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
William Butler Yeats Visits Lincoln Park And Escapes Unscathed
Phil Ochs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
F G C F
I was blessed by a blood-red moon
Dm G Am G
In Lincoln Park the dark was turning
I spied a fair young maiden and a flame was in her eyes
And on her face lay the steel blue skies
Of Lincoln Park, the dark was turning
They spread their sheets upon the ground just like a wandering tribe
And the wise men walked in their Robespierre robes
Through Lincoln Park the dark was turning
The towers trapped and trembling, and the boats were tossed about
When the fog rolled in and the gas rolled out
From Lincoln Park the dark was turning
Turning
Like wild horses freed at last we took the streets of wine
But I searched in vain for she stayed behind
In Lincoln Park the dark was turning
I'll go back to the city where I can be alone
And tell my friend she lies in stone
In Lincoln Park the dark was turning
Phil Ochs's song "Lincoln Park" tells a vivid story of a man taking a walk in the evening in Lincoln Park, where he encounters a young woman. As he watches her, he sees a flame in her eyes and the steel blue skies of Lincoln Park in her face. It's clear that he is drawn to her, but she stays behind when he takes to the streets of wine with others. As the night goes on, the man decides to go back to the city and be alone, telling his friend that she lies in stone in Lincoln Park.
This song is full of rich imagery, painting a picture of a dark and mysterious park that seems almost otherworldly. The blood-red moon, the wandering tribe, the wise men in their Robespierre robes, and the trapped and trembling towers all add to the sense that there is something eerie and foreboding about this place. Yet there is also a sense of beauty and magic here, with the steel blue skies and the flame in the young woman's eyes.
Overall, "Lincoln Park" is a haunting and evocative song that transports the listener to a place of mystery and wonder. It speaks to the power of human connection and the longing we all feel for something more.
Line by Line Meaning
As I went out one evening to take the evening air
I stepped out for a walk in the evening
I was blessed by a blood-red moon
I noticed a striking full moon in the sky
In Lincoln Park the dark was turning
The night was getting darker in the park of the same name
I spied a fair young maiden and a flame was in her eyes
I saw a beautiful girl with a spark of passion in her gaze
And on her face lay the steel blue skies
Her face reflected the color of the sky in the park
Of Lincoln Park, the dark was turning
The park was getting darker as we stayed there
They spread their sheets upon the ground just like a wandering tribe
People in the park laid their sheets on the grass like a nomadic group
And the wise men walked in their Robespierre robes
Wise men in French revolutionary robes walked through the park
Through Lincoln Park the dark was turning
The park was getting darker as we walked through it
The towers trapped and trembling, and the boats were tossed about
The buildings and boats nearby were shaking and swaying in the fog
When the fog rolled in and the gas rolled out
Fog filled the air and gas fumes escaped into the surroundings
From Lincoln Park the dark was turning
The darkness in the park continued to grow and change
Like wild horses freed at last we took the streets of wine
We burst out into the city streets like liberated animals
But I searched in vain for she stayed behind
I searched aimlessly for the girl who stayed in the park
In Lincoln Park the dark was turning
The park's darkness was still turning and evolving
I'll go back to the city where I can be alone
I'll return to the city where I can be by myself
And tell my friend she lies in stone
And inform my friend that she's now a statue in the park
In Lincoln Park the dark was turning
Even as I leave, the park's darkness continues to change
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PHIL OCHS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind