Ochs performed at many political events, including anti-Vietnam War and civil rights rallies, student events, and organized labor events over the course of his career, in addition to many concert appearances at such venues as New York City's Town Hall and Carnegie Hall. Politically, Ochs described himself as a "left social democrat" who became an "early revolutionary" after the protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago led to a police riot, which had a profound effect on his state of mind.
After years of prolific writing in the 1960s, Ochs's mental stability declined in the 1970s. He eventually succumbed to a number of problems including alcoholism, and took his own life in 1976.
Some of Ochs's major influences were Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Bob Gibson, Faron Young, Merle Haggard, John Wayne, and John F. Kennedy. His best-known songs include "I Ain't Marching Anymore", "Changes", "Crucifixion", "Draft Dodger Rag", "Love Me I'm a Liberal", "Outside of a Small Circle of Friends", "Power and the Glory", "There but for Fortune", and "The War Is Over".
For a more thorough and interesting bio on Phil visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Ochs
How Long
Phil Ochs Lyrics
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How long, how long can we go on
F# g be
How long, how long can we go on,
See d
This troubled land may never last
See d em
There is no future in the past
How far, how far have we gone
How far, how far have we gone,
So many battles without a gain (so many struggles have we lost)
So many young men lost in vain. (so many men on the cross)
*chorus*
G d
Why the fear of the coming of the morning?
G em
Why the trembling at the call?
G d
Can't we hear the final warning,
See em
Can't we see the writing on the wall?
So many years before the dawn,
So many years before the dawn,
So many children have never grown
So many cannonballs have flown.
(so many dogs have hid their bone)
So many rains have had to fall,
So many rains have had to fall,
So many storms before the flood
So many rainbows red with blood.
Why the fear of the comin' of the morning?
Why the trembling at the call?
Can't we hear the final warning?
Can't we see the writing on the wall?
How long, how long can we go on
How long, how long can we go on,
This troubled land may never last
There is no future in the past. /pre>
Phil Ochs's song "How Long" speaks about the troubles of a land that may never last with no future in its past. Throughout the verses, we can see Ochs's pessimism towards the situations surrounding him. The chorus asks how long they can go on with the battle and the loss of life that comes with it. The lines "so many battles without a gain" and "so many young men lost in vain" express the frustration felt by those involved in violent conflicts with little progress. The use of the phrase "so many cannonballs have flown" gives light to the destruction and bloodshed that comes with war.
The lyrics "Why the fear of the comin' of the morning? Why the trembling at the call? Can't we hear the final warning? Can't we see the writing on the wall?" suggests that Ochs was trying to push for a call to action. He wants people to realize that the coming of the morning, and with it, the hope of a brighter future won't come without action. Ochs was trying to use his lyrics as a final warning, a wake-up call to those involved in the conflicts of the day.
Overall, "How Long" can be interpreted as a cry for change, a call to end these destructive conflicts and find a brighter future. The lyrics are full of frustration and pessimism, but Ochs did not shy away from expressing his hopes for a better tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
How long, how long can we go on
For how much longer can we continue in this way?
How long, how long can we go on,
For how much longer can we continue in this way?
This troubled land may never last
This nation may not survive for much longer because of its problems.
There is no future in the past
We cannot change the past and should focus on the future instead.
How far, how far have we gone
What is the extent of how much we've progressed?
How far, how far have we gone,
What is the extent of how much we've progressed?
So many battles without a gain
We've fought so many wars without achieving anything significant.
So many young men lost in vain.
So many young soldiers have died for no reason.
Why the fear of the coming of the morning?
Why are people afraid of the future and what it might bring?
Why the trembling at the call?
Why are people so scared when they're called upon to do something?
Can't we hear the final warning?
We need to pay attention to the signs that something is about to go wrong.
Can't we see the writing on the wall?
We need to see the obvious clues that something is about to happen.
So many years before the dawn,
It may take many years before things improve.
So many children have never grown
So many children have died before reaching adulthood.
So many cannonballs have flown.
So many bullets and bombs have been used in wars.
So many rains have had to fall,
We've gone through a lot of difficult times.
So many storms before the flood
We've gone through a lot of disasters before things got worse.
So many rainbows red with blood.
Even when good things happen, they're often ruined by violence and death.
How long, how long can we go on
For how much longer can we continue in this way?
How long, how long can we go on,
For how much longer can we continue in this way?
This troubled land may never last
This nation may not survive for much longer because of its problems.
There is no future in the past.
We cannot change the past and should focus on the future instead.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PHIL OCHS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind