For obvious reasons I've been wondering lately if anyone had done an Arizona adaptation of Phil Ochs's song Here's to the State of Mississippi.
It turns out someone has, Robert Erickson.
Lyrics (copied from Dandelion Salad blog with some spelling and stuff corrected because I can't help myself):
April 29, 2010 — Here’s to the state of Arizona,
Mexico’s land stolen through conquest, war, and lies.
If you walk her scorching deserts, nameless bodies you will find.
Whoa the border walls and ICE agents have hid a thousand crimes,
The calender is lyin’ when it reads the present time.
Whoa here’s to the land you’ve torn out the heart of,
Arizona find yourself another country to be part of!
Here’s to the people of Arizona
Who say the folks up north, they just don’t understand
And they tremble in their shadows of the racist Minuteman
The sweating of their souls can’t wash the blood from off their hands.
They smile and shrug their shoulders at the murder of a man.
Oh, here’s to the land you’ve torn out the heart of
Arizona find yourself another country to be part of
Here’s to the cops of Arizona
They're stomping on your rights with racial profiling galore.
They’re asking you for papers as they knock upon your door
Just like the Nazi soldiers they won't just stop with 10 states more.
Behind their broken badges there are racist pricks and more.
Oh, here’s to the land you’ve torn out the heart of
Arizona find yourself another country to be part of
And here’s to the laws of Arizona
A xenophobic scheme to take your civil rights away
While the Constitution is drowning in an ocean of decay
Let's track immigrants with microchips, I’ve even heard them say
Will we ever see reform or will the Dems just run away?
Oh, here’s to the land you’ve torn out the heart of
Arizona find yourself another country to be part of
And here’s to the government of Arizona
In the sands of their bureaucracy they’re always bogging down
And criminals are posing as the sheriffs of the towns
They’re hoping no one sues them, when they're stopped for being brown
And the speeches of the governor are the ravings of a clown
Oh, here’s to the land you’ve torn out the heart of
Arizona find yourself another country to be part of
I hope he or someone updates it again to reflect recent events, and/or that Arizona finds itself another country to be part of!
Comments
laura (not verified)
Mon, 01/17/2011 - 5:14pm
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Thank you for finding this!
Thank you for finding this! You know, I am sure, of my deep and abiding love for Phil Ochs.
jenna
Mon, 01/17/2011 - 6:04pm
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I love him, too, even if his
I love him, too, even if his biography didn't paint a very nice picture of Phil Ochs the man. :(
His lyrics were viciously accurate and funny, and still stand up really well.
Mitchell J. Freedman (not verified)
Mon, 01/24/2011 - 2:45am
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I with Laura and my Cousin
I with Laura and my Cousin Jenna on all aspects of Phil. I had provided her the Ochs bio and knew she would see how he treated very horribly the women in his life. Still, it is the music and lyrics we should remember, as my Cousin and Laura both state.
It is also amazing to see how often on YouTube one finds covers and updates of Phil's songs.
I will only add that Phil's melodies were far more often more complicated than people initially hear, and yes, the lyrics were so often brilliant.
jenna
Mon, 01/24/2011 - 10:43am
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I was wondering when you'd
I was wondering when you'd comment on this post! :)