And we died in a wasted war—it's gone that way before

[sovay]

What kind of necromancy do I have to work to get the shade of Phil Ochs back? What is the secret history of the world, that his death was not counterweight enough? That we are here, again, where too many of his songs can be quoted as headlines? The flag has blown a fuse. Is there anybody here who thinks that following the orders takes away the blame? Sarcastic students tell them not to fight no more. We're teaching the people the freedom for which they are yearning—while we're dragging them down to the path of never returning, but we'll condescend to talk while your cities are burning. And do you have a picture of the pain? Who is the sacrifice this time, enough to jolt us onto a different track? Or are we past that chance? (I don't want to satirize these people, I want to vaporize them.) Oh, dance, dance, dance. One day the waste land wondered where the fisher king had gone.

Comments

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

What kind of necromancy do I have to work to get the shade of Phil Ochs back?

Don't mourn; organise! And remember what Billy Bragg said:

where people stand up for their rights
phil ochs is with us still

[farwing.livejournal.com]

I have often thought this before: what would Phil Ochs say to this? Except you are quite right. He has already said it.

But I rather wish we could actually raise the dead sometimes. Do you think more people would listen if we could?

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Yeah.

Phil, you weren't done yet. Get your ass back here.

[cucumberseed.livejournal.com]

There is one hint for the optimistic; if he is not among the dead, that means he could still be around.

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

Carry it on.

Nine

[gwynnega]

Yes, exactly. To the victor go the ashes of the spoils...