There But For Fortune

Phil Ochs

About There But For Fortune

"There but for Fortune" is a song by American folk musician Phil Ochs. Ochs wrote the song in 1963 and recorded it twice, for New Folks Volume 2 (Vanguard, 1964) and Phil Ochs in Concert (Elektra, 1966). Joan Baez also recorded "There but for Fortune" in 1964, and her version of the song became a chart hit.


Year:
1976
114 

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!

Show me a prison, show me a jail,
G         Em              Am           D                           
Show me a prisoner whose face has gone pale
Em                                    C            Am                 
And I'll show you a young man with so many reasons why
    Bm               G            Am     D
And there but for fortune, may go you or I 
Show me the alley, show me the train,
Show me a hobo who sleeps out in the rain,
And I'll show you a young man with so many reasons why
There but for fortune, may go you or go I -- you and I.
Show me the whiskey stains on the floor,
Show me the dunken man as he stumbles out the door,
And I'll show you a young man with so many reasons why
There but for fortune, may go you or go I -- you and I.
[Extra verse... written by Noel Paul Stookey]
Show me the famine, show me the frail
Eyes with no future that show how we failed
And I'll show you the children with so many reasons why
There but for fortune, go you or I.
Show me the country where bombs had to fall,
Show me the ruins of buildings once so tall,
And I'll show you a young land with so many reasons why
There but for fortune, go you or go I -- you and I.
You and I,
There but for fortune, go you or go I -- you and I.

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Phil Ochs

Philip David Ochs ( /ˈoʊks/; December 19, 1940 – April 9, 1976) was an American protest singer (or, as he preferred, a topical singer) and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and distinctive voice. He wrote hundreds of songs in the 1960s and released eight albums in his lifetime. more »

2 fans

Written by: PHIL OCHS

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Songwriters
"There But for Fortune" is a song written by American folk musician Phil Ochs. Even though Joan Baez is popularly linked with the track, she is not a co-writer but the performer who made it widely known.
Release Year
The song was first recorded by Phil Ochs himself in 1963. Joan Baez recorded and released her version a year later in 1964.
Chart Performance
Joan Baez's version of "There But for Fortune" made it to the top ten in the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 8 in 1965.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by multiple artists over the years, including Françoise Hardy who translated and sang it in French.
Phil Ochs' Inspiration
Ochs wrote "There But for Fortune" as a political statement, exploring themes of poverty, criticism of war, the death penalty, and civil rights.
Use in Film
The song is also the title of a 2011 documentary about Phil Ochs’ life and music, titled "Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune."
Grammy Nomination
Joan Baez's rendition of "There But for Fortune" earned her a Grammy nomination in 1965 for "Best Folk Recording."
Legacy
"There But for Fortune" remains one of Phil Ochs' most popular songs and is a staple in Joan Baez's performances. It has long been admired for its powerful, socially aware lyrics.
Song Variation
Ochs’ own version of the song differs slightly from the version that Joan Baez popularized. The difference mainly rests in the final verse, with Baez choosing a somewhat more ambiguous ending.
Live Performances
Despite its popularity, Ochs rarely performed "There But for Fortune" in concert, whereas Joan Baez typically included it in her setlists.

Discuss the There But For Fortune Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "There But For Fortune Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4963525/Phil+Ochs/There+But+For+Fortune>.

    Missing lyrics by Phil Ochs?

    Know any other songs by Phil Ochs? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    There But For Fortune

    143.7K
    1,950     0

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    Finish The Weeknd's lyric: “Ooh, I’m _______ by the lights No I can’t sleep until I feel your _____”.
    A Trusted, skin
    B Shaken, kiss
    C Blinded, touch
    D Dragged, love

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Phil Ochs tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!