Jwillims@aol.com wrote:
> I know who Dylan is but not Ochs.
> Pardon my ignorance, but where could I find information about this
> singer-songwriter?
> Was he as good a songwriter as Dylan?
I think he was a much better song writer than Dylan -- but that may be
merely political prejudice, because he was certainly more political than
Dylan. His best song, I believe, is his tribute to Guthrie, "Bound for
glory," but I happen to have already on disk the song given below. There
is an Ochs web site, but I don't remember the URL. There is an anecdote,
perhaps apocryphal, that once when Dylan was giving Ochs a ride to the
airport in his limousine, he stopped and kicked Ochs out with the
comment that Ochs wasn't a folks singer, he was a news reporter.
His "White Boots Marching in a Yellow Land" is a beautiful and
unforgettable song. The last stanza of "Bound for Glory" goes (from
memory)
***
O now they sing is praises on every distant shore
But so few remember what he was fighting for
Why sing the songs but forget about the aim
He wrote them for a reason, why not sing them for the same.
And now he's bound for a glory all his own, And now he's boud for glory.
***
Since he committed suicide he probably suffered from clinical
depression, as I do, which perhaps makes me feel a bit closer to him.
Carrol Cox
Ballad of William Worthy
by Phil Ochs
Well, it's of a bold reporter whose story I will tell
He went down to the Cuban land, the nearest place to hell
He'd been there many times before, but now the law does say
The only way to Cuba is with the CIA
William Worthy isn't worthy to enter our door
Went down to Cuba, he's not American anymore
But somehow it is strange to hear the State Department say
You are living in the free world, in the free world you must stay
Five thousand dollars or a five year sentence may well be
For a man who had the nerve to think that travelin' is free
Oh why'd he waste his time to see a dictator's reign
When he could have seen democracy by travelin' on to Spain?
William Worthy isn't worthy to enter our door
Went down to Cuba, he's not American anymore
But somehow it is strange to hear the State Department say
You are living in the free world, in the free world you must stay
So, come all you good travelers and fellow-travelers, too
Yes, and travel all around the world, see every country through
I'd surely like to come along and see what may be new
But my passport's disappearing as I sing these words to you
Well, there really is no need to travel to these evil lands
Yes, and though the list grows larger you must try to understand
Try hard not to be surprised if someday you should hear
The whole world is off limits, visit Disneyland this year
William Worthy isn't worthy to enter our door
Went down to Cuba, he's not American anymore
But somehow it is strange to hear the State Department say
You are living in the free world, in the free world you must stay
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