Phil Ochs - Too Many Martyrs Lyrics

#ugottalisten2b4udie
His name was Medgar Evers and he walked his road alone
His name was medgar Evers and he walked his road alone
Like Emmett Till and thousands more whose names we'll never know.
The country gained a killer and the country lost a man.

ochs is best

55 years ago tomorrow, June 12.

can't help but think of the Parkland seventeen listening to this

anyone know what album/ LP this is on?

Aaron Seymour It was released on his first album, “All the News That's Fit to Sing“ in 1964. Should be still available.

He has what I call "songwriter eyes".

Damn. That's a wonderful and beautiful poetic statement. Thank you. You just made my day.

Saw Phil in concert in Boston when a student there. Miss his music. We need a voice like this today.

Latest Martyr is 32 year old Heather Heyer murdered by a White Supremacist /NAZIS on August 12, 2017. The domestic terrorist used his car as his weaponing plowing into a group of anti-Racists. RIP Heather Heyer

I listened to this after learning about Philando Castille. I'm so angry

And just today, another, shot dead. His name was James Means. Too many martyrs.

...the country gained a killer and the country lost a man...

In America in 2016 the lynchings are mostly performed by the police as they act as prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner.
Last year the police in the USA killed or murdered over 1,000 citizens.
The pro-police , conservative and faux Liberals defend the police and rarely the victims.
Hillary Clinton's way of dealing with this is to "Bring them to heel" not the police but rather black male 12 year olds like "Superpredator " Tamir Rice for daring to play outside in a community park with a Fake gun.
His crime being Black like so many others.
Far "Too Many Martyrs". #BlackLivesMatter not just rich white people.

3% of the population (young black men) commit half of the murders. That's not a reflection of poverty. The people who are dying are overwhelmingly black. I'm not seeing this as a black vs white thing.

15,000 people die in the USA per year. About 60 are unarmed people killed by police. More police are needed to prevent the 15,000.

That doesn't really address what I said. I said the way that American policing is handled is the major problem and you responded as if I had said it was a racial problem. All I said about that was that there is a secondary racial problem, but that it would be irrelevant after solving the first problem, which is the far more intelligent problem to focus on regarding civilian deaths at the hands of police.

Yes, maybe more cops would help, but that's irrelevant to what I've said, which is that they need to be trained in deëscalation. That needs to be the primary goal of someone that is tasked with protecting others in a nation that claim to value due process.

I don't know the numbers on the black population in America and the crimes they commit, because every source says something different, and then there are many sources that contest the validity of these sources, so I don't really care about that, insofar as it relates to the problem of the rate black-male-perpetrated homicides and how a society can at least make it proportionate to their population.

Just reading this Wikipedia article , which barely even touches on the subject, will show you how complex it is:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_crime_in_the_United_States

The way I see it, poor black communities in America are in a cycle where poverty leads to serious problems and a lot of damage is done by the time a person is old enough to attempt to leave such a situation. Did you know that American schools are funded by local district taxes? What kind of an effect do you think that has on education for impoverished Americans? If you ring up the SAT people and ask what score do they think your child will get, your postal code or tax return is enough information for them to tell with upwards of 90% accuracy.

Also, poverty leads to cheap entertainment. This is often sex. This leads to a densely populated region with very little money or social mobility available, and overstretched parents that are frequently working too many hours to raise one child properly, let alone several. And why do you think homeless people are often a little crazy? Because poverty and depression are real things that can destroy you within only a few years.

I could go on, but really, the point here is that the method of policing in America is flawed and needs to be changed. Everything else is separate.

My point was: why focus on policing at all, when its such a minor problem?

Because it's not. Even one needless death is a problem. In America, there are constant reports of them not only killing someone that could have been detained without killing them, but killing the person that hadn't even committed a crime. They famously shot and killed a 12-year-old child. Yes, American policing is a major problem. I keep talking about their training, but frankly, they are among the most disgustingly narcissistic and abusive people I've ever met and the psychological tests you take before becoming a cop in America need a lot of work as well, because it's almost as if the people that pass the current ones are the people that should be immediately rejected, not given a lethal weapon and a licence to use it any time they're afraid.

That Riverview Hooligan - he was a 12 year old boy you idiot. You are defending the murder of a 12 year old boy.

I love those of you who've appreciated this post. I'm so glad I am not alone.

Sciencebabe you are not alone! We are not alone! Love heals all! We will win with love, not guns! Love and Peace, Skip

I just watched Freedom Summer and a trail of folk songs led me here. Thanks.
As a child of the folk music of the 60's, I'm amazed I never heard of Phil Ochs before.

phil ochs was hands down the best song writer from the 60s he has over 400 unique songs so if you haven't heard them you have many hours of amazing music ahead of you

The Ballad of William Worthy - Brilliant.

Scienceabe, I'm happy that you have now. Now pass I'm on to all you know and ask them to do the same. Hell, have "Phil Ochs  parties" How fun! RIP Phil, Love and Peace, Skip

Nice Ryan, lets promote Phil Ochs parties. Like a house concert but our laptops connected to out TV screens and play nothing but phil. Then ask all attendees to do the same! What fun, Love and Peace, Skip

Sadly - it seems too appropriate even today.  And was written before Malcolm X was killed.  Dammit, Phil - I miss your wisdom.

Diana Gregory, You have the Love in your heart! That's how we will win. With Love, not guns. Sadly, yes. But we can be  stronger. Think of the Women's March the day after Trump's inauguration. "the speeches of the President are the ravings of a Clown". Keep your faith Diana and do your part and attend anything that supports the new Revolution! Love and Peace, Skip

He's got such an awesome voice.

Medgar Evers, 50 years on: Memory Eternal.

A timeless song.This tune is what I use as a balm whenever I encounter racists on youtube.Mr. Ochs reminds me that empathy & humanity exists in all men

Phil Ochs ❤️🎸🎸🎸🥁The struggle in your name carries on 👀❤️🎸🎸🎸

The country grained a killer and the country lost two men.

Those eyes just cut straight to your soul. Beautiful picture of a beautiful man.

One more memorable ballad from one of the great (if underrecognized and underappreciated) tribunes of our time.

The country gained a killer
And the country lost a man.

On the 49th anniversary of Evers's murder, this song should be played in every school.

Phil Ochs would,ve been proud we caught and imprisoned the bastard that killed Medgar Evers.

The killer lived as a free man for three decades! The system is so fucked.

I have so many favorite Phil Ochs songs but this one always resonates. Thank you for posting. His voice should always be shared.

another masterpiece by a tragic genius

thanks for posting this