Lyrics Half A Century High - Phil Ochs

Half A Century High

In the tube where I was born
I could have sworn
There was so much to see
There was so little to be
But I was free
World at my command
Through the dots I ran
Looking for a man who looked like me
And now it can be told
I’m a quarter of a century old
But I’m half a century high
In the tube where I was raised
I was amazed
On the pictures I would lean
That went flashing on the screen
Oh, I was dazed
But then my eyes were made
Hypnotized insane
Buried in my brain
In a blinding blaze
And now it can be told
I’m a quarter of a century old
But I’m half a century high
In the tube where I was grown
I was alone
The figure on the floor
The dream behind the door
The sound was low
Ballgames on the street
Disappeared behind my feet
Out of breath my heart would be
To see another show
And now it can be told
I’m a quarter of a century old
But I’m half a century high
In the tube where I was made
I was afraid
Spinning through the space
Another scene, another face
Another shade
Mirror of my mind
On electric wheels of wine
Living on the lines that were displayed
And now it can be told
I’m a quarter of a century old
But I’m half a century high
In the tube where I was fed
I lost my head
I watch the lives they led
Watch them to the end
And then again
An open kind of laugh
I gave all the mind I had
And whenever I was sad
I had my friends
And now it can be told
I’m a quarter of a century old
But I’m half a century high
In the tube where I was killed
I was fulfiled
Such an easy way to win
Talking to my twin
No sign of sin
The sacrifice was small
Fascination was the fall
I was extended by the wall that held me in
And now it can be told
I’m a quarter of a century old
But I’m half a century high
In the tube where I was killed
I was fulfilled
The lies of light would bend
I’d stare until the end
And then again
Faded and the fad
I gave all the mind I had
And whenever I was sad
I had my friends
And now it can be told
I’m a quarter of a century old
But I’m half a century high
In the tube where I was born
I could have sworn
There was so much to see
There was so little to be
But I was free
World at my command
Through the dots I ran
Looking for a man who looked like me
And now it can be told
I’m a quarter of a century old
But I’m half a century high