I saw Phil Ochs play in Darwin, Australia in 1972. at a small outdoor venue with a handful of people in the audience. One of the best live performances I have ever been to, just him and a guitar.
To me it has always been about the promise of greatness. "Her Power Shall Rest on the Strength of Her Freedom." Then it goes on to say "Glory" rests on us all. I think that means we all have an obligation to maintain the strength of her freedom. 50 years years later, it's still meaningful. I learned this song when I was about 13. A friend and I sang it as a duet, at assemblies, church, even Girl Scout camp.
I love that he released a regular studio album and called it “Greatest Hits”. On the cover he’s wearing a gold Elvis-like Nudie suit and the back says “50 Phil Ochs fan can’t be wrong “.
I think perhaps you should listen to more of Ochs' music if you truly believe that. This song was written in the 1960s, btw. It's on one of his first 2 albums, which were released in 1964 and 1965.
It might also be worth pointing out that one of his concerts in the 70s was cut short due to a bomb threat. But yeah, everything was more relaxed. You aren't just viewing the past through rose-tinted glasses. Not at all.
One of his earliest songs. He was originally supposed to do Here's to the State of Richard Nixon with Jim Glover here, but NBC balked, and instead he did this and Changes.
This might have been shortly after his "Gunfight at Carnegie Hall" where he punched the glass at the box office, to give a refund to a "fan" who wasn't happy with Phil's performance.
Greatest show I ever saw was when Phil Ochs was on The Mort Sahl Show.. The conversation was so stimulating, but I accessed it in Australia (maybe someone deleted it, maybe it's not available in the US)
His name did sound familiar when we saw this episode, but I didn’t look him up until now. He was quite a prolific protest singer and had eight albums. Sadly, he died at 36 by suicide. Sad ending. 😢
Phil was an original but when writing this song back in 1963, was bound to be influenced by those around him, Johnny Cash being one of them. There are the lyrics also.
![Bob Dylan - Hurricane (Live on PBS, 1975) [RARE ORIGINAL AUDIO]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/voH11xV4AKI/mqdefault.jpg)
I saw Phil Ochs play in Darwin, Australia in 1972. at a small outdoor venue with a handful of people in the audience. One of the best live performances I have ever been to, just him and a guitar.
I’m obsessed with Phil Ochs.
Me too
me three.
One of the greatest and most powerful singers ever.
To me it has always been about the promise of greatness. "Her Power Shall Rest on the Strength of Her Freedom." Then it goes on to say "Glory" rests on us all. I think that means we all have an obligation to maintain the strength of her freedom. 50 years years later, it's still meaningful. I learned this song when I was about 13. A friend and I sang it as a duet, at assemblies, church, even Girl Scout camp.
What a great comment. Thank you for sharing
It also means we will get inherit...consequences,glory..we will inherit.how long? The Bible says upto 7 generations
This is one of the greatest things on UA-cam. It’s a perfectly tortured performance. It has more depth than all the pop music of the past 40 years.
Maybe his best song ever! What a powerful anthem!
I love that he released a regular studio album and called it “Greatest Hits”. On the cover he’s wearing a gold Elvis-like Nudie suit and the back says “50 Phil Ochs fan can’t be wrong “.
I do believe every generation has it's strife and it's glory but things were much simpler and relaxed in the seventies, despite the hardships.
Yes, that’s true.
Sure, if you discount the wars (US didn't leave Vietnam until 1973), PTSD, economic hard times, COINTELPRO, apartheid, and so on. 🙄
I think perhaps you should listen to more of Ochs' music if you truly believe that.
This song was written in the 1960s, btw. It's on one of his first 2 albums, which were released in 1964 and 1965.
It might also be worth pointing out that one of his concerts in the 70s was cut short due to a bomb threat. But yeah, everything was more relaxed. You aren't just viewing the past through rose-tinted glasses. Not at all.
One of his earliest songs. He was originally supposed to do Here's to the State of Richard Nixon with Jim Glover here, but NBC balked, and instead he did this and Changes.
If I'm seeing it right and his right arm/wrist is in a cast, respect! He played through it like it wasn't there.
This might have been shortly after his "Gunfight at Carnegie Hall" where he punched the glass at the box office, to give a refund to a "fan" who wasn't happy with Phil's performance.
Dear Phil
Greatest show I ever saw was when Phil Ochs was on The Mort Sahl Show.. The conversation was so stimulating, but I accessed it in Australia (maybe someone deleted it, maybe it's not available in the US)
Shades of Woody Guthrie
His name did sound familiar when we saw this episode, but I didn’t look him up until now. He was quite a prolific protest singer and had eight albums. Sadly, he died at 36 by suicide. Sad ending. 😢
Thank you for sharing. I appreciate the information.
Have a peaceful and wonderful weekend! 💖🕊
@@that70sgirl90 You, too!💜
Only two years after this performance
If you get a chance check out "Death of a Rebel" Phil Och's biography, written by Marc Eliot. Pretty good book...
Phil did a lot of Cash covers in live performances.
Release the B R E A D episode. Plz!
Lots of borrowing from Johnny Cash, in a good but not great way. Also check out the Waylon Jennings similar songs.
Looking at him from the side he surely resembles Johnny Cash and like you said at times does sound like him too!
Phil was an original but when writing this song back in 1963, was bound to be influenced by those around him, Johnny Cash being one of them. There are the lyrics also.
He even did a cover of Cash's "How High's the Water" during this time in 1974, called "How High's the Watergate."
@@richardbanker3910 This is certainly more Woody Guthrie than Johnny, his version of "This Land is Your Land."
Phil hated Johnny Cash. Considered him a sell out playing the White House for Nixon