Phil Ochs is a hero of mine. He believed that we should highlight injustices and do something about them; that we can change things for the better. He believed that we should never allow big corporations or government policy to bully us, cow us or continue without opposition.
He was one of those rare individuals who was prepared to make a stand and say what he felt. He stood for fairness, justice and freedom.
All too often people avoid confrontation and are content to get on with their own lives. They feel their life is alright; why make waves.
I contend that no life is alright while someone, somewhere is suffering.
While there are things that are wrong we should all make a noise, stand up and demand that it be put right.
That’s what the early Bob Dylan and the wonderful Phil Ochs did. They shouted it from the roof-tops.
This song was written in response to Phil having heard someone saying the title line and the story he had heard of a young girl who was stabbed to death in her own apartment in New York while none of the neighbours came to her rescue or even called the police.
When we lived in the USA we had a friend who had lived in New York for a couple of years. She had been raped three times. On one occasion the man took half an hour breaking down the door to her apartment to assault her. Not one of the neighbours opened a door or intervened.
I would like to believe that I would have done something.
This world is full of poverty, suffering, injustice, war, fanaticism, cruelty, environmental devastation and a burgeoning population that will be our nemesis. Where are our young generation of passionate activists?
Where are our new breed of Phils and Bobs when we desperately need them?
Outside of a Small Circle of Friends
Oh, look outside the window
There’s a woman being grabbed
They’ve dragged her to the bushes
And now she’s being stabbed
Maybe we should call the cops
And try to stop the pain
But Monopoly is so much fun
I’d hate to blow the game
And I’m sure
It wouldn’t interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
Ridin’ down the highway
Yes, my back is gettin’ stiff
Thirteen cars are piled up
They’re hangin’ on a cliff
Now maybe we should pull them back
With our towin’ chain
But we gotta move and we might get sued
And it looks like it’s gonna rain
And I’m sure
It wouldn’t interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
Sweatin’ in the ghetto
With the colored and the poor
The rats have joined the babies
Who are sleepin’ on the floor
Now wouldn’t it be a riot
If they really blew their tops?
But they got too much already
And besides we’ve got the cops
And I’m sure
It wouldn’t interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
Oh, there’s a dirty paper
Using sex to make a sale
The Supreme Court was so upset
They sent him off to jail
Maybe we should help the fiend
And take away his fine
But we’re busy reading Playboy
And the Sunday New York Times
And I’m sure
It wouldn’t interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
Smokin’ marihuana
Is more fun than drinkin’ beer
But a friend of ours was captured
And they gave him thirty years
Maybe we should raise our voices
Ask somebody why
But demonstrations are a drag
Besides we’re much too high
And I’m sure
It wouldn’t interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
Oh, look outside the window
There’s a woman being grabbed
They’ve dragged her to the bushes
And now she’s being stabbed
Maybe we should call the cops
And try to stop the pain
But Monopoly is so much fun
I’d hate to blow the game
And I’m sure
It wouldn’t interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
Read more: Phil Ochs – Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends Lyrics | MetroLyrics