Phil Ochs - Chords Of Fame

I found him by the stage last night 
He was breathing his last breath 
A bottle of wine and a cigarette 

Was all that he had left

"I can see you make the music

'Cause you carry a guitar

God help the troubadour

Who tries to be a star"

So play the chords of love, my friend

Play the chords of pain

If you want to keep your song,

Don't, don't, don't, don't play the chords of fame.

I seen my share of hustlers

As they try to take the world

When they find their melody

They're surrounded by the girls

But it all fades so quickly

Like a sunny summer day

Reporters ask you questions

They write down what you say

They'll rob you of your innocence

They will put you up for sale

The more that you will find success

The more that you will fail

I been around, I've had my share

And I really can't complain

But I wonder who I left behind

The other side of fame.

      Phil Ochs aconselha um aprendiz na arte das canções a não se escravizar aos textos e aos acordes fáceis da música da indústria. Não a fama, o entertainment, a progressão fácil na carreira comercial com canções de conteúdo e refrões que nada dizem. Aconselha a cantar "chords of love" e "chords of pain" com a intenção de celebrar o ser humano no seu todo: nas suas virtudes e defeitos, nos seus problemas e esperanças. A função do songwriter é a de dignificar a canção.