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
Never Again
Phil Ochs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a great world this would be
If everybody stoped their hating
Saw the devil and called him satan
*chorus*
Never again, never again
No more the bugle sounds the battle cry
No more we die
If all our boundaries melted away
From the china sea to the usa
Flags of war at last were faded
One world at last created
*chorus*
And if every man on every shore
Cast a ballot for peace or war
And when all votes were counted
White dove of peace was mounted
*chorus*
*repeat last verse*
*chorus*
The song "Never Again" by Phil Ochs is a call for the end of war and violence in the world. The opening lines express the singer's belief that the world could be great if people stopped hating and recognized the evil in themselves and others. The chorus repeats the phrase "never again" three times, emphasizing the need to end war permanently. The line "no more we die" captures the heartache and devastation caused by wars, and suggests that we should strive for a world of peace where no one has to suffer or die because of conflict.
The song proposes a vision of a world without boundaries, where flags of war no longer exist and one world is created. It's a utopian ideal, but one that speaks to the inherent desire for unity and harmony among humanity. The final verse calls for every man to cast a ballot for peace or war, and for the White Dove of Peace to be mounted once all the votes are tallied. Here, the use of the white dove as a symbol of peace is notable, as it has been used in various contexts throughout history to represent the hope for nonviolence and tranquility.
In conclusion, "Never Again" is a beautiful and powerful song that speaks to the universal desire for world peace. Its simple yet profound lyrics suggest that a great world is within our reach if we can let go of our hatred and embrace love and unity instead.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know, but it seems to me
I'm not entirely sure, but it feels to me
What a great world this would be
This world would be wonderful
If everybody stopped their hating
If everyone stopped their negative feelings
Saw the devil and called him satan
Recognized the evil in the world and spoke out against it
Never again, never again
We must avoid repeating history's mistakes
No more the bugle sounds the battle cry
No more wars will be fought
No more the cannons' roar
The sound of battle will be gone forever
No more we die
No one will have to sacrifice their life for war
If all our boundaries melted away
If we put aside our differences
From the china sea to the usa
From one end of the world to the other
Flags of war at last were faded
The symbols of war were gone forever
One world at last created
The world will become united
And if every man on every shore
If every person in the world
Cast a ballot for peace or war
Had the chance to vote for peace or war
And when all votes were counted
Once every vote was tallied
White dove of peace was mounted
The symbol of peace was finally embraced
Repeat last verse
Sing the last verse again
Contributed by Lucas Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Margaret Ross
Nice one!