PHIL OCHS 'The Crucifixion' 1967

Taken from the Phil Ochs album, "Pleasures of the Harbor", released on A&M Records on 31 October 1967. Production and arrangement by Larry Marks.

[robertgallagher]

To me all these many years ago, and you realize he produced this masterpiece, Just wish he was appreciated during his lifetime. Thanks Phil.

[paultrusten]

The most underappreciated artist of his genre. His lyrics rank with some of the finest poetry and his songs of deepest reverie. He was too high up and too far away to be widely appreciated. He is among the best performers of his kind for me, among the top five. Actually, “Pleasures Of The Harbor” has become my favorite Ochs song.

[Xaxtarr_Neonraven]

When this song, on one of the greatest under-rated albums ever, begins to play, one can only be puzzled; but, the lyrics and the existential poetry of Ochs shines through and it becomes the perfect anthem to the 60's and the endless turmoil unfolding in US history. He is right about the spectacle tearing down of our idols, sadly he himself described and prophesized many a fate.

[tashunkawitco]

Master poet and musician his words are so lyrical and fluent. Changes is one of my favorites rest in peace thanks for the poetry and music

[nbenefiel]

I first saw Phil at a McCarthy for president rally in 1967. I was 16. He played (usually for free) at almost every demonstration I went to. He was a great man.

[dukemantee]

I was lucky enough to see him sing this At the LA Cave In Cleveland, Ohio around "67 or "68. A friend of mine opened for him so i got to meet him. A truly great song.

[LawrenceEl]

I so remember first hearing this tune in a friend's dorm room. This man was up until the album (this song concludes ?) "Pleasures of the Harbor", a "folk singer" mostly guitar and voice, but hard to pin down. To record with an orchestra, especially with all of these dissonant sounds was simply off the wall. We speculated that "Crucifixion" was his take on the horror of the Kennedy assassination. I'll never forget that nor this beautiful song.  Of course the entire "Pleasures" is wonderful :)  Thanks so much for taking me back to there and for helping me shed a tear for the late-great Phil Ochs.

[FTWOBR]

While I do understand why certain people prefer the versions of this song without all of the production, I personally LOVE it. It turns what's already a fantastically-written song into a haunting, spine-tingling epic.

[BluePhoenixRadio]

I like this version because the studio is the place where the artist gets to control the sound environment. There is a dissonance in this the clearly reflects Ochs sorrow at his own life. Thank you for the post. :)

[rstoller]

He was a brilliant songwriter, with an amazing voice.

[QWeirdness]

According to Wikipedia, although Larry Marks produced it, the arrangement is by Joseph Byrd.

[HenryEBrass]

Phil Ochs' passport to immortality.

[AGGeiger]

I'm glad Ochs recorded this song this way, though even he later came to regard the production as a mistake, a failed experiment -- the album on which it appeared was his first for A&M, by then well on its way to becoming a major pop/rock label (which Elektra Records had not been at the time he was with them); and he was obviously under the spell of a lot of what was going on in what soon came to be referred to as "rock" music (as opposed to rock & roll), in terms of production. It drips with elements of baroque pop and classical ornamentation, all of which probably seemed wonderful in the studio, and makes for a fascinating listening experience, if not one entirely relevant or germane to the underlying song. During his lifetime, there was no way to hear the song on record the way he came to really want it represented (i.e., just his voice and guitar), which was very unfortunate for his fans (and would-be fans) during that period.

[mrguy]

I hate the term "over-produced". If the artist wants it to sound this way then it's produced just the right amount. Imho the production adds a deeper, more meaningful dimension to the piece that Ochs with a guitar alone couldn't achieve (not knocking him or his live version).

[mannyenviado]

written during Summer of Love-momentous year for songs that transcended Just Songs--this Phil's most brilliant deep and disturbing a song he ever wrote--a masterpiece, )
lyrics And the night comes again to the circle studded sky
The stars settle slowly, in loneliness they lie
'Til the Universe explodes as a falling star is raised
Planets are paralyzed, mountains are amazed
But they all glow brighter from the brilliance of the blaze
With the speed of insanity then He died
In the green fields a turnin', baby is born
His cries crease the wind and mingle with the morn
An assault upon the order, changing of the guard
Chosen for a challenge that is hopelessly hard
And the only single sound is the sighing of the stars
But to the silence of distance they are sworn
So dance, dance, dance
Teach us to be true
Come, dance, dance, dance
'Cause we love you
Images of innocence charge Him go on
But the decadence of destiny is looking for a pawn
To a nightmare of knowledge he opens up the gate
Blinding revelation is laid upon His plate
That beneath the greatest love is a hurricane of hate
And God help the critic of the dawn
So he stands on the sea and He shouts to the shore
But the louder that He screams, longer He's ignored
For the wine of oblivion is drunk to the dregs
And the merchants of the masses almost have to be begged
'Til the giant is aware, someone's pulling at His leg
And someone is tapping at the door
To dance, dance, dance
Teach us to be true
Come, dance, dance, dance
'Cause we love you
Then His message gathers meaning and it spreads across the land
The rewarding of His pain is the following of the man
But ignorance is everywhere and people have their way
Success is an enemy to the losers of the day
In the shadows of the churches, who knows what they pray
For blood is the language of the band
The Spanish bulls are beaten, the crowd is soon beguiled
The matador is beautiful, a symphony of style
Excitement is ecstatic, passion places bets
Gracefully He bows to ovations that He gets
But the hands that are applauding are slippery with sweat
And saliva is falling from their smiles
So dance, dance, dance
Teach us to be true
Come, dance, dance, dance
'Cause we love you
Then this overflow of life is crushed into a liar
The Gentle Soul is ripped apart and tossed into the fire
First, a smile of rejection at the nearness of the night
Truth becomes a tragedy limping from the light
All the canons are horrified, they stagger from the sight
As the Cross is trembling with desire
They say they can't believe it, it's a sacrilegious shame
Now, who would want to hurt such a Hero of the game?
But you know I predicted it, I knew He had to fall
How did it happen? I hope His suffering was small
Tell me every detail, I've got to know it all
And do you have a picture of the pain?
So dance, dance, dance
Teach us to be true
Come, dance, dance, dance
'Cause we love you
Time takes her toll and memory fades
But His glory is broken in magic that He made
Reality is ruined, it's the freeing from the fear
Drama is distorted, what they want to hear
Swimming in their sorrow, in the twisting of a tear
As they wait for a new thrill parade
Yes, the eyes of the rebel have been branded by the blind
To the safety of sterility, the threat has been refined
The child was created, to the slaughterhouse he's led
So good to be alive when the eulogy is read
Climax of emotion, the worship of the dead
And the cycle of sacrifice unwinds
So dance, dance, dance
Teach us to be true
Come, dance, dance, dance
'Cause we love you
And the night comes again to the circle studded sky
The stars settle slowly, in loneliness they lie
'Till the universe explodes as a falling star is raised
Planets are paralyzed, mountains are amazed
But they all glow brighter from the brilliance of the blaze
With the speed of insanity then He died

[lowtunesinc.]

Love this song.  It is sort of overproduced, but still dig the spooky effects.

[groovyguru]

A brain is needed to truly appreciate this amazing song, a quality sadly missing all to often in the popular songs of then and now.

[DingoWalley]

Actually, this song was Arranged by Joseph Byrd, the founding Member of "The United States of America".

Great song, none the less.

[cdwvideography]

I first heard this song recorded by Glenn Yarbrough on his Jubilee record. I finally picked this vinyl of this album.

[parkercushingable]

Phil Ochs played this song, on acoustic guitar for Bobby Kennedy. As he played, Bobby's eyes welled up as this song has allusions to JFK as a martyr of a generation. The same day RFK announced that he was opposed to the Vietnam War. Soon thereafter he would be dead, followed by MLK, whom Phil had also met at a benefit. Phil Ochs would die in 1976 due to an apparent suicide.