Tag: PHIL OCHS ALL THE NEWS THAT’S FIT TO SING

  • PHIL OCHS : TALKING CUBAN CRISIS (1964)

    PHIL OCHS : TALKING CUBAN CRISIS (1964)

    Ελπίζω να μη χρειαστεί να μείνουμε πολύ καιρό στο αντιπολεμικό μουσικό κλίμα, όχι φυσικά γατί θα δυσκολεύουμε να αντεπεξέλθουμε (το συγκεντρωμένο από όλα τα genres υλικό επαρκεί για μήνες ολόκληρους). Η “ξεκαρδιστικά” επίκαιρη πρόταση του stcigar (βλ. στίχους) αφορά σ’ ένα τραγούδι του Phil Ochs από την εποχή της κρίσης των πυραύλων της Κούβας. Μακάρι τουλάχιστον η παρούσα να έχει παρόμοια ανώδυνη κατάληξη. I hope we won’t have to stay in this anti-war musical atmosphere for too long — not, of course, because we would struggle to keep up (the material collected from all genres is enough to last for many whole months). The “hilariously” up to date proposal by stcigar (see lyrics) refers to a song by Phil Ochs from the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. May the current crisis at least end in a similarly painless way.

    Written by Phil Ochs Album All The News That’s Fit To Sing Producer Jac Holzman


    It was just a little while ago I glued my ears to the radio
    The announcer was sayin’ we’d better beware
    A crisis was hangin’ way up in the air
    Crawlin’ on the ground
    Swimmin’ in the sea
    Headin’ for me
    Well, I didn’t know if I was for or agin’ it
    He was yellin’ and screamin’ a mile a minute
    Well, he said “Here comes the President
    But first this word from Pepsodent
    Have whiter teeth
    Have cleaner breath
    When you’re facin’ nuclear death”
    And then President John began to speak
    And I knew right away he wouldn’t be weak
    Well, he said he’d seen some missile bases
    And terrible smiles on Cuban faces
    Close pictures
    Carryin’ land reform too far
    Giving land to the USSR
    Well, he said we mustn’t be afraid
    We’re settin’ up a little blockade
    Put our ships along the Cuban shores
    And if the Russian bear yells and roars
    We’ll let him have it
    From Turkey and Greece, Formosa and Spain
    The peaceful West European plain
    From Alaska and Greenland we’ll use our means
    And twenty thousand submarines
    We’re gonna teach the Russians a lesson
    For trying to upset the balance of power
    Now most Americans stood behind
    The President and his military minds
    But me, I stood behind a bar
    Dreamin’ of a spaceship getaway car
    Head for Mars
    Any other planet that has bars
    Yes, it seemed the stand was strong and plain
    But some Republicans was a-goin’ insane
    And they still are
    Well, they said our plan was just too mild
    Spare the rod and spoil the child
    Let’s sink Cuba into the sea
    And give ’em back democracy
    Under the water
    Well, the deadline was set for ten o’clock
    For a cold war it was a-gettin’ hot
    Well, the Russians tried, the Russians failed
    Homeward bound those missiles sailed
    Mr. Khrushchev said, “Better red than dead.”