Phil Ochs
Talking Cuban Crisis [Demo-Version]
[Intro]
Here's a talking blues, it's called "Talking Cuban Crisis"
This is the biggest audience response song I have now
Or second-biggest

[Verse 1]
It was just a little while ago
I glued my ears to the radio
The announcer was sayin' we'd better beware
A crisis was hangin' in the air
Crawlin' on the ground, swimmin' in the sea
Headin' for me

[Verse 2]
Well, I didn't know if I was for or agin' it
He was yellin' and screamin' a mile a minute
Well, he said "Here comes the President
But first this word from Pepsodent
Have whiter teeth, cleaner breath
When you're facin' nuclear death"

[Verse 3]
Then the President began to speak
I knew right away he wouldn't be weak
Well, he said he'd seen some missile bases
And terrible smiles on Cuban faces
Carryin' land reform too far
Giving land to the USSR
[Verse 4]
Yes, he said we mustn't be afraid
We're settin' up a little blockade
Put our ships along the Cuban shores
And if the Russian bear yells and roars we'll let him have it

[Verse 5]
From Turkey and Greece, Formosa and Spain
From the peaceful West European plain
From Alaska and Greenland, we'll use our means
And twenty thousand submarines
We're gonna teach 'em a lesson
For trying to upset the balance of power

[Verse 6]
Well, most Americans stood behind
The President and his military minds
Me, I stood behind a bar
Dreamin' of a spaceship getaway car
Head for Mars
Any other planet that has bars

[Verse 7]
Yes, it seemed the stand was strong and plain
But some Republicans was goin' insane
They said our plan was just too mild
Spare the rod and spoil the child
Sink Cuba into the sea
Give 'em back democracy
[Verse 8]
Well, the deadline was set for ten o'clock
For a cold war, it was gettin' hot
Well, the Russians tried, the Russians failed
And homeward bound those missiles sailed
Mr. Khrushchev said
"Better red than dead"