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
Remember Me
Phil Ochs Lyrics
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I didn't want to fight, it was the only thing to do.
I was the victim of a world that went insane--
Will you show me that I didn't die in vain.
Remember me, when the racists come around.
Remember me, when the tides of peace are turnin',
Remember me and please don't let me down.
On the South Pacific Islands and the Iwo Jima sands
We raised the flag of freedom over many distant lands
And every time I killed a man my own heart felt the pain--
Will you show me that I didn't die in vain.
Remember me, when the crosses are a burnin',
Remember me, when the racists come around.
Remember me, when the tides of peace are turnin',
Remember me and please don't let me down.
And I carried my old rifle to the European shore
And every friend that died made me die a little more.
Have pity on the man who put a bullet through my brain
And show me that I didn't die in vain.
Remember me, when the crosses are a burnin',
Remember me, when the racists come around.
Remember me, when the tides of peace are turnin',
Remember me and please don't let me down.
When the Fascists started marching many millions had to pay;
We saw them rise to power but we looked the other way.
It happened once before and it can happen once again--
Will you show me that I didn't die in vain.
Remember me, when the crosses are a burnin',
Remember me, when the racists come around.
Remember me, when the tides of peace are turnin',
Remember me and please don't let me down.
Phil Ochs's song, "Remember Me," speaks from the perspective of a soldier who died during World War II, reflecting on the ways in which war can be senseless and tragic. The lyrics assert that he did not want to fight, but was a victim of a world "that went insane." He laments the lives taken by war and asks those who remain to remember what they fought for and honor their sacrifice. He implores listeners to remember him when the "crosses are burning," referencing the Ku Klux Klan's terroristic acts against African Americans, and when "racists come around," urging vigilance against hate and bigotry. He also asks the listener to remember him when the "tides of peace are turning," implying that peace is a fragile thing that requires active effort to achieve and must not be taken for granted.
Furthermore, the song captures the sense of existential guilt and personal anguish that soldiers may feel after taking part in war. The singer laments that every time he killed a man, his own heart felt the pain. He carried his old rifle to European shores and watched his friends die, and he has sympathy for the man who put a bullet through his own brain. This sense of guilt and suffering speaks to the human toll of war and the lasting effects that it can have on those who participate, even those who do so unwillingly.
Overall, Phil Ochs's "Remember Me" is a powerful commentary on the destructiveness of war and the need to remember those who sacrificed their lives for a cause. It is a call to action, urging people to actively work for peace and to honor the memories of those who perished.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I am the Unknown Soldier who died in World War Two.
I am one of the many soldiers who fought in World War Two and died, but remained anonymous.
I didn't want to fight, it was the only thing to do.
I was forced to fight, although I didn't want to, due to the circumstances at the time.
I was the victim of a world that went insane--
The world was in a state of madness and chaos, which affected me and many others negatively.
Will you show me that I didn't die in vain.
Please prove to me that my death was not meaningless and that I made a difference.
Remember me, when the crosses are a burnin',
I want to be remembered when people are burning crosses in hate and bigotry.
Remember me, when the racists come around.
When faced with racism, remember that I died fighting for a world where everyone is equal.
Remember me, when the tides of peace are turnin',
During times of peace, do not forget the sacrifices made by those who fought for it.
Remember me and please don't let me down.
Please do not let my death be in vain and continue to work towards a better world.
On the South Pacific Islands and the Iwo Jima sands
I fought in battles on South Pacific Islands and the Iwo Jima sands.
We raised the flag of freedom over many distant lands
We fought for the freedom of people in distant lands and raised our flag to signify it.
And every time I killed a man my own heart felt the pain--
Killing another human being was a difficult experience that left me in emotional pain.
And I carried my old rifle to the European shore
I also fought in Europe, carrying my trusted rifle to the shore.
And every friend that died made me die a little more.
Losing friends in battle took a toll on me emotionally and made me feel as though I was dying along with them.
Have pity on the man who put a bullet through my brain
Please feel sympathy for my killer, who was also a victim of the war.
And show me that I didn't die in vain.
Please provide evidence that my death meant something and had a positive impact on the world.
When the Fascists started marching many millions had to pay;
When the Fascists began to gain power and marched forward with their agenda, millions of people suffered.
We saw them rise to power but we looked the other way.
Although we witnessed the rise of Fascism, we ignored it and did not take action against it.
It happened once before and it can happen once again--
Fascism has happened before and can happen again if we do not remain vigilant against it.
Will you show me that I didn't die in vain.
Please prove to me that my death was not in vain and that the fight against Fascism continues.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: PHIL OCHS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind