Generation Z has not been touched by the politically charged music of past decades, namely the folk music revival of the 1960s, but we should take a look back.
Political music has been written for centuries, but few artists have come close to the lyrical mastery of Phil Ochs.
Americans have forgotten about the “singing journalist” whose powerful lyrics defined 1960s counterculture and political and social movements.
After arriving on the Greenwich Village folk scene in 1962, Phil Ochs churned out songs at a rapid pace.
In 1965, he released his most popular album, “I Ain’t Marching Anymore.”
The title song quickly became an anthem for the anti-war movement and student protests.
Phil Ochs organized and performed at protests to take a stand against the Vietnam War, repression of free speech, and corrupt politicians.
It was college students then who attended Phil Ochs’ concerts, and it is college students now who need his words most.
Current college students will inherit this crooked world, so lyrics of an artist who knew how to make a difference will have a great influence.
Phil Ochs’ song “I’m Going to Say It Now,” which emphasizes the importance of higher education on an academic and political level, is a perfect example of his relevance to students.
The song also speaks on the increasing pressure for students to conform and encourages them to take risks by engaging in political discourse.
Despite the events that were occurring in the world while Phil Ochs was writing songs, much of his music is remarkably optimistic.
In the song “Days Of Decision,” he reminds listeners that they have political power.
In one of his most popular songs, “The Power and the Glory,” he marvels at America’s beauty while still recognizing that Americans have a lot of work to do in regard to social welfare and equality.
In the politics of today, people desire something real, and Phil Ochs’ music is exactly that.
Phil Ochs’ music is a lesson in determination and resilience that listeners must carry into their own views of modern politics.
This especially applies to college students who often feel helpless when attempting to engage in politics due to modern pessimism.
But Phil Ochs’ music continues to remind students that they can have as much political influence as students in the 1960s.
While Phil Ochs died in 1976 by his own hand, his words have had an enduring presence on those who empathize with his attempt to make a positive change in the world.
By listening to the music of Phil Ochs, today’s students get a taste of something that is not as normalized as it was in the 1960s: dissent.
