Ochs, Phil - What Are You Fighting For Lyrics

lyrics:
Oh you tell me that there's danger to this land you call your own
And you watch them build the war machines right beside your home
And you tell me that you're ready to go marching to the war
Oh, I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for? 
Before you pack your rifle and sail across the sea
Just think upon the southern part of the land that you call free
Oh, there's many kinds of slavery and we've found many more
Yes, I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for? 
And before you walk out on your job and answer to the call
Just think about the millions who have no job at all
And the men who wait for handouts with their eyes upon the floor
I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for? 
Turn on your TV, turn it on so loud
And watch the fool a smiling there and tell me that you're proud
And listen to your radio, the noise it starts to pour
Oh, I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for? 
Read your morning papers, read every single line
And tell me if you can believe that simple world you find
Read every slanted word till your eyes are getting sore,
I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for? 
And listen to your leaders, the ones that won the race
As they stand right there before you and lie into your face
If you ever try to buy them, you know what they stand for
I 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 fighting, but what are you fighting for?
But the hardest thing Ill ask you, if you will only try
Is take your children by their hands and look into their eyes
And there you'll see the answer you should have seen before
If you'll win the wars at home, there'll be no fighting anymore

And..... it’s about to be relevant again

I ask again today, WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR?

#NoWarWithIran

no war with iran

If they ever start the draft again I'll burn my card and I'm willing to go to jail for it

i am fighting for solidarity, for everyone, forever.

which side are you on my brothers and sisters?

They're not really fighting for freedom, they're fighting for the big corporations so they can bring their businesses overseas.

This is one of the greatest songs in my opinion. Truly a person who wanted the best for human beings. If we look out each other, there is nothing that can keep us from real greatness!

Best anti-war song imo

These words are timeless. Nothing can heal the wounds of war.😪

It's long past time we learned to stand up for ourselves and each other. Their repression only grows the strength of our solidarity in the face of adversity and much to their dismay, they will find we are unstoppable. And one day, we'll get together and take a stand. Either we'll prevail or we'll die standing on our own two feet.

Too bad he was a commie

Imagine it is war and nobody goes to it...

When will next Phil Ochs surface. Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs.....

...pete seeger, billy bragg, and grace petrie, who in my mind would be the torch-bearer if more well known, her lyrics are there.

We will never be Free while the Rich & Powerful Rule Over Us! Left Wing & Progressive Books & Memorabilia Sale in Progress – Revolutionary Ideas included! http://stores.ebay.com/fahrenheit451bookstore

Wish you were here Phil! ♡♡◇☆

mONEY IS POWER AND POWER IS EVERYTHING. FUCK YOU ALL PHILL KNEW MONEY KILLS

I refuse to retype that now I'm even more depressed. Booooooooooo

What album/comp is this from?

originally on a 1964 folk compilation called New Folks Volume 2. Available now on a Phil Ochs compilation called The Early Years

Do you know if this version uploaded here is the same recording as the one on New Folks Volume 2? If I'm not mistaken, the version of this song that appears on The Early Years is a different recording than the one uploaded here. Either way, cheers!

This video actually appears to be the version on Sings for Broadside. They added fake applause that you hear on this to a demo recording for that release. The version on New Folks is the same one as on The Early Years

liberalism ? dey r nothink but neo colonialism, united scums

how does it feel to be living in Phil's nightmare, world?

more prescient today than when it was written. to all you plastic patriots defending the rise of a fascist you should be ashamed. before you try and insult me you're an idot akin to a nazi if you voted for a man who promised to make his country great again by dealing with immigrants and the religious group holding down the hardworking native born xenophobe. your opinion is worth the mould on old dog shit

imagine he hadn't offed himself, he might have shared the Nobel prize with Bob

Seems everything old is new again and sadly this song may have been written in the sixties but it is just as relevant today as it was then. Lady Gaga please take notes and see what real art is unlike that forgettable music you write- ditto Drake, Bieber, and Justin Timberlake. Fluff talent with nothing to say.

The hilarious thing is that Lady Gaga actually covered "The War is Over' at a performance for Democratic National Committee delegates last year. Her music mostly stinks but she is more ambitious than most pop stars and I'm sure that she was heartbroken yet also absolutely enthralled upon discovering Phil's music

We could really use a man like Phil today

Prottimus too true. no takers

Prottimus Maybe we're foolish, maybe we're blind
Thinking we can create peace in these times
Bringing back love to all mankind
Is this just a theory, so maybe we're all blind
But we are one species after all
We are one species after all
60seconds4humanity
60seconds4humanity

Do you like living in fear
From watching TV
Did school make anything clearer
Did we get deceived
Told what to believe
Cos we are one species after all
We are one species after all
60seconds4humanity
60seconds4humanity

We need solutions to the real problems
We need a little more then just luck
We need people who offer to solve them
Lord can we get help from above
We're one species after all
We're one species after all
Spare 60seconds4humanity
Spare 60seconds4humanity

Asking for your opinions
Don't tell us no fibs
Lifting restrictions based on religion
And laws based on lies
Cos were one species after all
We're one species after all
60seconds4humanity
60seconds4humanity

We are all humans who make mistakes
Creating one thought pattern could be all that it takes to free humanity
Gaining no profit in this beautiful desire
Believing in our higher power
We're one species after all
We're one species after all
60seconds4humanity
60seconds4humanity

We are more then the label of human
Or the label of man
Let's try to do this one plan
We are one of the species left on the Earth
We are one of the species left on the Earth
Wishing to be
Or continue not to be
That was the real question after all

David Rovics

the Nobel would be yours

Phil Ochs committed suicide in the late 60s. But the videos are new, in or current times. And they mesh together perfectly. It's so good to hear his voice again!

Phil Ochs's suicide was not until 1976. I believe that his last public performances were in spring of 1975. But by that time he was already struggling. A beautiful soul devastated by alcoholism, politics and mental illness.

I thought he said "Sacrificing" on the first time listening.

I'm fighting for my family and friends to stand together and be known.
Bet you fight for nobody because you don't know what family is about.
You just want to be forgotten because you can't hold a family together.
Go back to your daddy if you don't know what you fighting for. ;)

Instead of involving ourselves in interventionist wars and coalitions of regime change, maybe we should focus our powers on rebuilding the crumbling infrastructure of America, joining the rest of the developed world with a single-payer universal healthcare system and educate our workforce with a tuition-free public and community college program so we can keep pace with the ever-developing world before we're left in the dust? Just a thought.

+Cup Full I upliked that for you getting one thing right; idealogical Communism is a beautiful thing if not for humanity destroying every concept of anything.

+Joe Smiley Maybe if we were to pay for your college degree you would be able to understand how stupid that idea is.

+Joe Smiley Totally agree spent trillions on a war on terror that has just spread the war n terror, We know have 5 civil wars in the Middle east and millions of displaced refugees.

Nah mate, it sounds nice, but a lot of European countries who had a decent welfare state and universal healthcare still went to war in Iraq. Social Democracy is not the answer. Only by removing the profit motive from our society by completely restructuring our economy will the "wars at home" be won.

+Harry Strong - hi, sounds interesting. I had Family in communist Eastern Germany, even visited there when I was 4-5yrs old, but communism can't ever work, humans just are too human (aargh, how eloquent) for such concepts. What would you suggest? I'm not mocking, btw.

listen to your radio. the noise that starts to pour.............

I really felt that last line. I can't believe I'm only just now discovering Phil Ochs. I've known about Joe Hill for longer. I'm going to learn these songs, nay, these anthems on my guitar <3

Nice! Me too. That is awesome & righteous to hear.
Cheers! to you+ "P.L.U.R."(Much, Unity & Respect).
^I've based a good deal of my great efforts/activism for good in life/ humanitarianism, to a simular creed from the last few lines of the lyrics of "Ghost of Tom Joad" by B. Springsteen: which originally, was a song by Woody Guthrie..
& I've been a fan of this kind-of music, particularly: Phil Ochs, Joan Baez & Dylan,+Liam Clancy/Johnny Cash/ Buffy Sainte Marie/Townes van Zandt/Richie Havens+Woody&Arlo Guthrie,- since I was "age"17.
*☆However ,I must credit Bob Dylan for turning me on to just what folk music can be/teach+along with the classics, like Woody Guthrie.
>Cool thing is now there's awesome new guys, like: Hamel on Trial, Mason Jennings, Joe Pug,
Shawn Mullins,
Chris Knight, Dr. Dog, & Calexico.
*BTW*>In Punk rock: "Bad Religion" has a lot to say as well as; "The Clash, The Sex Pistols,NoFX,Rise Against, & Rancid"(to name some).
---*Also*Reggae artists; Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Desmond Dekker are great inspirations+songwriters.
~"The Harder they come"~- by Jimmy Cliff,
is a fantastic song & a great soundtrack album+ reaggae comp.

-Check them out maybe, because hopefully you'll enjoy/be inspired by them too... & I usually know what to suggest to people they end up digging.
- Most importantly=Best wishes and good tidings to you. ◇

P.S : I f you want/have interest: I've recorded many videos of famous artists and myself...under the name
{"LaughingatpainUSAway"} ~Here on YouTube and if you can find a way to email me via here or google/Facebook. ..then feel free to..I'll be glad to share any knowledge of Artists/Bands/Songs& inspirations, ♤frankly, I'm a big music/arts geek. + Whom appreciates sharing ideas inspirations/ collaborations.
~I say="vive le"-"Each one, teach one"♤

+Trip Lucid My friend, thanks for this totally awesome message. Warms my heart, really. I've checked out a couple of your videos, I can hear the grit and soul in your voice, and I like what I hear! Keep at it, solid practice is what everyone needs. Hopefully I come around to making videos soon, and we can continue to give each other feedback. Cheers m8!

I said the same thing... in 1968

We'd much prefer you joined our picketing and protests than learnt the songs, but we could do with music to be played as we revolt. "If I can't dance to it, it ain't my revolution"

So I'm I

I. agree. Phil. ochs was. a. great. singer songwriter. I. sing. his. songs

+Donald Zahnke Go back to bed you moron

+Cup Full It is confirmed. There is something dreadfully and deplorably wrong with your intellect and your heart.

I sincerely much hope that somehow you rise and become a much better human being.

I am not fucking just "hating." I do not hate you. I pity you.

Peace. :-)

hey I am an aspiring musician trying to be the voice of my generation… I make songs all about peace and economic regulation… please check out the songs my channel give me some feedback!!

that's a great idea! I'll check it out

my advice is that you become more active at publication so people know about it

+DoubleupTV No, none wants to listen to your stupid commie songs. This is America.

+Cup Full Why are you listening to "commie songs" here then?

Quite frankly put, Phil Ochs is a genius!

+Ducksoup67 with all due respect, I cannot continue this discussion. I do not listen to the media, Ducksoup....I listen to the man himself. hEbhas been the one saying all of these things. His rhetoric is not planted...I see him opening his mouth and the words simply fall right out. Get your priorities in order friend. We need peace and prosperity in this country, not authoritarianism and fascism. With that, I bid you adieu.

+Mary Hyland

Fair enough. I will close with this. You are the one acting out of fear. You fear Trump so much that you are willing to vote for a woman who was materially involved in the murder of an Ambassador - then lied into the face of the mother of one of his aides who was also murdered and then later called that mother a liar.

Trump may be uncouth, Hillary Clinton is a demonstrably treasonous murdering liar.

+Mary Hyland

And you think Hillary Clinton is the one to do that??? Bernie, yes I can see that - but he suffers from his conservative counterpart's problem = he comes off as a wuss. That would be Ron Paul, btw - the man I voted for in 2008.

I'm just utterly frustrated that otherwise intelligent people like you believe there is any material difference between who owns and controls both the DNC and RNC or that they would have any interest in doing anything except continuing the same table-tilting policies causing all of our problems now.

Maybe you're young. I didn't wake up until after 9/11 - and I was already in my mid 30s. If you tried to tell me what I'm trying to tell you before then, I would have never listened. I can remember being in my earlier 30s - I had a 6 figure income and a window office in downtown Seattle. One day I heard this commotion... I was on the 14th floor it was quite loud. I look out down on 3rd ave and there is this huge throng marching right up the middle of the street. I remember thinking to myself... get a job losers. .... It was 1999. And they were the start of the WTO protest and now I can see I was the loser.

I know we've had our diffs - no hard feelings. Peace.

+Ducksoup67 I am not acting out of fear. I am acting out of reason and sanity. I am not the biggest Hilary fan, as I've stated but make no mistake...I will vote blue, in any case. Donald trump is not fit to be president. I do not wish to count the ways with you any longer. I am not old and I am not young and I am not sure what that even has to do with it. You believe what you want and I will believe what I feel to be right. We will have a president sooner or later. I pray that whomever is chosen will do right by this country. I mean you no ill will but you must stop forcing this trump stuff on people who know better.

+Mary Hyland

You aren't sure what being old vs. being young has to do with understanding how the world works? I'd be happy to explain. Let's say that you're 35. Do you know more about how the world works now or when you were 19?

Yes, you are acting out of fear and ignorance. I've tried. I've even pointed out where you held views about a position of Trump's that were completely misrepresented by the media. I've shown how you are acting out of your fear of Trump. So be it.

How about an updated video with a few war monger Democrats.

I agree. both "parties" are nothing more than fear mongers and war hawks

+Chance Hill no communist state has done better

+winters "Communist state": an oxymoron used by people who don't know what they're talking about.

bet he watches the screaming Ballsack alex jones and thinks he knows the world.

Actually all of the socialist states did better than the U.S. And beyond the war part, socialist countries consistently provide living standards 2-3 times better than capitalist countries at the same level of development according to data from the World Bank https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1646771/pdf/amjph00269-0055.pdf

War is a good business. Invest your sons and daughters.

+Angelo Mercure - hi, are you feeling better now? I honestly think you should consider deleting your comments here. They're really awful. Maybe you had a reason for being like that then, and I hope you're ok again, as fine as possible - please, don't despoil the comment section of a song like this one in this way! Thank you

+Tyrion Lannister - my Lord!! Fancy meeting you here! Always knew you had great taste (: I tried to talk sense to this mercurial angel in his abyssmal suffering - if he doesn't listen, I'll be honoured to dig up any Myrish weaponry you might feel compelled to use. Just please, this time, go for non-vital spots to start with, a foot, say.. In the Red Keep there was a chance someone might hear your da's yelling, so you couldn't go slow on him...I'm still dying to know why the hells he hated you so much - and was so cowardly about revealing reasons. The rabid angel up there might profit from some of your insights into life. If you could make him listen, I'll be an appreciative audience. I always wonder what motivates people like that. Courtseys to you (:

+messi cronal - is your first or sencond language german? I'm not very good, aber verstehen kann ich meistens. The sentence "War is good business! Invest your sons and daughters!" is a anti-war slogan, if I'm not completely wrong, it was born during the anti-war-in-Vietnam movement. It is sarcasm, what is really hard to understand is the reaction. A man posting a peace-slogan, then turning to raging insults. I just wanted to listen to the song - and could not believe this... It was a year ago, still, it's strange. Are you still studying english? regards from the twilight zone (no sarcasm, I like it here, that's all. I f you don't know what I'm talking about, I apologize and will explain, if you want.)

+Katie Andrews - hi. Wheee, what is going on here? or was going on here until 3 months ago? Anyway, I wanted to say I admire your patience and reticence. I read it all and I can't believe Angelo Mercure actually meant what he said. I hope he answers, if possible in the way I contacted him - else I'll be next and I don't do as well as you. Keep me in check, please?

+Fark - ok, honeybun... let's you and me see where we get. I had my song spoiled by nutty spunk - and you're joining in. (I'm actually grinning..) Sooo, are you too thick to understand what messi meant? 1rst language=mothertongue, 2nd=any language, mostly picked up in school, 3rd= the one he is obviously trying to learn now. Did that clarify anything for you? Or do we go down the path of Angelo?                                                                                                                            My best guess: messi is southeastern european, they used to learn german in school the same way northwestern europe learned english. He's left home, came to a place where english is supposed to be everyone's 2nd language, and is trying to catch up. I feel he/she/it doesn't deseve the hate he got/gets. Wish I did better with my 3rd-french and 4rth-spanish. Too lazy, too little opportunity to use either...meh...                                                                                                                                     How bout you, you a language- or math/physics- person? Or one who's devoted to swearing? (;

"...Read your morning papers, read every single line
And tell me if you can believe that simple world you find
Read every slanted word till your eyes are getting sore,
I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?
And listen to your leaders, the ones who won the race
As they stand right there before you and lie into your face
If you ever try to buy them, you know what they stand for
I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?..."

well there's bias but if you're not lazy you should read factual papers of record from both sides of the asile. Wall Street Journal on the right or the Dallas Daily News and the Washington Post and New York TImes on the left. only way to get a clear picture. make no mistake though, he may not have a final soultion but 45 is a cut rate hitler with access to nukes

@Vivek Chaudhary NYT, Washington Post two left leaning papers of record

@Vivek Chaudhary very true. The furthest left that gets any real attention is about left of centre. That's American politics tho 🤷‍♂️

"If military actions and weapons had functioned as conflict-resolution methods there would be peace in the world a long time ago,"  Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society, president Anna Ek.

cia had to at least try to kill him in Africa, Go Merica!

+Jeff Hensley I just had the idea that there had to be a conspiracy theory (and I don;t say that negatively as there are literately proven ones) that the CIA or FBI killed him, I am sure he had COINTELPRO against him.

Great video for a great song.

"if u win the wars at home, they'll be no fighting anymore" simply amazing

Gen. Smedley Butler: "“I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism...."

Snead Hearn wow. I've thought this, but could never be so eloquent. Thanks for sharing.

He certainly had the experience to back up that claim! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smedley_Butler

a true American hero in every way

I wonder how many Guatemalans had to disappear in the 50s so we could have bananas at 13 cents a pound.

Well said, General Butler - He knew that military service is just killing people and breaking their stuff.

Message to everyone: DON'T FEED THE TROLLS

Democrats started most of America's wars, that in addition to being the party of slavery, founders of the KKK and in control of the South during segregation 100 years later. They are hateful thieving neo-communist liars who these days are vigorously pushing to give entire nations to militant Muslims. Yet still here in America and over in Europe we have the spectacle of liberal airheads in the millions who are so easily deluded by Marxist professors and professional liars in the atheist media that Republicans are seen as the ones they should despise.

+David wrote: *"Tell me where exactly the science is that says we need to have a defined purpose in life"* - Ask yourself. Humans typically want to know why they are here. Perhaps you are different. On the other point, you are free to choose whether to try connecting with God, not to choose whether he is real.

randalusa I'm making a choice to disbelieve in god(s) because of an utter lack of evidence. And no I did not say we can't have a feeling that we have purpose, I said we don't have a predetermined and absolute purpose. In fact, I find it quite liberating that we're able to choose our own futures.

+David wrote: *"I'm making a choice to disbelieve in god(s) because of an utter lack of evidence."* - There is a ton of evidence for a creator. You just have to flip the science, viewing it from the opposite side. That science maintains that matter from nothing is impossible and life from non-living matter is likewise impossible. Looked at from the other side, actual science is saying there has to have been a creator.

wrote: *"I find it quite liberating that we're able to choose our own
futures."* - Liberating perhaps. Unreal though.

randalusa And yet physicists disagree with your first point, and you've provided nothing of substance to the second. Even if there was necessarily a creator, the chances that you chose the right one out of thousands or that any of them are correct about such a deity are pathetic. Not to mention, in Christian and Muslim morals I'd have to sacrifice my own in order to defend slavery, genocides, child wives, and more. If you think these are upstanding practices for people to live up to, I suppose your god just imparted a false sense of morality upon me that causes me to be disgusted by all of them.

+David wrote: *"And yet physicists disagree with your first point"* - Only if u add the word "some" in front of physicists. The book, "In Six Days" contains some who disagree with YOUR point. Substance = The First Law of Thermodynamics,the Law of Biogenesis and the Law of Information. 2. wrote: *"the chances that you chose the right one out of thousands are pathetic."* - Not with fulfilled prophecies that reveal the power of just one book.

3. wrote: *"I'd have to sacrifice my own in order to defend slavery, genocides, child wives, and more"* - Only with Islam. The Bible does not defend any of those. Well, if you count Gideon, one example in which a people were ordered wiped out, one time in all of history. Never slavery or child brides or greater atrocities like the rape of captured women permitted in Islam.

But don't be so sure your morals are all of your own making. I see tons of people defending the ideas planted in their hearts by the clever liars who run the mass media. Example: Homosexuality being normal and okay. One does not have to "be judgmental" in order to properly understand that homosexuality is at the very least a biological error.

What, really. So sad and crazy how much distrust and suspicion there is...

LIKE IT .

When will.we learn?? Sigh

Amazing, a Phil Ochs song a haven't heard! Maybe even one of the most important and relevant to today.

please i would appreciate it if you recommend some of your favorite phil ochs songs .I'm new to him.many thanks....

@Abiasaf López Sure thing! No matter how popular, Changes is great. Cops of the World is great and very relatable to today. You can't go wrong with any of his talking blues. And Cross My Heart is my philosophy on life.

@Abiasaf López Look up an album called "Phil ochs in Concert", it is one of my favorites. It is a live performance that he did and a great line up of songs, I'm going to say it now, Bracero, Ringing of Revolution, Is There Anybody Here, Cannons of Christianity, There But for Fortune, Cops of the World, Santo Domingo, Changes, Love me, I'm a liberal, and When I'm Gone.

Miss you. Phil. We could sure use you now.

+Nancy Benefiel thats why the CIA killed him.
imagine what his songs would be like in todays corporatist/fascist state

+ryan law Not only are you a commie loser, but you're delusional and a faggot

lol sad little fuck you are arent you. keybord kommando. shut up and learn some proper insults you sad little worm.

Phil's words are for then, for now, and for all time. He wrote "I'll Be There", and he always was. Now we must carry on his fight against the fascists that call themselves governments.

What a world we live in. How can it be that the songs that Phil wrote are still needed? Nothing has changed. Phil died on April 9th 1976, the day after my 5th birthday. How can it be that his songs are worth even more now than they were 40+ years ago?

NO SHIT I WAS ONLY 3YRS OLD AND WE NEED PHIL'S MUSIC TO LIVE ON FOREVER! OR WE ARE ALL DOOMED!

+Paul Lavan because not enough people listened. they even changed the definition of fascism in the late 80s......
musolini coined the phras/wrote the doctrine of fascism and its full of lines like "fascism could more accurately be called corpratism as it is the good working realtionship between corporation and state" he also defined it as the marriage of state and corporate power, as did websters till it was bought by a corporation in mid to late 80s

This song could have been written today.  There has never been a time when we could sit back and enjoy freedom, equality and prosperity for everybody.  There have been times when some of us got fat and sat back.  Hey, let's dust up and get back to work.  Same struggle.  Just a different time.  If it was good enough for Aeschylus, Aquinas and Phil Ochs, it's good enough for me.

well said Billy. Hope your life is good always

This song is timeless, I agree.  All of Phil Ochs's songs are amazing and timeless.  I love him.

This song is rewritten in the spirit of everyone who "hungers for righteousness" time and time again. 
Billy, you might like some of my songs, Monster and 911. The "Struggle" is still good enough for me too. 

I think of Detroit!

ABSOLUTELY THIS SONG ACTUALLY MAKES EVEN MORE SENSE TODAY THAN WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN! VLR

It's so sad that this song originated in the 60's and is still applicable to the 2000's. I'm afraid we'll never grow up.

We? It ain't us it's up to. Don't you remember the popular western opposition among the people to the Iraq war before they went ahead with it? We can't fall into trap of blaming ourselves. You and I don't send men off to die. It's capitalism and capitalists that the blame belongs to

Wonderful song.

o7 Phil! Truth in your face! DeaL with it people! "If you win the wars at home there will be no fighting anymore"..

Phil you were / are a genius.  Thank you for your work, your honesty.  My kids love your music!!

So true - so VERY true!

American folk music

#dj_michaelholloway

He died in 1976, but this song stand for every war we will ever be in.

Most importantly the coming war waged by the U.S. government against its citizens.

Listen to Phil--his music is timely.  Especially with all the homeless and disabled vets in America today.  It is still relevant.

Good point dkmeller1, but let's keep in mind that US Government's Murderer-in-chief O'bomber replaced US Government's Murderer-in-chief Bush and US Government's Murderer-in-chief Clinton and US Government's Murderer-in-chief Bush and US Government's Murderer-in-chief Reagan et al.

Sorry but using MF does not add one iota to the comment other than what I think, in this democratic country, is foul & inappropriate language. Again I will state that the West has no right to FORCE their ideals on another country anymore than Muslim countries have any right to try & force Sharia law on us. Afghanistan. Soldiers have been dying there for women's rights & girls to be allowed in school. Again, not the West's problem, if so, Saudi Arabia is next!, or Syria, Iran, where do we stop?

As an extra, Zimbabwe, a dictatorship, corrupt govt. & fiddled voting. People starving to death under Mugabwe. What does the West do?, nothing, zilch, nada. The U.S. Vote rigging in, I think it was, Michigan where polling booths were kept open after the time frame so more 'poor' people could be bussed in to vote. Democracy at work. The drunk girls was just an example of what a free society ends up with, not everything you wanted, but hey, it's the way they want to live so why should I complain.

Why do you have to use the MF word! Again, you cannot force your democracy on other people, it is NOT democratic! Democracy, will of the people. So if enough people vote for something it gets done. No it doesn't. Politicians decide what laws to enact. Here anyway, in the U.S., a Republic, it is Law, which is open to interpretation & change by Law Lords, Judges etc. So, not democratic. We weren't asked if the Postal service here should be privatised, but it was. Not very democratic!

So you are saying that your way is better than theirs! Remember, to 'force' democracy, your democracy on to some one isn't democratic!! They may not like girls staggering around the streets half naked & drunk to name just one of the things our democracy has brought us. So, who's democracy are you going along with? We are not 'free', we all answer to some one, some govt. or such!

Mr. Phil Ochs was such a great musician. More human beings in the world should listen to his music masterpieces.

That is a very profound statement. I will take it on board & treat it with the contempt it so richly deserves, Have a nice day,

You're a piece of shit.

sadly actual...

love the melody.first time hearing this...have to say truth is yeah, what are you#**##^^!!fighting for? Say it right!

No, I am saying let them fight it out & then deal with the winner, Don't get in the middle, ie Syria. Choose a side, that side loses, now try to deal with the winner. You cannot as you have already alienated the other side. Smaller scale example; your child is scrapping with the kid next door. You get into it with your neighbour, start arguing. Meantime the kids have made up, are playing. You lose.

I have been a fan of Phil since 1970 and as more time goes by the more he impresses me.This song could have been released last week and it would be as relevant today as it was then.Such a masterful songwriter singer and human being.Not saying Phil was perfect but I have battled many of the same demons Phil has and it is a scary place and a hard one to escape from.Thank the Lord I was able to stop my drinking many years ago but I have been in a deep depression,for a long time.God bless Phil Ochs

Phil Ochs questioned things, then took action, something many people don't do today.

It stands. But where do you draw the line? There is a moment you have to put down your pacifism. If we didn't go to war in 1941 who would stop the nazis?
I'm against the war completely. For most of you democrats are rational one, but democrats also lead to wars just with less damage for you (Americans),
My country was bombed by one of your most beloved presidents Bill Clinton.
It was a sad time and no one should go trough that.
I agree man! It should stop. Time will come... it will stop...

Yeah right. Just because they aren't killing adulterers, only women mind, can't seem to catch the men, doesn't mean we want Sharia Law here. Hard line religion of any sort is dangerous. I am a Christian, we also help out. Old Testament, "No usery." Also debts cleared after 7 yr. appointed time, ie doesn't matter when the debt was taken, there is a 7yr. span, so if you take the loan out 6yrs. into the time it only has a year to run, then cleared. Then govt. took over the Christian way of life.

where is the box with "disband government" on the boxes to tick, try overthrowing any government is treason therefore are we all not under a dictatorship?

the sharia law courts deal with money that is all, oh and as you talk about those keeping us down ie our governments and world banks did u know that mosques offer interest free loans how many churches or faiths do that eh?

You're from England, I thought you were a yank, my bad. But yeah, as long as muslims and jews keep their business in their countries I don't care who's killing who. Just don't bring that garbage over here.

We here in England have parts of the country where Sharia Law is practised. This is against the law of the land. The fight should be in our own countries. Keep these radicals out. Personally I would close all Mosques down. They are a breeding ground for fundamentalists. Also, here if you are a Muslim cleric you can expound your beliefs in public with impunity. Try the same thing against them & you will get arrested for a hate crime. Leave them to kill each other, deal with who is left.

I have overlooked your second post, I was responding to your first post where you said 'play this to muslim fundamentalists...' . It seems you contradictd yourself with your posts.

I have no idea which of my posts you are answering, because I definitely stated that we, (the WEST), have no business being in Afghanistan. Let them find democracy on their own! We cannot force it on them. Whilst you have 2 different factions of the Muslim faith fighting one another, & then the fundamentalists fighting everyone, there is no chance of a change. As far as I can see all 'our' soldiers have been killed & maimed for NOTHING.

Show your post to US draft officer and see how much they laugh. You've bought into this war on terror BS hook, line and sinker. I believe in war for self defense, but we have no business in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Patriotism has been misused for a long time. Being patriotic does not mean you should blindly obey orders and risk your life for the finacial profit of others. I believe in war for self-defense, but nothing else.

I really like this song very much. Thank you, Phil.

I disagree with you slightly. As a patriot and peacelover I see it as a patriotic duty to avoid war and destruction unless backed into a corner. Wars of agression and/or wars for profeteering warmongerers however should be detested by every non bullshitting patriot. And no, Im not american. maybe that has influenced my view on patriotism and nationalism. I can only tell it as I see it from my perspective.

Typical hyperbole.

Rand Paul never said he would alter the CRA. He said he thought the issue would be better resolved through free market forces punishing the bigots and rewarding the accepting business owners.

You do realize that Reagan won landslide victories with libertarian support, right?

I'm not trying to convince you of anything.

I will honestly love knocking doors for Rand Paul.

You can do whatever you like.

I'm voting for balanced budgets and peace.

Congress limits any Ayn stuff

Sorry, Paul gets a lot of support for his stands on war and the legalization of weed. But the Ayn Rand stuff is just crazy. Balanced budget is one thing, killing off the Civil Rights Act and the EPA are just plain crazy.

Obama has us slated to be in Afghanistan for another 19 months.

The military-industrial complex is laughing at the success of the 2 party scam.

Rand Paul 2016

She voted along with the neo-con liars for another war for oil while Ron Paul was on the House floor naming the neocons by name and protesting the Iraq war as an act of aggression.
Just as bad as her Iraq vote was her two times of voting along with neo-cons to pass the PATRIOT Act. The Patriot act dissolves the 4th, 5th, and 6th amendments.
Hillary is scum.

A balanced budget is not crazy.
16.7 trillion dollars of debt with 120 trillion in unfunded liability is the crazy situation today.

I said when it happened that the vote for Iraq was going to come back and haunt her. But she's not as crazy as the Pauls.. (I include Ryan as the third Paul.)

Crazy would be smiling about Hillary Clinton who voted for the Iraq war, and the Patriot Act.

Rand Paul 2016.

He's not sold out to AIPAC. He will keep us out of war better than Killary Clinton.

Killary voted to go into the Iraq war.

Wow.. that's really, really crazy.

Brother you hit the nail on the head!

You see that point way over there? Yeah that one... the one you missed.

Rand Paul 2016.

Yeah fuck the war on terror it's not like they meant to kill innocents by the thousands and it's not like they're ever going to try again if we don't stop oppressing there regime

Sorry, that answer is too deep for me. I am actually anti war, trouble being that sometimes a smack in the mouth is the only answer. WW1 should never have been allowed to happen. WW2 was a direct result. This one needed to be fought. We should get out of the middle east. Nothing to do with us. If they want women's rights etc let them fight for it themselves. If people want to be kept in the 1st. century what is that to us?

Well thats conservatives for you.

Fuck their Wars, Fuck their Borders, NEVER FOLLOW THEIR FUCKING ORDERS!