I have been listening to Phil Och's Crucifixion since the 1960's. Each decade I hear another line or two that means a lot to me. As of now I am hearing "and his message gathers meaning and it spreads across the land" To me this indicates the search for spirituality that has grown and grown. When I hear it it goes right to my heart and stays for the entire day. It was a sad time during the Vietname war just as now, and a message will emerge as it did then.
thank you, what ...( 6 months ago by boomac62)
thank you, what you've written..."We never lived up to our ideals, friends, and after their deaths we gave up trying. Lee Oswald, James Ray, and Sirhan Sirhan killed more than three men--they killed America...." is as true a statement on how "we" got here as anything I've ever read.
Peace
I think in large ...( 6 months ago by juliejazz)
I think in large part it's about society and how it seems to be human nature to create and build up heros from other humans in our midst - only to revel in their ultimate downfall. "But you know, I predicted it. I knew
he had to fall. ...( 6 months ago by juliejazz)
he had to fall. How did it happen? Hope his suffering was small. Tell me every detail, for I've got to know it all. And do you have a picture of the pain?" I thought a lot about this song and the orgy of "grief" that followed Princess Diana's death. So many people getting off on her sad demise. But teach us to be true. Cause we love you.
go you! Dylan took ...( 5 months ago by 1fatbadger)
go you! Dylan took lots of flak for following his own path. I have always admired that independence.
Whenever I hear ...( 5 months ago by Mumon7)
Whenever I hear this nowadays it just bothers me about Obama. I hope the guy's safe.
You who put this ...( 5 months ago by Wormdei)
You who put this together: you are clearly a lover of art in all its forms. Thank you for sharing it in this way.
Thanks so much for ...( 5 months ago by DeanArrlack)
Thanks so much for your kind words!
What would lead you ...( 4 months ago by Jrotten11)
What would lead you to believe that Obama's life is especially likely to be in danger? Other then the fact that he's an African American running for the (supposedly) highest office in a country with significant racial prejudice.
This is a great ...( 4 months ago by cdadave83814)
This is a great song, and every time I hear it, I hear something new. That said, can someone please explain what "Dance, Dance, Dance, Teach us to be true" has to do with the rest of the song...who wants us to dance? Who to dance with? What's the dance about, etc...I'd really like to know. Sometimes I have trouble when the imagery gets too oblique and complicated. I'm a Phil Ochs fan, but I've always wondered about this.
just who you do you ...( 3 months ago by garzaeduardo)
just who you do you believe would want to hurt obama?that's a sad thought,just becos he wants to socialize our capitalistic society.
It's about JFK ...( 3 months ago by nancyzeetoo)
It's about JFK being a Christ-like figure in human form, but it applies to all charismatic leaders. "Dance" means "perform" for us - entertain us, amaze us, inspire us. And we will follow you, worship you, love you. But we will also resent and hate you, (saliva falling from smiles), and deep-down, enjoy your pain as you ultimately fall from your vaulted position. ("Do you have a picture of the pain?")
Brilliant piece of work.
Thank you Nancy... ...( 3 months ago by cdadave83814)
Thank you Nancy...I'm too much of a literalist, I guess. The song doesn't mention JFK by name, so what I'd initially picked up from the song was more on a general level...disillusionment, futility, abandonment, etc...I also wonder if Phil was writing about himself, too, tragic figure that he was...
Possibly. I think ...( 3 months ago by nancyzeetoo)
Possibly. I think Phil did ultimately see himself as a sort of martyr. Of course, with Phil, it is hard sometimes to separate his genius from his mental illness.
And the act of cruxifiction itself is really just a very slow method of hanging.
It was a ...( 3 months ago by drbalalajka)
It was a nightmarish experience to learn this song. It's quite long and it took me about two weeks to nail it (I'm a slow learner but once I have it, I have it!) and during that week I would often wake up in the middle of the night with one of the lines from the song stuck in my mind. Not the most pleasant lines to be woken up by, trust me.
Genius! great video ...( 2 months ago by johnPhilos)
Genius! great video too
impressed you ...( 2 months ago by jerryy1968)
impressed you listened
lyrics mean soo much( 2 months ago by jerryy1968)
lyrics mean soo much
The line about "Do ...( 2 months ago by pynchonfan)
The line about "Do you have a picture of the pain?" can have a dual meaning. One is the Christians' fascination with Jesus' Crucifixion as opposed to his life--Passion plays, the Stations of the Cross, crucifixes, etc. The other is the JFK assassination scholars endlessly squabbling over the Zapruder film, still photos and other home movies taken of the murder. Pictures of the pain replace the meaning of the lives.
Brilliant. Thanks ...( 2 months ago by metayel)
Brilliant. Thanks for posting this. I met Phil Ochs in Hazard, Kentucky, in the early 60s, when he was supporting coal miners in their efforts to get fair working conditions and pay. I met him later in South Africa where he was working to overcome the apartheid system. His early death was a tremendous loss.
This song really ...( 4 weeks ago by GreenGestalt)
This song really lives on. When the media feasted on the downfall of "Britney Shears" I remembered this song well. Been too busy or I'd have put a bunch of photos from her career to this song...
Uneuivocally ...( 3 weeks ago by super8guy)
Uneuivocally transcendent.
Did you know Phil's music lives on w/ help from his sister Sonny Ochs? Google her and discover upcoming "Remembering Phil Ochs" concerts. They're pure magic and a way to experience his music interpreted by a new generation of performers.
Phil Ochs got to ...( 1 week ago by SayreObrien)
Phil Ochs got to peform this song to Bobby Kennedy on a plane and Bobby really liked it. It was about his brother JFK. Of course there are so many other interpretations. It sucks that they killed Phil Ochs.
I love this ...( 2 days ago by verbaud)
I love this acoustic version as much as the nightmarish version on Pleasures of the Harbor. The words keep making sense in this age of empty fame. God bless your tender heart, Phil. "In the shadows of their Churches, who knows what they pray...."
Peace
Brilliant piece of work.
And the act of cruxifiction itself is really just a very slow method of hanging.
Did you know Phil's music lives on w/ help from his sister Sonny Ochs? Google her and discover upcoming "Remembering Phil Ochs" concerts. They're pure magic and a way to experience his music interpreted by a new generation of performers.