The War Is Over

Annotation

The track "The War Is Over" (A&M Records # 932) was inspired by Allen Ginsberg's 1966 declaration that the Vietnam war was over. He played the song in front of 150,000 demonstrators in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on October 21, 1967, and at other famous rallies, including outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention. It contained the memorable line mocking soldiers for doing their duty, which would be serving "your country in her suicide". He then suggested treason as an option, as "this country is too young to die". It is also noteworthy for criticising the anti-war movement as well, saying that they are just playing in the game of politics: "painting angry signs...poisoned players of a grizzly game".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Silent soldiers on a silver screen / Framed in fantasies and dragged in dream / Unpaid actors of the mystery / The mad director knows that freedom will not make you free / And what's this got to do with me / I declare the war is over, it's over, it's over / Drums are drizzling on a grain of sand / Fading rhythms of a fading land / Prove your courage in the proud parade / Trust your leaders where mistakes are almost never made / And they're afraid that I'm afraid / I'm afraid the war is over, it's over, it's over / Angry artists painting angry signs / Use their vision just to blind the blind / Poisoned players of a grizzly game / One is guilty and the other gets the point to blame / Pardon me if I refrain... / So do your duty, boys, and join with pride, serve your country in her suicide / Find a flag so you can wave goodbye, but just before the end even treason might be worth a try / This country is too young to die... / One-legged veterans will greet the dawn / And they're whistling marches as they mow the lawn / And the gargoyles only sit and grieve / The gypsy fortune teller told me... / We'd been deceived...only are what you believe

Notes

A&M Records 932; "The War Is Over" (Phil Ochs), 2:45 (1460), Barricade Music Inc. (ASCAP); arranged by Bob Thompson, produced by Larry Marks. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Phil Ochs, a leading protest / topical singer, born 19 December 1940 in El Paso, Texas, USA, and died on 9 April 1976, in Far Rockaway, New York, USA. He often played songs at anti-war and civil rights rallies in the 1960s and early 1970s, including outside the Democratic National Convention in 1968. He released many anti-Vietnam War songs during the era, which included "Talking Vietnam", one of the first Vietnam songs released, on his 1964 album All the News That's Fit to Sing. Other prominent songs included "I Ain't Marching Anymore", "Draft Dodger Rag", and "Days of Decision" on I Ain't…

Themes

Anti-War

In collections

Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years] · Phil Ochs