Phil Ochs

So who thought that blogging would be a passing fancy?

Now how many would fancy passing a good blog? (We might wonder what the programmers of the Blogger spelling utility consider a good blog, since the vanilla dictionary doesn't recognize blogging and offers flogging as an alternative).

And how many can foresee a fancy passing for blogging?

Probably as many as really believe they'll see fancy passing in the NHL once it matters (except perhaps at the bar when the cheque comes).

And with less reason. (The Blogger spelling utility offers NIL as the alternative for NHL. Can't say I disagree.)

Remember what Barnum said as you line up to buy your (somewhat discounted) tickets.

....


What does the late Phil Ochs have to do with any of this? Absolutely nothing.

Still ...

Some of you out there remember who Phil Ochs was, right? He burned brighter, or at least as brightly, in his time as Bobby Zed. Then he gave up. Maybe if Ochs had been able to outrun his demons.

Still ...

Listening now to his 3 CD Farewell & Fantasies collection reminds me that there was always a certain sameness to his music. Dylan managed to avoid that.

And still, again ...


listen to (and read) Ochs' lyrics in Changes, or Outside Of A Small Circle of Friends, or When In Rome, or crucifixion, or for something very current Love Me, I'm A Liberal ... then ask yourself what might have happened if he'd been just a bit better as a tunesmith.

Or found one.

Or lived long enough to become one.