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The Harder They Fall Lyrics

London Bridge is falling down,
And the people want their crown.
They are not fooling a-round.
Gimme my crown, gimme my crown, gimme my crown.
So I'll say these words to you,
Though you won't believe a word I say...
Gonna say the words anyway.

Poems are pretty; Tales are tall.
Only the witches recall:
The bigger they are, The harder they fall.


Jack and Jill went up the hill
They were looking for a thrill
But she forgot to take her pill
Gimme my pill, gimme my pill, gimme my pill
Through our fantasies we fly
In the prison of our dreams we die
Dieting in an apple pie

*chorus*

Mary had a little lamb
Couldn't make it with a man
She buried babies in the sand
Gimme my sand, gimme my sand, gimme my sand
So the visions came to stay
She was beheaded on a holiday
That's the price you have to pay

*chorus*

Mother goose is on the loose
Stealing lines from Lenny Bruce
Drinking booze and killing jews
Gimme my jews, gimme my booze, gimme my jews
Six million jingles can't be wrong
From the dragon to the Viet Cong
Fairy tales have come along

*chorus*
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Cover art for The Harder They Fall lyrics by Phil Ochs

Probably my favorite lines from this song are "So I'll say these words to you/ though you won't believe a word I say.../ Gotta say the words anyway." The reaction to a lot of protest or even debate these days is "What's the point?" or "It's not like you're going to make a difference." Well, even if the things I say don't change anything, I just HAVE to say them. Because I just gotta say them anyway.

Cover art for The Harder They Fall lyrics by Phil Ochs

This song seems to be parodying how even the darkest news stories are sugarcoated; the most poignant example is the last verse, in which Mother Goose pursues ethnic cleansing. The phrase "six million jingles" demonstrates how problems and criminals are simplified in order to be palatable to the public.

@LtAxlerod932 I would agree but it is ultimately a vicious cycle. Leaders undermine trust by creating apathy and chaos. But he is no less condemning the public for responding with indifference to situations that should demand action.

 
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