C F Em
Oh you tell me that there's danger to the land you call your own
F Em Am
And you watch them build the war machine right beside your home
C F Em
And you tell me that you're ready to go marchin' to the war
Dm G7 C
I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?
Before you pack your rifle and sail across the sea
Just think upon the Southern part of the land that you call free
Oh, there's many kinds of slavery and we've found many more
I know you're set for fightin', but what are you fighting for?
And before you walk out on your job in answer to the call
Just think about the millions who have no job at all
And the men who wait for handouts with their eyes upon the floor
Oh I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?
[This verse is not in the sheet music]
Turn on your TV, turn it on so loud
And watch the fool a smiling there and tell me that you're proud
And listen to your radio, the noise it starts to pour
Oh I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?
Read your morning papers, read every single line
And tell me if you can believe that simple world you find
Read every slanted word till your eyes are getting sore,
I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?
And listen to your leaders, the ones who won the race
As they stand right there before you and lie into your face
If you ever try to buy them, you know what they stand for
I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?
Put ragged clothes upon your back and sleep upon the ground,
And tell police about your rights as they drag you down,
And ask them as they lead you to some deserted door,
Yes, I know you're set for fightin', but what are you fightin' for?
But the hardest thing I'll ask you, if you will only try
Is take your children by their hands and look into their eyes
And there you'll see the answer you should have seen before
If you'll win the wars at home, there'll be no fighting anymore
Phil Ochs (1940-1976) was an American singer-songwriter known for his politically and socially charged protest songs. Born Philip David Ochs in El Paso, Texas, he began his musical career in the 1950s, influenced by artists like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. Ochs distinguished himself for his civic engagement and his ability to transform political events into incisive and musically engaging lyrics. His songs addressed themes such as the Vietnam War, social inequality, and civil rights, earning him the moniker "topical singer", a term he preferred over "protest singer". Among his most famous songs are "Draft Dodger Rag", "I Ain't Marching Anymore" and "Here's to the State of Mississippi". Ochs released numerous albums, including "Phil Ochs Sings", "Gun of Love" and "Pleasures of the Harbor", which helped solidify his position as one of the most influential protest singers of the 1960s. His music has inspired generations of artists and continues to be listened to today for its message of social justice and its evocative power.
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