| Lyrics: | Phil Ochs
In a building of gold, with riches untold,
lived the families on which the country
was founded.
And the merchants of style, with their vain velvet smiles,
were there, for they
also were hounded.
And the soft middle class crowded in to the last,
for the building was
fully surrounded.
And the noise outside was the ringing of revolution.
Sadly they stared and
sank in their chairs
and searched for a comforting notion.
And the rich silver walls looked
ready to fall
As they shook in doubtful devotion.
The ice cubes would clink as they
freshened their drinks,
wet their minds in bitter emotion.
And they talked about the ringing
of revolution.
We were hardly aware of the hardships they beared,
for our time was taken
with treasure.
Oh, life was a game, and work was a shame,
And pain was prevented by
pleasure.
The world, cold and grey, was so far away
In the distance only money could
measure.
But their thoughts were broken by the ringing of revolution.
And the clouds filled
the room in darkening doom
as the crooked smoke rings were rising.
How long will it take,
how can we escape
Someone asks, but no one's advising.
And the quivering floor responds to
the roar,
In a shake no longer surprising.
As closer and closer comes the ringing of
revolution.
So softly they moan, please leave us alone
As back and forth they are
pacing.
And they cover their ears and try not to hear
With pillows of silk they're
embracing.
Tthe crackling crowd is laughing out loud,
peeking in at the target they're
chasing.
Now trembling inside the ringing of revolution.
With compromise sway we gave in
half way
When we saw that rebellion was growing.
Now everything's lost as |
