I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

Yesterday I listened to a sermon about Phil Ochs. Have you ever heard of him? He was a protest singer and songwriter who wanted to change the world. He wanted his words to have the same deep and lasting impact that Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger's did. I think, for a long time, he believed they would. But then he began to loose faith. Eventually, mental illness and alcoholism led to the sad and tragic end of his life.

Our minister said, "I don't know of any artist who both more inspires me and more haunts me in my soul." As we listened to several of Phil Ochs's songs yesterday, I understood why.

But the last one is the one that I haven't been able to stop thinking about. It's called "When I'm Gone." Our minister said this song is the reason he went to divinity school. Reading the words more closely today, I get that. And I'm impressed.

Today, I'm thinking about all the maybe somedays. I'm thinking about what I should do while I'm here, and what I need to do while I'm here. What I have to do.

To me, these things feel very private and obvious at the same time. They feel heady. They feel possible, and impossible. But asking the question forces me to remember what matters. It forces me to accept that there are ways I can have a positive impact. Same as you. It feels both inspirational, and, I hate to admit it, but burdensome. But mainly, it feels like my responsibilities and all the possibilities in front of me, have been made more clear.

I think Phil Ochs's songs are having a deep and lasting impact. Slowly and maybe too quietly. But surely.

And I think he could still change the world.

So could you.

"When I'm Gone" By Phil Ochs

There's no place in this world where I'll belong when I'm gone
And I won't know the right from the wrong when I'm gone
And you won't find me singin' on this song when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

And I won't feel the flowing of the time when I'm gone
All the pleasures of love will not be mine when I'm gone
My pen won't pour out a lyric line when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

And I won't breathe the bracing air when I'm gone
And I can't even worry 'bout my cares when I'm gone
Won't be asked to do my share when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

And I won't be running from the rain when I'm gone
And I can't even suffer from the pain when I'm gone
Can't say who's to praise and who's to blame when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

Won't see the golden of the sun when I'm gone
And the evenings and the mornings will be one when I'm gone
Can't be singing louder than the guns when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

All my days won't be dances of delight when I'm gone
And the sands will be shifting from my sight when I'm gone
Can't add my name into the fight while I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

And I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone
And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone
Can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

Here is Ani DiFranco's version of the song. You'll have to ignore the video, which is from a movie about Abby Hoffman. But I hope you'll listen, if you have the time.



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Monday Morning Warm-Up:

What do you have to do while you're here?