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
The War Is Over
Phil Ochs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A F#m E A F#m
Framed in fantasies and dragged in dream
Bm E7 A
Unpaid actors of the mystery
Bm E F#m E
The mad director knows that freedom will not make you free
F#m E
G D
I declare the war is over
A E E A E C#m
It's over, it's over
Drums are drizzling on a grain of sand
Fading rhythms of a fading land
Prove your courage in the proud parade
Trust your leaders where mistakes are almost never made
And they're afraid that I'm afraid
I'm afraid the war is over
It's over, it's over
Angry artists painting angry signs
Use their vision just to blind the blind
Poisoned players of a grizzly game
One is guilty and the other gets the point to blame
Pardon me if I refrain
I declare the war is over
It's over, it's over
So do your duty, boys, and join with pride
Serve your country in her suicide
Find the flags so you can wave goodbye
But just before the end even treason might be worth a try
This country is too young to die
I declare the war is over
It's over, it's over
One-legged veterans will greet the dawn
And they're whistling marches as they mow the lawn
And the gargoyles only sit and grieve
The gypsy fortune teller told me that we'd been deceived
You only are what you believe
I believe the war is over
It's over, it's over
In Phil Ochs's song The War Is Over, he critiques different aspects of society that he believes contribute to the continuation of war. The first verse talks about the way war is represented in media, particularly in movies, where it is framed as glamorous and heroic. Ochs suggests that these representations are just fantasies and that real war is anything but heroic.
The second verse touches on the role of patriotism and blind loyalty to leaders. Ochs suggests that soldiers are encouraged to prove their courage in a "proud parade" and are taught to trust their leaders, even when they make mistakes. This blind trust, according to Ochs, is what keeps the war machine going.
In the third verse, Ochs critiqued the role of artists who use their talents to “blind the blind.” He also criticized those who play a “grizzly game” of blaming each other for the war. Ochs refused to take part in this game and declared that the war is over and that the country needs to move on.
The refrain, "I declare the war is over, it's over, it's over" signals Ochs's hope for an end to the devastating effects of war. He points out that the real victims of war are often the ones who are forgotten and left alone to deal with the aftermath, such as veterans who are barely able to make ends meet.
Overall, Phil Ochs's song seeks to expose the illusions that prop up war as noble or justifiable, and instead argue that it's time to end the cycle of violence and turn towards peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Silent Soldiers on a silver screen
People watching war movies
Framed in fantasies and dragged in dream
War is romanticized
Unpaid actors of the mystery
Soldiers are used and forgotten
The mad director knows that freedom will not make you free
The government uses war to control people
And what's this got to do with me
Why should I care about the war?
I declare the war is over
The war is finished
Drums are drizzling on a grain of sand
The sounds of war are fading away
Fading rhythms of a fading land
The country is suffering from the war
Prove your courage in the proud parade
People are encouraged to be loyal to the country
Trust your leaders where mistakes are almost never made
The government is not held responsible for the war
And they're afraid that I'm afraid
The government is afraid that people will realize the truth
Angry artists painting angry signs
People are protesting against the war
Use their vision just to blind the blind
The government is using propaganda to control people
Poisoned players of a grizzly game
The war is damaging both sides
One is guilty and the other gets the point to blame
Both sides blame each other for the war
Pardon me if I refrain
I don't want to participate in the war
So do your duty, boys, and join with pride
People are pressured to enlist in the army
Serve your country in her suicide
The war is killing the country from the inside
Find the flags so you can wave goodbye
People are encouraged to support the war effort
But just before the end even treason might be worth a try
It's never too late to stand against the war
This country is too young to die
The future of the country is at stake
One-legged veterans will greet the dawn
The veterans will rebuild the country
And they're whistling marches as they mow the lawn
People are celebrating the end of the war
And the gargoyles only sit and grieve
The government officials are indifferent to the people suffering
The gypsy fortune teller told me that we'd been deceived
People have been deceived by the government
You only are what you believe
People should believe in peace and love rather than war
I believe the war is over
The war is truly over
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PHIL OCHS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@patricklowry7001
I saw this man perform and met him briefly afterwards. He was just the kind of man you would expect him to be, kind, generous with his time and friendly to the point of explaining his new album to me. I miss him.
@richardrobinson1697
A TRUE VISIONARY! AS WE LOOK BACK 50 YEARS AGO. MAN WAS A PROPHET. VIETNAM 🇻🇳 WAS A WASTE OF LIVES!!🤔🇺🇸🤔
@aaliyah-pq6uc
that's a beautiful memory you get to keep <3
@charliesmith4072
Yes. And, unlike Dylan, he showed up when it counted.
@Hannah-kx4tl
Aww u lucky man!
@paulkocak7164
Same experience. I talked to him after a show at Max's Kansas City. Yes, kind and generous and compassionate.
@BenjaminWirtz
"Trust your leaders where mistakes are almost never made, and they're afraid that I'm afraid". Such a timeless line.
@sherrih.2693
Brilliant artist who told the truth and was punished for it, until he ended up punishing himself. Brilliant song. I was struck when he died. Amazing artist. God bless you, Phil.
@PAllanAndrus
Words of a true patriot:
"So do your duty, boys, and join with pride
Serve your country in her suicide
Find the flags so you can wave goodbye
But just before the end even treason might be worth a try
This country is to young to die"
RIP Phil Ochs
@colinjohnrudd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRElNbGwWXk