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Half A Century High

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Half A Century High
By Phil Ochs
In the tGube where CI was bornG  
I Ccould have swornBm  
There Cwas so much to seDe
There wCas so little to bDe
But I was freGeC  G  
B7World at my command
EmThrough the dots I ran
AmLooking for a maDn who looked like mGe
EmAnd now it can be toldD  
I'm a Emquarter of a century oldD  
But I'm hGalf a cFentury hGighF  G  
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 (Laying on the floor)
The dream behind the door (I'd lock the closet 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 fulfilled
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
Notes:
Due to the way this song was done on Tape From California, I could not understand some
key lyrics. But, thanks to the version on Phil Ochs at Newport, I was able to understand
those bits. The former version, consists of only verses 1, 3 and 7 The third verse had a 
couple of different lines, the version in parenthesis is from the latter album. Also, on
the latter version, the word "wise" was used instead of the word "high".
Chords supplied by Danny Korman and corrected by James Barnett

All chords in this song (8)

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Half A Century High

by Phil Ochs

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Half A Century High

By Phil Ochs

G C G

In the tube where I was born

C Bm

I could have sworn

C D

There was so much to see

C D

There was so little to be

G C G

But I was free

World at my command

Through the dots I ran

Am D G

Looking for a man who looked like me

Em D

And now it can be told

Em D

I'm a quarter of a century old

G F G F G

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 (Laying on the floor)

The dream behind the door (I'd lock the closet 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 fulfilled

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

Notes:

Due to the way this song was done on Tape From California, I could not understand some

key lyrics. But, thanks to the version on Phil Ochs at Newport, I was able to understand

those bits. The former version, consists of only verses 1, 3 and 7 The third verse had a

couple of different lines, the version in parenthesis is from the latter album. Also, on

the latter version, the word "wise" was used instead of the word "high".

Chords supplied by Danny Korman and corrected by James Barnett

About Half A Century High Chords by Phil Ochs

Learn how to play Half A Century High by Phil Ochs with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Half A Century High chords”, “Half A Century High guitar chords”, or “Phil Ochs Half A Century High chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Half A Century High chords and for experienced players who want accurate Half A Century High lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, G, C, Bm, D, B7.

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