Tom Flannery If Phil Ochs Was Still Alive
Sometimes I'm still hesitantto say what I want to say
afraid of what people might think
if I really joined the fray
but then I'll hang my head some
and onward will I strive
afraid what Phil Ochs would do
if he was still alive
The friends he had are just like mine
a selective sort of crew
they'll stop by when they need a hand
and then look at you askew
when you talk about the killing
being done in our own name
they'll make a rush towards the door
not wanting to take the blame
They say Phil Ochs killed himself
but that was never true
he was killed by those around him
on his search for lost virtue
like a tree they chopped from the bottom up
chipped away his psyche
until there wasn't enough to stand no more
and he no longer cared to be
Well these are crazy times we're living in
and I sure could use some help
everybody's gagged with the flag
I end up talking to myself
some nights I go out walking
or for a long lonely drive
and I think how things might be different
if Phil Ochs was still alive