Outside of a Small Circle of Friends
Phil Ochs
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Look outside the window, there's a woman being grabbed C Em F G They've dragged her to the bushes and now she's being stabbed E Am Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain F Am Dm G But Monopoly is so much fun, I'd hate to blow the game C Am Eb And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody Cm F 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/Panthers) 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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Written by: PHIL OCHS
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Album Release"Outside of a Small Circle of Friends" is one of Phil Ochs's most famous songs and was first released on his 1967 album "Pleasures of the Harbor."
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Social CommentaryThe song is known for its biting social commentary. It criticizes the passivity and apathy of the general public towards social and political issues, and advices that change can only happen when people take matters into their hands.
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Controversial LyricIt contains a lyric referencing a real-life incident where 38 witnesses allegedly did nothing as Kitty Genovese was murdered in Queens, New York. This controversial line was censored in some radio stations.
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Songwriting TechniqueOchs uses a technique known as irony in the song. The cheerful, upbeat music contrasts sharply with the dark, serious message in the lyrics.
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InfluencesOchs's anti-establishment views that inspired the song were heavily influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and social-political environment in the 1960s.
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Ban from RadioThe song was initially banned from many radio stations due to its controversial content, especially the line referencing recreational drug use.
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Significant ImpactDespite being banned from radio, the song had a significant impact. It inspired many people to fight against apathy and take a stand for social justice.
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Song Reputation"Outside of a Small Circle of Friends" is considered one of Ochs's masterpieces and remains one of his most enduring and influential songs.
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Unique StyleThe song's unique blend of folk music with a catchy, pop-influenced melody is often cited as an example of Ochs's innovative approach to songwriting.
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Musical ArrangementThe original recording features a complex musical arrangement including piano, harpsichord, and percussion, which was unusual for folk music at the time.
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LegacyThe song's message about social responsibility and the danger of complacency continues to resonate with listeners, showing Phil Ochs's enduring influence as a songwriter and activist.
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Influence on Music"Outside of a Small Circle of Friends" is often cited as an influence by subsequent generations of socially conscious songwriters.
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Citation
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"Outside of a Small Circle of Friends Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 14 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/2682113/Phil+Ochs/Outside+of+a+Small+Circle+of+Friends>.
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