Phil Ochs

phil ochs (december 19, 1940 – april 9, 1976)was a socialist “protest” folk singer in the 1960s. he strongly opposed the war in vietnam, and wrote a lot of songs about his opposition to war in general. he also had songs bashing racism and injustice.

ochs hanged himself in 1976, probably due to his lack of any major success in the music industry, alcoholism, writer’s block and a throat injury caused from being attacked while touring africa. he believed this attack may have been arranged by the government.
here’s to the state of mississippi
phil ochs

here’s to the state of mississippi,
for underheath her borders, the devil draws no lines,
if you drag her muddy river, nameless bodies you will find.
whoa the fat trees of the forest have hid a thousand crimes,
the calender is lyin’ when it reads the present time.
whoa here’s to the land you’ve torn out the heart of,
mississippi find yourself another country to be part of!

here’s to the people of mississippi
who say the folks up north, they just don’t understand
and they tremble in their shadows at the thunder of the klan
the sweating of their souls can’t wash the blood from off their hands
they smile and shrug their shoulders at the murder of a man
oh, here’s to the land you’ve torn out the heart of
mississippi find yourself another country to be part of