So many songs by Phil Ochs inspired the social commentary and political songs of Vladimir's Universe. Out of them all, this one is the one I wish I had written. The case of Kitty Genovese, who was stabbed to death outside her home while dozens of her neighbors reportedly ignored her cries for help inspired the song. It was the closest thing he ever had to a hit, getting a good bit of airplay and reaching #119 on Billboard's national "Hot Prospect" chart. Censors promptly took the song off the air.
Phil captures the apathy found in America in 1967--and who could imagine that it would become even worse forty years later. We're busy on our mobile phones, or texting, or plugged into our iPods shut off from the world around us. Being in public is an inconvenience--it's noisy, it smells, and one might be forced to interact with other people. Better to stay at home, shop online, and order a pizza.
Try unplugging for one day. Take a "Social Media Sabbath" with no cell phone, texting, email, Facebook, or TV. Go outside where there is nature and people. Talk to strangers. Visit someone in the hospital or a nursing home. Do volunteer work. Interact with the world around you.
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.
Riding down the highway, yes, my back is getting stiff
Thirteen cars are piled up, they're hanging on a cliff.
Maybe we should pull them back with our towing 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.
Sweating in the ghetto with the colored and the poor
The rats have joined the babies who are sleeping 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 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
Smoking marihuana is more fun than drinking 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
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