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
Song of My Returning
Phil Ochs Lyrics
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My wanderlust is formed
I've got to follow them wherever they may lead
For I am just a sailor on a ship across the land
Let me hold your hand
To bid farewell so I can knuckle to my knees
But I'll be back again no matter where I go
For it's only love that frees the fire for burning
As I sing the early song of my returning
The weary world is waiting for ambition to be played
Now young and not afraid
I've got to challenge every chalice that I know
My eager ears are listening for the singing of the sign
Deeper are the lines
Upon the face that finds reflections in the road
Yes, I'll be back again no matter where I go
For it's only love that frees the fire for burning
Then I'll take you in my arms and tell you all I know
As I sing the changing song of my returning
My drifting days prepare me to do battle with the night
A phantom of the fight
I've got conquer all the courage of my fears
The answer lies in limbo(?) and the harvest will be hard
But sacred are the scars
That leave their mark on the fast disolving years
Yes, I'll be back again no matter where I go
For it's only love that frees the fire for burning
Then I'll take you in my arms and tell you all I know
As I sing the growing song of my returning
Time must have her victory
It's that I've always known
But I won or lost alone
And when a voice calls out "there's someone you must meet"
With every strength remaining
I will suffer one more scene
I'll gather all my dreams
And with my final breath
I'll lay them at your feet.
Yes, I'll be back again no matter where I go
For it's only love that frees the fire for burning
Then I'll take you in my arms and tell you all I know
As I sing the final song of my returning
In "Song of My Returning," Phil Ochs expresses his wanderlust and desire to challenge himself in the world. The wild geese represent the freedom and adventure he seeks as a sailor on a ship across the land. He asks his listener to bid him farewell and promises to return, because only love frees the fire for burning. As he sings the early, changing, growing, and final song of his returning, he shows his determination to live a life true to himself and leave his mark on the world.
Ochs uses vivid language to convey his sense of purpose and urgency. He hears the singing of the sign and sees deeper lines upon the face that finds reflections in the road. He will conquer all the courage of his fears and accept the sacred scars that leave their mark on the fast-disolving years. He knows that time must have her victory, but he will not give up without a fight. He will suffer one more scene, gather all his dreams, and lay them at his listener's feet with his final breath. His message is clear: live boldly, love fiercely, and never stop singing the song of your returning.
Line by Line Meaning
The wild geese are dancing in the ripples of the morn
The beauty of nature inspires my wanderlust.
My wanderlust is formed
My desire to explore the world is strong and innate.
I've got to follow them wherever they may lead
I am compelled to chase after my dreams and explore new places.
For I am just a sailor on a ship across the land
I am merely a traveler on a journey through life.
Let me hold your hand
Please comfort me as I prepare to embark on my journey.
To bid farewell so I can knuckle to my knees
I need to say goodbye so I can begin my adventure with humility and respect.
But I'll be back again no matter where I go
I will return eventually, even if I travel far from home.
For it's only love that frees the fire for burning
Love is the source of inspiration and passion that fuels my soul.
Then I'll take you in my arms and tell you all I know
When I return, I will share my experiences with you and hold you close.
As I sing the early song of my returning
I celebrate the joy of coming home and sharing my adventures with loved ones.
The weary world is waiting for ambition to be played
The world is waiting for those of us with ambition to make an impact.
Now young and not afraid
I am young and unafraid to pursue my ambitions.
I've got to challenge every chalice that I know
I must take risks and challenge myself to achieve my goals.
My eager ears are listening for the singing of the sign
I am listening closely for guidance and direction on my journey.
Deeper are the lines
The journey is tough, and it leaves lasting marks on us.
Upon the face that finds reflections in the road
Our experiences are reflected in our faces and our life paths.
As I sing the changing song of my returning
I acknowledge the ways in which my journey has changed me and my view of the world.
My drifting days prepare me to do battle with the night
My wandering has taught me to be resilient in the face of challenges and hardships.
A phantom of the fight
The struggles I faced on my journey are like lingering ghosts, always with me.
I've got to conquer all the courage of my fears
I must overcome my fears if I am to succeed in life.
The answer lies in limbo and the harvest will be hard
The way forward is unclear, and the rewards of my efforts may be difficult to attain.
But sacred are the scars
Even our scars have value and meaning in our lives.
That leave their mark on the fast dissolving years
Our experiences shape us and stay with us as we grow old.
As I sing the growing song of my returning
My journey has taught me much, and I am still learning and growing.
Time must have her victory
Time will ultimately win, and we must make the most of the time we have.
It's that I've always known
I understand that life is fleeting and precious.
But I won or lost alone
Ultimately, our successes and failures are ours alone to bear.
And when a voice calls out "there's someone you must meet"
There are people who will cross our paths and impact our lives.
With every strength remaining
Even when we are exhausted, we must push ourselves to keep going.
I will suffer one more scene
I will continue to endure hardship and persevere through challenges.
I'll gather all my dreams
I will keep my dreams and aspirations close to me, even in the face of adversity.
And with my final breath
Even when our time is almost up, we must keep striving to follow our dreams.
I'll lay them at your feet.
I will give my all to pursue my goals and dreams, even if I do not ultimately achieve them.
As I sing the final song of my returning
Even at the end of our lives, we look back on the journey and take stock of what we have gained and lost.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PHIL OCHS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind