Josh Price

Com. 290

Phil Ochs

Phil Ochs was born Philip David Ochs on December 19, 1940 in El Paso, Texas. He died on Friday April 9^th , 1976 in Chicago, Illinois. Phil Ochs brought about a much need awareness about the civil rights movement, the death penalty, the war in Vietnam and many other political topics that still exists today.

Ochs graduated from Staunton Military Academy in Virginia, and later went on to Ohio State for three years (Schumacher, 28). He later move to New York, where many well known folk sings lived. He met many people such as Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, who were also up and coming folk singers of the day. Phil Ochs did not achieve has much commercial fame as Baez or Dylan. Some would say that Phil stayed true to his passion for change and revolution, because his lyrics always addressed political issues of the day. Ochs was never afraid to show his that he had a sentimental side to him. The music wasn't about being hip or cool it was about the message. Two of Phil Ochs most sentimental songs are "Changes" and "There But For Fortune", you can find this songs on Phil Ochs in Concert. "There But For Fortune" was written for Phil by Joan Baez. While Phil Ochs was in New York he met Alice Skinner who he would later marry. Phil Ochs had a daughter by Alice named Meegan, and not to long after Phil and Alice were married they split up. Phil wrote in the album cover of I ain't marching any more, "And so people walk up to me and ask, ' Do you really believe in what your songs are saying?' And I have to smile and reply, "Hell no, but the money's good." This just goes to show you a little bit of Phil's sense of humor, and sarcasm.

J. Edgar Hoover had taken a personal interest in Phil and had FBI agents from San Francisco, Chicago, and New York trying to find him (Schumacher, 206). They wanted to ask him questions about his involvement with the demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention and tried to charge him with violation of the "Federal Anti-riot Law". Phil didn't answer any of their questions and wasn't charge with any crimes, but his FBI file was over an inch thick (Schumacher, 206). To give you an idea of some of the songs Phil wrote here are some quotes Phil wrote about the songs I ain't marching anymore, Here's to the state of Mississippi, and That was the President. These were taken from the album I ain't marching anymore : I ain't marching anymore - "This borders between pacifism and treason, combining the best qualities of both. The fact that you won't be hearing this song over the radio is more than enough justification for the writing of it." Here's to the state of Mississippi : "This song might be subtitled Farewell to Mississippi, for in order to write a few more songs like this, it might be wiser for me to stay away for a while. I was down there last summer and must admit that I met some nice people and that the state isn't as bad as my song implies, unless you are a Negro who has forgotten his place." That was the President : "My Marxist friends can't understand why I wrote this song and that's probably one of the reasons why I'm not a Marxist. After the assassination Field Casto aptly pointed out that only fools could rejoice at such a tragedy, for systems, not men, are the enemy." As you can see Phil's songs were very political. Agnes Cunningham, editor of Broadside Magazine, 1964, says, " Phil says (and he says it with a smile, pardner) that he gets most of his basic material from Newsweek and the N.Y. Times. But, frankly, there's an awful lot more to his songs than what you'll find in Newsweek, or even the Times" (All the News that's Fit to Sing, 2). Some of Phil's most well known albums are All the News that's Fit to Sing (1964), I ain't marching anymore (1965), and Phil Ochs in Concert (1966) (Schumacher, 375).

An interesting fact about Phil Ochs that I found out was that a year before he died (1975) John Train came on the scene. John Train was Phil Ochs, Mr. Hide, or his split personality (Schumacher, 313). Phil had grown older and depressed. He had a drinking problem and many other things that brought him to this low point in life. Phil did over come his split personality John Train not to long before he died. He was still very depressed and stayed that way until he took his own life by hanging himself in his sisters bathroom. He was living with her and her kids at the time (Schumacher, 352). He is missed dearly, but the ringing of revolution is carried on by his music and by those whose lives were changed forever by his activism.

Schumacher, Michael. There But for Fortune: The Life of Phil Ochs. New York: Hyperion,1996.

Ochs, Phil. I ain't marching anymore. Warner Bros. Records Inc., 1986.

Ochs, Phil. All the News that Fit to Sing. Warner Bros. Records Inc., 1987.

Ochs, Phil. Phil Ochs in Concert. Elektra Entertainment, 1996 & 1995.