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Step outside the guidelines of the official umpires and make your own rules and your own reality.

Phil Ochs

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Phil Ochs
Age: 35 †
Born: 1940
Born: December 19
Died: 1976
Died: April 9
Guitarist
Poet
Singer
Singer-Songwriter
Songwriter
El Paso
Texas
Philip David Ochs
Reality
Umpires
Make
Official
Officials
Rules
Sea
Step
Outside
Steps
Guidelines

More quotes by Phil Ochs

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I write all my own songs and they are just simple melodies with a lot of lyrics. They usually have to do with current events and what is going on in the news. You can call them topical songs, songs about the news, and then developing into more philosophical songs later.
Phil Ochs
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I can spare a dime, brother, but in these morally inflationary times, a dime goes a lot farther if it's demanding work rather than adding to the indignity of relief.
Phil Ochs
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God isn't dead - he's just missing in action.
Phil Ochs
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The fortunes of the entire world may well ride on the ability of young Americans to face the responsibilities of an old America gone mad.
Phil Ochs
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Leaving America is like losing twenty pounds and finding a new girlfriend.
Phil Ochs
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In the courtroom, watch the balance of the scalesIf the price is right, there's time for more appealsThe strings are pulled, the switch is stayedThe finest lawyers fees are paidAnd a rich man never died upon the chair
Phil Ochs
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In every political community there are varying shades of political opinion. One of the shadiest of these is the liberals. An outspoken group on many subjects. Ten degrees to the left of center in good times. Ten degrees to the right of center if it affects them personally. Here, then, is a lesson in safe logic.
Phil Ochs
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In such ugly times, the only true protest is beauty.
Phil Ochs
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One legged veterans will greet the dawn, and they're whistling marches as they mow the lawn, and the gargoyles on sit and grieve.
Phil Ochs
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In the state of Mississippi, Many Years Ago, a boy of 14 years got a taste of Southern law.
Phil Ochs
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Does defending liberalism leave you friendless and perhaps wondering about your breath?
Phil Ochs
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It is wrong to expect a reward for your struggles. The reward is the act of struggle itself, not what you win. Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's life.
Phil Ochs
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I like Hitler, jolly jolly Hitler.
Phil Ochs
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The only possibility in the United States for a humane society would be a revolution with Elvis Presley as leader.
Phil Ochs
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Maybe we should raise our voices, ask somebody why. But demonstrations are a drag, besides we're much too high.
Phil Ochs
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Call it peace or call it treason / call it love or call it reason / but I ain't marching anymore
Phil Ochs
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Oh you tell me that there's danger to the land you call your own, And you watch them build the war machine right beside your home, And you tell me that you're ready to go marchin' to the war, I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?
Phil Ochs
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Show me a country where the bombs had to fallShow me the ruins of buildings so tallAnd I'll show you a young landWith many reasons whyThere but for fortune, go you or IYou or I.
Phil Ochs
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One good song with a message can bring a point more deeply to more people than a thousand rallies.
Phil Ochs
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It is wrong to expect a reward for your struggles. The reward is the act of struggle itself, not what you win.
Phil Ochs