Three Songs by Phil Ochs

Bound For Glory

He walked all over his own growin' land

 From the New York island to the California sand

 He saw all the people that needed to be seen

 Planted all the grass where it needed to be green

And now he's bound for a glory all his own

He wrote and he sang and he rode upon the rails

And he got on board when the sailors had to sail

He said all the words that needed to be said

He fed all the hungry souls that needed to be fed

(chorus)

He sang in our streets and he sang in our halls

And he was always there when the unions gave a call

He did all the jobs that needed to be done

He always stood his ground when a smaller man would run

(chorus)

And its Pastures of Plenty wrote the dustbowl balladeer

And This Land is Your Land, he wanted us to hear

And the risin'  of the unions will be sung about again

And the Deportees live on through the power of his pen

(chorus)

Now they sing out his praises on every distant shore

But so few remember what he was fightin' for

Oh why sing the songs and forget about the aim?

He wrote them for a reason, why not sing them for the same

(chorus)

I Going To Say It Now

Oh I am just a student, sir, and only want to learn

But it's hard to read through the risin' smoke of the books that

   you like to burn

So I'd like to make a promise and I'd like to make a vow

That when I've got something to say, sir, I'm gonna say it now

Oh you've given me a number and you've taken off my name

To get around this campus why you almost need a plane

And you're supporting Chang Kai-Shek, while I'm supporting Mao

So when I've got something to say, sir, I'm gonna say it now

I wish that you'd make up your mind, I wish that you'd decide

That I should live as freely as those who live outside

Cause we also are entitled to the rights to be endowed

And when I've got something to say, sir, I'm gonna say it now

Ooh, you'd like to be my father you'd like to be my Dad

And give me kisses when I'm good and spank me when I'm bad

But since I've left my parents I've forgotten how to bow

So when I've got something to say, sir, I'm gonna say it now

And things they might be different if I was here alone

But I've got a friend or two who no longer live at home

And we'll respect our elders just as long as they allow

That when I've got something to say, sir, I'm gonna say it now

I've read of other countries where the students take a stand

Maybe even help to overthrow the leaders of the land

Now I wouldn't go so far to say we're also learnin' how

But when I've got something to say, sir, I'm gonna say it now

So keep right on a-talkin' and tell us what to do

If nobody listens my apologies to you

And I know that you were younger once 'cause you sure are older now

And when I've got something to say, sir, I'm gonna say it now

Oh I am just a student sir, and only want to learn

But it's hard to read through the risin' smoke from the books 

that you like to burn 

So I'd like to make a promise and I'd like to make a vow

That when I've got something to say, sir, I'm gonna say it now

[ Additional verse, 1974 ]

So I am just a trucker, sir, and I only want to learn

But it's hard to read the the rise of the smoke

From the fuel that you like to burn

So I'd like to make a promise and I'd like to make a vow

That when I've got something to say, sir, I'm gonna say it now

Rehearsals for Retirement

The lights are cold again they dance below me

I turn to old friends they do not know me

All but the beggar he remembers

I put a penny down for payment

In my rehearsals for retirement

Had I known the end would end in laughter

I tell my daughter it doesn't matter

The stage is tainted with empty voices

The ladies painted they have no choices

I take my colors from the stable

They lie in tatters by the tournament

In my rehearsals for retirement

Where are the armies who killed a country

And turned a strong man into a baby

No comes the rabble they are welcome

I wait in anger and amusement

In my rehearsals for retirement

Had I known the end would end in laughter

Still I tell my daughter that it doesn't matter

Farewell my own true love, farewell my fancy

Are you still owin' me love, though you failed me

But one last gesture for her pleasure

I'll paint your memory on the monument

In my rehearsals for retirement