The War Is Over (Phil Ochs)

Vietnam War songs: Phil Ochs, a leading protest / topical singer, born 19 December 1940 in El Paso, Texas, USA, and died on 9 April 1976, in Far Rockaway, New York, USA. He often played songs at anti-war and civil rights rallies in the 1960s and early 1970s, including outside the Democratic National Convention in 1968. He released dozens of anti-Vietnam War songs during the era, which included “Talking Vietnam“, one of the first Vietnam songs released, on his 1964 album All the News That’s Fit to Sing. Other prominent songs included “I Ain’t Marching Anymore“, “Draft Dodger Rag“, and “Days of Decision“ on I Ain’t Marching Anymore (1965), “White Boots Marching in a Yellow Land“ and “The War Is Over“ on Tape From California (1968), “William Butler Yeats Visits Lincoln Park and Escapes Unscathed“, “Where Were You in Chicago“ and “Another Age“ on Rehearsals for Retirement (1969), “What Are You Fighting For“, on Sings for Broadside (1976), the single Here’s to the State of Richard Nixon (1974), and spoken-word tracks on the album Interviews With Phil Ochs (1976). He also recorded the song “We Seek No Wider War“ in 1965, which appeared on the compilation The Best of Broadside 1962-1988 (2000). The track “The War Is Over“ (A&M Records # 932) was inspired by Allen Ginsberg’s 1966 declaration that the Vietnam war was over. He played the song in front of 150,000 demonstrators in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on October 21, 1967, and at other famous rallies, including outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention. It contained the memorable line mocking soldiers for doing their duty, which would be serving “your country in her suicide“. He then suggested treason as an option, as “this country is too young to die“. It is also noteworthy for crticising the anti-war movement as well, saying that they are just playing in the game of politics: “painting angry players of a grizzly game“. “Silent soldiers on a silver screen, framed in fantasies And dragged in dream, unpaid actors of the mystery The mad director knows that freedom will not make You free, and what’s this got to do with me, I declare The war is over, it’s over, it’s over, drums are drizzling On a grain of sand, fading rhythms of a fading land Prove your courage in the proud parade, trust your Leaders where mistakes are almost never made And they’re afraid that I’m afraid, I’m afraid the war Is over, it’s over, it’s over, angry artists painting angry Signs, use their vision just to blind the blind, poisoned Players of a grizzly game, one is guilty and the other Gets the point to blame, pardon me if I refrain... So do your duty, boys, and join with pride, serve your Country in her suicide, find a flag so you can wave Goodbye, but just before the end even treason might Be worth a try, this country is too young to die... One-legged veterans will greet the dawn, and they’re Whistling marches as they mow the lawn and the Gargoyles only sit and grieve, the gypsy fortune teller Told ’d been are what you believe“