Zachary Stevenson plays Love Me, I’m a Liberal at a Phil Ochs Song Night in Felton, CA
“Love Me, I’m A Liberal,” is a criticism of liberals, as liberals often superficially support things such as civil rights to appear compassionate, but actually reject any action that would upset the status quo. This song is Phil Ochs’ demonstration of his hatred of the liberals, who he views as hypocritical.
In the final verse, the liberal narrator of the song establishes he used to be a socialist, but has now “grown older and wiser”, and rejected more radical left-wing politics in favor of liberalism. Liberalism is a political disposition which is opposed to, and not synonymous with, Leftism (socialism, communism, etc). The idea that liberalism is synonymous with Leftism is a recent phenomenon more or less specific to mainstream US politics since the widespread suppression of the radical Left in the 70s and 80s (as well as the spread of the global “neoliberal consensus” since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the German Democratic Republic, and the capitalist reforms of China under Deng Xiaoping).
Essentially, the song is a critique of liberalism from a leftist perspective, using the satirized view point of a 60’s American liberal.
Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon did a 90’s-themed updated version that can be found here.
It’s also worth noting that the tune of this song incorporates parts of the melody for the traditional song ‘Rosin the Bow.’ You can hear it very clearly in the first three lines of every verse.
Phil Ochs, a prominent American singer-songwriter in the 1960s, created a song titled “Love Me; I’m a Liberal,” which has since become a compelling political anthem. Released in 1966, the song offers a thought-provoking critique of the liberal ideology prevalent during that era. Ochs, known for his satirical and insightful lyrics, takes a critical stance towards liberalism and challenges its claims of progressiveness. In this article, we will delve into the meaning behind the song and explore its significance in the context of the time.
The lyrics of “Love Me; I’m a Liberal” serve as a commentary on the hypocritical tendencies observed within the liberal movement. Ochs expresses his disillusionment with liberals who claim to support progressive causes but fail to actively participate or bring about real change. The song highlights the contradiction between their stated beliefs and their actions, pointing out that they often take a superficial approach towards important issues.
Edit: added cover
Cover by Zachary Stevenson: Love Me, I’m a Liberal LIVE (Phil Ochs) [04:28] https://youtu.be/8na8piim5Kk
https://genius.com/Phil-ochs-love-me-im-a-liberal-lyrics
https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-love-me-im-a-liberal-by-phil-ochs/