| Phil Ochs – I Ain't Marching Anymore Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| I concur. :) | |
| Phil Ochs – Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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I'll comment on a Phil Ochs song!!!! :-) Alright, the honky-tonk piano in this song and it's sing-songy-ness contrasts sharply with the lyrics of the song, indicating that the narrator of the song is using an ironic point of view. This song mocks liberal-minded individuals (specifically during the sixties) who believed the world should change, but do not take any action toward this goal. The first verse seems to refer to an incident in Queens in 1964 in which a woman got killed, but was clearly within earshot of several people's windows. No one called the police or assisted her. In the third verse, the use of the word "colored" indicates an insensitive view of the racial issue, and the indifference of these people to the problems faced by African Americans. I really like this song....I'd never heard that additional verse though....that's interesting... |
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| Don McLean – American Pie Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Alright, I know all the comments before me have pretty much provided explanations for almost every line in the song, but I'd like to suggest that perhaps Altamont is "the day the music died". Despite the references to Buddy Holly in the refrain and such, it seems odd that the climax of the song would happen at the very beginning. Also, I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride But something touched me deep inside The day the music died Seems to establish that "the day the music died" is a separate event from this plane crash (otherwise, why would it be "I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride"?). Also, right after the verse referring to Altamont, and not before, the tempo slows down, and the song begins to sound less happy. The Altamont verse seems to be the climax of the song. Finally, the Altamont concert did demonstrate a significant departure from the more peaceful atmosphere at Woodstock just months earlier. In case any further clarification is necessary, the concert was basically planned on short notice, and a larger crowd than expected showed up. LSD laced with other drugs did contribute to the more violent atmosphere of the concert, and the music, performed by the Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, and Mick Jagger, was taking a more aggressive, anarchic turn (e.g. Mick Jagger's "Sympathy for the Devil"). The Hell's Angels, acting as security guards, did beat members of the crowd with pool sticks, and stabbed a black man, Meredith Hunter, when he pulled out a gun for some unknown reason. Thus, I know it goes against against what people here have said, as well as numerous critics, but I strongly feel that this is the pivotal part of the song. |
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