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
In the Heat of the Summer
Phil Ochs Lyrics
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F a
When the pavements were burning
Dm c dm
The soul of a city was ravaged in the night
Gm dm
After the city sun was sinkin'
Now no one knows how it started
F a
Why the windows were shattered
Dm c dm
But deep in the dark, someone set the spark
Gm dm
And then it no longer mattered.
Dm gm dm
Down the streets they were rumbling
F a
All the tempers were ragin
Dm c dm
Oh, where, oh, where are the white silver tongues
Gm dm
Who forgot to listen to the warnings?
Dm gm dm
On and on come the angry
F a
No longer following reason
Dm c dm
And all the stores were the target now
Gm dm
Where just the other day they were buyin
Dm gm dm
Drunk with the memory of the ghetto
F a
Drunk with the lure of the looting
Dm c dm
And the memory of the uniforms shoving with their sticks
Gm dm
Asking, are you looking for trouble?
Dm gm dm
No, no, no, moaned the mayor.
F a
It's not the way of the order.
Dm c dm
Oh stay in your homes, please leave us alone
Gm dm
We'll be glad to talk in the morning.
Dm gm dm
For shame, for shame, wrote the papers.
F a
Why the hurry to your hunger?
Dm c dm
Now the rubble's resting on your broken streets
Gm dm
So you see what your rage has unraveled.
Dm gm dm
Baricades sadly were risin
F a
Bricks were heavily flyin
Dm c dm
And the loudspeaker drowned like a whisperin' sound
Gm dm
When compared to the angered emotions
Dm gm dm
And when the fury was over
F a
And the shame was replacing the anger.
Dm c dm
So wrong, so wrong, but we've been down so long
Gm dm
And we had to make somebody listen
Gm dm gm dm gm dm
In the heat of the summer......
Phil Ochs's "In the Heat of the Summer" is a powerful protest song about the 1964 Harlem riots. The song paints a picture of the chaos and violence that erupted on the streets of New York City during a hot summer night in 1964. The first verse sets the scene, describing the oppressive heat and the effect it had on the city. The lyrics "When the pavements were burning, The soul of a city was ravaged in the night" vividly depict the overwhelming sense of destruction and blight that persisted during the riots. This line reflects the helplessness and powerlessness of the citizens of New York City during the summer of 1964.
The second verse highlights the confusion and disbelief in the aftermath of the riots. With no real understanding of what triggered the violence, the officials cling to disingenuous phrases such as "It's not the way of the order." The lyrics "But deep in the dark, someone set the spark, And then it no longer mattered" reflect the sense of paranoia and fear that pervaded the air in the aftermath of the riots. Phil Ochs is critical of the lack of attention paid by the white authorities to the warnings of the black community, and highlights the destructive consequences of this lack of understanding.
Overall, "In the Heat of the Summer" is a powerful commentary on race relations in America in the 1960s. By painting a vivid picture of the chaos, fear, and hopelessness of the times, Phil Ochs offers a searing indictment of the structural inequalities that still persist today.
Line by Line Meaning
In the heat of the summer
The time when tensions run high.
When the pavements were burning
Street demonstrations were happening and things were out of control.
The soul of a city was ravaged in the night
The community was deeply affected by what had happened.
After the city sun was sinkin'
As night fell and people were beginning to settle down.
Now no one knows how it started
The root cause of the unrest is not clear.
Why the windows were shattered
People were vandalizing property.
But deep in the dark, someone set the spark
Someone did something that ignited the conflict.
And then it no longer mattered.
Once things were set in motion, it was difficult to stop them.
Down the streets they were rumbling
There was a strong sense of dissatisfaction and unease.
All the tempers were ragin
People were very angry and upset.
Oh, where, oh, where are the white silver tongues
The people who ordinarily would have been able to calm things down were not present.
Who forgot to listen to the warnings?
No one paid attention to the indicators of what was to come.
On and on come the angry
The sense of anger persisted.
No longer following reason
People were acting purely on emotion.
And all the stores were the target now
The widespread looting began.
Where just the other day they were buyin
People who once purchased goods in these stores were now ransacking them.
Drunk with the memory of the ghetto
People were feeling empowered in the moment, thinking of past injustices.
Drunk with the lure of the looting
People were getting caught up in the excitement of taking things they thought they deserved.
And the memory of the uniforms shoving with their sticks
People were thinking of past acts of police brutality - this fueled their anger.
Asking, are you looking for trouble?
People were fed up with being mistreated by authorities.
No, no, no, moaned the mayor.
The mayor was politically impotent and couldn't stop the riots.
It's not the way of the order.
The actions of the rioters contradicted the values of civil society.
Oh stay in your homes, please leave us alone
The authorities were asking people to disengage and refrain from participating in the unrest.
We'll be glad to talk in the morning.
Officials remain hopeful a peaceful resolution can be found.
For shame, for shame, wrote the papers.
The media was critical of the riots and their effects.
Why the hurry to your hunger?
People began to wonder if the violence was justified given the destruction brought upon their own neighborhoods.
Now the rubble's resting on your broken streets
The aftermath of the riots leaves a devastated urban environment.
So you see what your rage has unraveled.
The consequences of the violence ultimately go against the interests of the community.
Baricades sadly were risin
Authorities deployed barriers to prevent further unrest.
Bricks were heavily flyin
People were still engaged in violent acts.
And the loudspeaker drowned like a whisperin' sound
The authorities' attempts to restore peace and order were not effective.
When compared to the angered emotions
It's difficult to counter the emotional state of those rioting.
And when the fury was over
The unpredictable and ultimately uncontrollable rage eventually subsided.
And the shame was replacing the anger.
People begin to second guess the justification of their actions.
So wrong, so wrong, but we've been down so long
The circumstances leading up to the riots are so bad that some feel there are no other means to affect change - they feel left with no choice.
And we had to make somebody listen
The ultimate goal of the riots is to make sure those in power are aware of community grievances.
In the heat of the summer......
The rage and tension of the summer reached boiling point, and boiled over assaulting one another's pride and dignity.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PHIL OCHS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind