

  20. L.... L....

    I just discover Phil Ochs music, how tragic his life was. I'm crying like a little child now

  21. D.... R....

    I feel gene clark's cover has a more emotive punch, but Phil wrote this, so what talent!!

  22. G.... H....

    His most beautiful song, maybe.

  23. E.... H....

    I just learned about this song and it is beautiful my uncle told me what happened

  24. R.... F....

    In memory of Shilo. 8/16/19

  25. R.... F....

    In memory of Sundance

  26. L.... B....

    So Beautiful xoxo ♥️💔

  27. B.... ....

    Viva La Vida has the same chord progression for the most part

  28. B.... ....

    Hm this song is familiar but I haven’t heard it until today, does anyone know if there are other songs with veerry similar overall tunes?

    B.... ....

    Listen to his first 3-4 albums, if you are really serious. Among various types of music he has some wonderful, poetic songs. Listen He’s a craftsman.

  29. D.... ....

    Oh man, do we need him now.

    D.... ....

    For sure. He would have skewered Trump.

  30. e.... m....

    EXQUISITE AND ICONIC ... TIMELESS MAGIC ... BLESS PHIL OCHS!

  31. S.... E....

    https://www.britannica.com/biography/Phil-Ochs

  32. L.... G....

    What a beautiful song and a great voice.

  33. l.... -....

    Left us his music - April 9, 1976 at 35...

  34. B.... o....

    RIP Phil Ochs (Dec. 19, 1940 - Apr. 9, 1976)

  35. P.... D....

    Phil is still here. Trust me..

  36. w.... ....

    KD Lang definitely is onboard with his look...❤

  37. L.... m....

    I hate to say it but Gordons was soooo much better

    L.... m....

    You know, the great thing about freedom is you can think and say what you want. I like listening to covers. Everybody brings something special to a song.

    L.... m....

    You mean: Gordon's. I really love GL's songs, voice etc. I kind of think of him as the James Taylor of Canada. But I feel there's much more depth to PO's melancholy deliverance. His deliverance fits the lyrics so well, but that's just my opinion.

  38. j.... h....

    lovely song along with such as When I'm Gone but he could have done with writing a few more upbeat songs no wonder he was depressed!! you can't look too deeply into absolutely everything that's happening in every corner of the world you'll just live a life of endless misery, try and live a good life and have a bit of fun - we're not here for very long

    j.... h....

    jim hart this is not a depressing song.Listen to the words!

  39. P.... W....

    Glorious song, beautifully sung.

  40. S.... D....

    Life's sent me on too many missions (babysat Dylan's dog for 3 months), but this was the very first song my USC music grad, and mentor folk singer of the early 60's (my uncle Craig) had ever taught me. So many have since personally influenced me (Ray Manzarek/Merle Travis), but what a beautiful piece. ♥

  41. U.... M....

    Amantes hablahispanos del folk??

  42. D.... T....

    That's my generation, too. Phil spoke for so many of us, expressing what we felt, but could not put into words.

  43. a.... g....

    this was phils best non political song. it was the one people liked the most. phil flirted with the idea of becoming a mainstream musician but that idea never came to be.

  44. R.... F....

    In memory of Sundance. .gone 3 years

  45. G.... D....

    Greatest song writer ever!

  46. M.... M....

    been a long time coming, been a long time gone, this time will never be replicated, sorry to all the subsequent generations who will miss this intoscitating time, sorry you missed it

  47. B.... D....

    No one can sing this incredible song better than this most talented genius. My generation venerates him. We miss him. Wish he were here singing and writing brilliant music

  48. W.... G....

    Don't know about anybody else but phil has his own playlist on my channel.

  49. J.... S....

    beautiful

  50. S.... H....

    One last cup of wine we will pour. 🎵

  51. G.... F....

    This is one of the most beautiful songs sung exquisitely. I shed tears

  52. G.... ....

    Sensacional!

  53. S.... S....

    I'm lost in space

  54. R.... F....

    My last words to SDK

  55. D.... S....

    This melancholy song provides for me a direct connection with my deceased son.  I don't know why but I do know it is so.

  56. A.... M....

    There's no justice. This man dies by his own hand, alone and virtually unknown and a piece of human garbage like Donald Trump is the most powerful person in the world.

    A.... M....

    He was not unknown. Don't believe that. Many many of us knew his music and sang it. His was among the first I learned in the 60's including this song here. All of my friends knew his music and many of us sang it. I can remember "Pleasures of the Harbor" being played on WBZ radio in Boston. WBZ was important in the Northeast because of 50,000 watts of clear channel back then. It was where Tom Rush debuted his recording of "Urge For Going" when nobody had yet heard of Joni Mitchell. Phil played at the important folk festivals and lots of college campuses and many venues in Northeast and California. Yes he died by his own hand in the Village but understand he had been ruined by his bipolar illness and years of alcohol abuse. I am deeply sorry that treatment was not as available or effective 40 years ago; much less was understood. I miss his gift to this day. I am still fortunate to hear Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Tom Rush, Arlo Guthrie and others of his contemporaries.......I hope you can too while they are still with us. Phil was part of a pantheon.

  57. H.... W....

    Was es doch für schöne Musik gibt. Na gut, er hat sich hinne gemacht. Ein Indiz dafür, dass alles viel besser gehen könnte. Wunderbar - Phil Ochs!

  58. O.... Y....

    Too bad he was a commie traitor.

    O.... Y....

    Roberta F It's hard to believe that. Commies don't care about their host countries. Didn't this guy said he supported Mao?

    O.... Y....

    You might want to listen to Phil singing "Power and the Glory" which is a beautiful love song to the United States as it was designed to be.

    O.... Y....

    Better a traitor to those who would send this country into an abyss than be a traitor to his beliefs

  59. L.... ....

    Our great one of a kind American folk singer.

  60. W.... G....

    He had great hair too!

  61. b.... y....

    Heavy as hell.. wow

  62. D.... D....

    Folk singer with a great voice; powerful lyrics and lots of chutzpah - I really liked him.

  63. b.... y....

    RIP peace.

  64. j.... A....

    Sit by my side, come as close as the air,
    Share in a memory of gray;
    Wander in my words, dream about the pictures
    That I play of changes.

    Green leaves of summer turn red in the fall
    To brown and to yellow they fade.
    And then they have to die, trapped within
    the circle time parade of changes.

    Scenes of my young years were warm in my mind,
    Visions of shadows that shine.
    Til one day I returned and found they were the
    Victims of the vines of changes.

    The world's spinning madly, it drifts in the dark
    Swings through a hollow of haze,
    A race around the stars, a journey through
    The universe ablaze with changes.

    Moments of magic will glow in the night
    All fears of the forest are gone
    But when the morning breaks they're swept away by
    golden drops of dawn, of changes.

    Passions will part to a strange melody.
    As fires will sometimes burn cold.
    Like petals in the wind, we're puppets to the silver
    strings of souls, of changes.

    Your tears will be trembling, now we're somewhere else,
    One last cup of wine we will pour
    And I'll kiss you one more time, and leave you on
    the rolling river shores of changes.

    So sit by my side, come as close as the air,
    Share in a memory of gray;
    Wander in my words, dream about the pictures
    That I play of changes.

    j.... A....

    Thanks!

    j.... A....

    jailani Ansera one of the greatest of American songwriters. No doubt.

  65. E.... H....

    I love his voices - the outer and the inner.

  66. p.... ....

    Random bouncing around YT brought me to this song, through Frida of ABBA's cover first(!). Beautiful melody. Never heard it before, though I was maybe a pre-schooler when he recorded it.

  67. A.... N....

    I just got the goosebumps.

  68. R.... F....

    And I'll kiss you one more time

  69. G.... M....

    Beautiful song, wild verses. Thank God for music.

  70. M.... P....

    In past times, we could also hear the version of this song that he performed with his old friend Jim Glover. Worthwhile

  71. d.... f....

    Life is as kind as it is hateful!

  72. C.... H....

    Sit by my side, come as close as the air
    And share in a memory of gray
    And wander in my word
    Dream about the pictures that I play of changes

    Green leaves of summer turn red in the fall
    To brown and to yellow, they fade
    And then they have to die
    Trapped within the circle time parade of changes

    Scenes of my young years were warm in my mind
    Visions of shadows that shine
    'Til one day I returned and found they were
    The victims of the vines of changes

    The world's spinning madly, it drifts in the dark
    Swings through a hollow of haze
    A race around the stars
    Journey through the universe ablaze with changes

    Moments of magic will glow in the night
    All fears of the forest are gone
    But when the morning breaks
    They're swept away by golden drops of dawn of changes

    Passions will part to a strange melody
    As fires will sometimes burn cold
    Like petals in the wind
    We're puppets to the silver strings of souls of changes

    Your tears will be trembling, now we're somewhere else
    One last cup of wine we will pour
    And I'll kiss you one more time
    And leave you on the rolling river shore of changes

    So sit by my side, come as close as the air
    And share in a memory of gray
    And wander in my word
    Dream about the pictures that I play of changes

  73. f.... ....

    Thanks I needed to hear these words of ochs. I'm reeling from the loss of my father and take comfort in the notion that this is all part of inevitable change.

  74. e.... ....

    My birthday, and this old man woke up wanting to hear some Phil Ochs...

  75. S.... B....

    Hi there. I work at a small radio station in rural New South Wales, Australia. We have received an inquiry about a band who covered this song. The most famous version is by Crispian St Peters. The questioner wanted to know who else covered the song in the late 60s or early 70s he remembers it being played on our radio station. It may have been an Australian band. I may find it among the comments but some feedback would be helpful

  76. A.... M....

    Hauntingly beautiful

  77. i.... s....

    That prodigious kid who could perhaps have given Dylan run for his money

  78. F.... M....

    Phil's journey is over, we still need his words.

  79. R.... S....

    I was fortunate enough to see Phil at the Wolman Skating Rink in NYC and have participated in the NYC WAR is OVer rally in which i met him briefly and was proudly arrested at.. Later I created a seafood store, named Pleasures of the Harbour of which but only one customer recognized as derivative of Phil. As I have brother suffering from bi-polar I understand his pain and admire his work. May he have peace and hope that others find his work as it transcendental. May God bless him.

  80. R.... I....

    I believed in you.

  81. c.... c....

    Phil Ochs left us too soon, what a loss.

  82. H.... B....

    one of my favorites

  83. M.... D....

    Phil has a better voice than his contemporary, Bob Dylan.

  84. S.... S....

    I grew up with the music of Phil Ochs...loved his songs and they helped to shape my life...will always be remembered with great love...

  85. G.... M....

    Great Singer. Terrible loss.

  86. J.... S....

    I think maybe only Leonard Cohen could get close to anything this beautiful... Shame his work was not more widely known

  87. J.... ....

    My buddy Phil will be here in spirit. May 22nd at the Sailing squadron in Sarasota we are presenting our 2nd LovePeace Hoot. We will have some Sarasota singing stars and a chorus of seasoned Jammers and peace activists. The hoot will benefit the Sarasota Folk Club so come to Sarasota and give a hoot for love and peace!
    http://worldbeyondwar.org/events/642/lovepeace-hootenanny/

  88. S.... G....

    What a gorgeous selection of photos to accompany this song. Such a loving tribute to the talent of Phil Ochs.

  89. K.... M....

    For my uncle Gordon - thank you for this and so much more.

  90. S.... K....

    Forever young . . .

  91. R.... F....

    best song ever written

  92. 4.... ....

    Such a brilliant wordsmith. Amazing how relevant his songs are today. We certainly could use him and his wonderful songs at this time. It is a blessing and a curse to feel so deeply. Such passion and sincerity. Truly tragic to have lost him so young. Absolutely love him and his music.

  93. c.... ....

    It's hard to hold backs the tears. We've lost so much,but he still sings in our hearts.

  94. B.... S....

    11 downvotes. Republicans.

  95. T.... C....

    "I'll leave you on the rolling river shores of changes....share in a memory of grey". RIP Phil.

  96. s.... ....

    I was playing Changes in my guitar shop on an early cold winter morning when a customer came in and asked what is the song. I told her about Phil and the tragedy that just happened with his death. I sang her the song as we both came to tears. After we had a long talk for many hours and sang many of Phil's other songs. This was back in 1976.  That was 40 years ago and she is still in my life and a life's Phil lover! RIP Phil

    s.... ....

    Gracias Amigo

    s.... ....

    Many covers on this one: Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot,Pozo Seco, Ian and Sylvia,etc.... all good, my preferred one, Gordon Lightfoot ( more folky, and faster, just my preference. to each his own. Peace

    s.... ....

    @Jean Lau Don't forget Carla Olson and Gene Clark.

    s.... ....

    @Maureen Devries true, it just slipped out of my old memory, can I ask wich one you prefer ?

    s.... ....

    Must be my mom

  97. J.... E....

    I am impressed by both the quantity and the quality of the work he generated during his too-short life.

  98. J.... A....

    One of the best folk songs ever..

  99. e.... ....

    One of the best songs ever. Just wonderful.

  100. J.... H....

    i get so fuck inn sad when i listen to a phil ochs tune. saw him three times. my fav was 4 december, 63. concert for the miners of hazzard ky. he, paxton, andersen, etc,etc u of p irvine auditorium, phiiladelphia

    J.... H....

    Some of his songs make me sad too, especially considering how he left this life. What a great voice.That must have been some concert for the miners. Are there artists today who would do that kinda thing? Tom Morello maybe.

    J.... H....

    Will never forget where I was or what I was going when I first heard of his death. He was he best.