PHIL OCHS - "ONCE I LIVED THE LIFE OF A COMMISAR"

     Part of the “folk tradition” is taking well known melodies and grafting new, updated lyrics onto them. Phil Ochs fascinated John Lennon by demonstrating it via Phil's "Joe Hill" song, which was based on an earlier melody. Phil also adapted Johnny Cash's "Give My Love to Rose" for a bit of "Gas Station Women," and turned another Johnny tune into "How High's the Watergate, Mama?"

      Another "folk tradition" involves parodying the older songs. You might remember Allan Sherman’s “My Son the Folksinger.” Before Allan, there was “The MTA Song," a hit for the Kingston Trio. It was written by Will Holt, who grafted new lyrics about a transit fare hike and a hapless commuter onto a well known folk song.

    Even Phil Ochs, early in his career, grabbed a melody for parody. It’s not only an easy alternative to making a tune up, the audience is already familiar with how the music goes. This lubricates the lyrics, for as we all know, songs often take a few listens before they become “catchy.” Having the catchy melody already in place means that the words will pop a bit faster, and that’s important when you’re live on stage doing a topical satire.

    “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” was a familiar blues number that Phil probably heard dozens of times, especially when Judy Henske began covering it. She fronted Dave Guard’s “Whiskeyhill Singers," and it was the highlight of their set. It's also the high point of their lone album for Capitol. Phil’s new lyrics reflect the Cold War:

Oh once  I lived the life of a commissar

Ran a collective, rode a state owned car 

 Taking my comrades to the Kremlin bar 

Buying that high priced vodka, caviar

Then I began to fall so low

Trialed and convicted in old Moscow

If I ever get my hands on that party again

I'm gonna hold on to it just like, East Berlin

Because nobody knows you when you're purged and out

In my pockets not a five year plan

I better join all those students rioting in Japan

But if I ever get back on my own to feet again

I'm gonna purge all those comrades that turned me in

It's mighty strange without a doubt

Nobody knows you when you're purged and down

But if I ever get back on my own to feet again

I'm gonna purge all those comrades that turned me in

It's mighty strange as far as I can see

Good old Red China is the place for me


PHIL OCHS - listen or download - no ego password, no Paypal request, no dodgy website with porn ads, no skunky Eurotrash music cloud service