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Lou Marsh

Phil Ochs
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The Ballad Of Lou Marsh (Broadside #27, June 1963)
My story is a sad one, It’s ugly and it’s harsh,
About a social worker, His name was Lou Marsh,
He walked our slums and alleys, And he died there in his tracks,
For one man is no army, When a city turns its back

For now the streets are empty, Now the streets are dark,
So keep an eye on shadows, And never pass the park,
For the city is a jungle, When the law is out of sight,
And death lurks in El Barrio, With the orphans of the night

There were two gangs approaching In Spanish Harlem town,
The smell of blood was in the air, The challenge was laid down,
With patience and with reason,He tried to save their lives,
But they broke his peaceful body, With their fists and feet and knives.

For now the streets are empty, Now the streets are dark,
So keep an eye on shadows, And never pass the park,
For the city is a jungle, When the law is out of sight,
And death lurks in El Barrio, With the orphans of the night

In this city of corruption, Other gang wars will be fought,
And as you listen to my song, Your officials can be bought,
So don’t hide behind policemen, Or politicians lies,
But fight till every dirty slum, Is torn down before your eyes.
On the streets of New York City when the hour was getting late,
There were young men armed with knives and guns,
Young men armed with hate.
And Lou Marsh stepped between them and died there in his tracks.
For one man is no army when a city turns its back.

And now the streets are empty, and now the streets are dark,
So keep an eye for shadows and never pass the park.
For the city is a jungle when the law is out of sight,
And death lurks in el Barrio with the orphans of the night.

He left behind the chambers of the church he served so long
For he learned the prayers of distant men will never right the wrongs
His church became an alley and his pulpit was the street
And he made his congregation from the boys he used to meet

And now the streets are empty, and now the streets are dark,
So keep an eye for shadows and never pass the park.
For the city is a jungle when the law is out of sight,
And death lurks in el Barrio with the orphans of the night.

There were two gangs approaching In spanish Harlem town
The smell of blood was in the air The challenge was laid down
He felt their blinding hatred And he tried to save their lives
But they broke his peaceful body Was their fist & feet & knives.

And now the streets are empty, and now the streets are dark,
So keep an eye for shadows and never pass the park.
For the city is a jungle when the law is out of sight,
And death lurks in el Barrio with the orphans of the night.

Will Lou Marsh lie forgotten in his cold silent grave
Will his memory still linger on in those he tried to save
And all of us who knew him will now and then recall
And shed a tear on poverty the tombstone of us all.


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