Sometimes I'm still hesitant   to say what I want to say   afraid of what people might think   if I really joined the fray   but then I'll hang my head some   and onward will I strive   afraid what Phil Ochs would do   if he was still alive      The friends he had are just like mine   a selective sort of crew   they'll stop by when they need a hand   and then look at you askew   when you talk about the killing   being done in our own name   they'll make a rush towards the door   not wanting to take the blame      They say Phil Ochs killed himself   but that was never true   he was killed by those around him   on his search for lost virtue   like a tree they chopped from the bottom up   chipped away his psyche   until there wasn't enough to stand no more   and he no longer cared to be      Well these are crazy times we're living in   and I sure could use some help   everybody's gagged with the flag   I end up talking to myself   some nights I go out walking   or for a long lonely drive   and I think how things might be different   if Phil Ochs was still alive