Thank you for posting this. I've been a fan of Phil Ochs for a long time. He could write biting sarcastic songs, incredible love songs and political songs like this one that have lasted for decades. In your experience, are there musicians these days who are following in his footsteps?

The soldier speaking the words of the song calls for pity on all the human beings who are caught up in a world gone mad, including the "enemy" soldier who killed him. The plea not to let his death be in vain is SO universal. In the background is the message that there are evils like racism and fascism that arise from time to time, which must be confronted early in order to prevent further suffering. It's kind of like the Civil War songs I learned in school (particularly Walter Kittridge's "Tenting Tonight")... it says that the tides of peace will turn, that there is hope that wars will cease.

With all the wonderful live music you're hearing this month, what in particular reminded you of Phil Ochs? I've never heard Darjeeling Limited, so I don't know what kind of music they do. I love Devendra Banhart, but have never seen him live in concert (and your mom gets to tour with him!?). Much of the time, music is enough without any words or message, just spreading peace or love or excitement beyond words; feeding our real needs. What bands these days would you say are sincere and aware in the way Phil Ochs was?

Yesterday I was at a ceremony honoring the soldiers and civilians killed in the war. An elderly ex-colonel with purple hearts and a silver star medal spoke with devastating frankness about the pain of post-traumatic stress syndrome he has experienced since the Korean war. He said not to pity him, but to take the young returning veterans aside and help them get over the pain as much as possible.

Sorry to ramble on. I look forward eagerly to more postings from you as the month progresses.

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wow.
Fist of all I want to thank YOU for having such a genuine interest on that things that are on my mind, and for giving me some really important things to think about!

I feel as though today there certainly are musicians and artists who are nearly (and I say nearly because I feel as though Phil Ochs truly is un-topable) as sincere as he. Leonard Cohen certainly sings with heart, and depth and meaning. I feel as though a lot of independently released artists go after something extremely sincere, hence the reason why a lot of them have to be on independent labels. I say this because sincerity, from what my eyes and ears have seen and heard, is becoming less and less attractive in this society based upon cultural concepts of beauty.

I've found that muscians such as jeffrey lewis and ben barnett haven't given into that sense of beauty, but rather, have followed an artistic path aimed at goodness and sincerity, with lyrics that sing songs of empathy, compassion, and realism. These are the songs that all of us can learn from, and I feel so blessed to have been directed toward such a rare plethora of muscians who pocess this rare quality.

Phil Ochs is a constant on my mind, and I often times put on his records while doing homework or cleaning my room. But yesterday, before I wrote this, I listened to kind of like spitting's cover album of all the best phil ochs songs while stretching and meditating. Toward the end of the album I was finished with my stretching, yet I just sat there entranced, clinging to each and every word that he said. When I listened to Remember Me, I just burst into tears. (Which, in all honesty, is a rather common response for me in response to art) but, afterwards, taking a step back from my emotions it really pained me to understand how true his words still are. And how we keep repeating history.

I really apreciate the story you explained about the ceremony. I believe it's really important to understand what other people need and how we can help them. That's actually one of the most useful insights I've heard in quite some time!

Oh, and as for Devendra, I suppose my calender was rather misleading, I meant that I'm going to the show with my mom, which is exciting because I generally only go to shows with my friends! And, Darjeeling limited is actually a movie, a really beautiful, very important film by wes anderson, I highly recommend it!

Thank you so much for responding to this. It truly means a great deal to me.

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Back in the late '60s, when I was living at a nonviolent action commune in Connecticut, we used to listen to a lot of Phil Ochs, Mothers of Invention, Leonard Cohen, Joan Baez,... but the one who really got us emotionally where we lived was Mark Spoelstra.

I had been looking for the album for years, and just recently learned it had been re-released as a CD (just after he died last year). He has some of the same qualities as Phil Ochs. He was a conscientious objector early in the Vietnam era, and he spent time working in third-world communities.

Mark Spoelstra - Five & Twenty Questions.zip (65.5 MB bytes) => http://www.onlinefilefolder.com/index.php?action=getshare&type=0&user_num=8096&share_id=165467&hash=42f491b05c40a88b8486dbe58e5a356e

The songs "Five and Twenty Questions" and "Fife and Drum" are particular favorites of mine. We used to dance to Fif and Drum. Because he was a Christian pacifist, some of his imagery is Christian, but I think his lyrics are incredibly compassionate and universal.

Phil Ochs, Mark Spoelstra, Leon Rosselson and Leonard Cohen were approximately the same age. All but Phil Ochs lived into the 21st century and two of them are still coming out with new material. 1960's Leonard Cohen is so different from 2000's Leonard Cohen. I wonder where Phil Ochs would have gone musically if he had lived.

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On another subject, I'm doing some publicity for Beatbeat Whisper's east coast tour, and I wonder if you'd let me use your picture of them from the Oak Park concert.

-Jim

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Phil Ochs wrote the following about Mark Spoelstra in 1963: "I think the most charming writer-performer around today is Mark Spoelstra, who is also one of the most original guitarists to be found. With a twelve-string guitar and a mustache that won't stop, he beguiles audiences using a beautifully underplayed style. Subtle humor abounds in his 'Shelter Sign.'" This excerpt was part of an article that, once published, launched an FBI investigation into the life and career of Ochs that lasted until his death. More information can be found on that here: http://www.lulu.com/content/1184058

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