Talkin' Pay Tv Lyrics - Phil Ochs

Walkin' down to denver town 

I watched the western sun go down. 

Thought that I would stop a while, 

Switch around my tv dial. 

Got some free tee vee . . . only price was a little boredom. 

Well, I'm not sure about my taste 

But it seemed that tv land was a waste. 

I saw 30 westerns, 30 private eyes, 30 doctors operated before my eyes. 

None of the operations was successful, though . . . it's hard to operate 

With so much violence around. 

Well, every few minutes they'd take a break 

For a profound message on a stomach ache. 

They sold cures for dandruff, milk from the farm 

Perfume for my underarms. 

I've had enough . . . I'm stickin' to greasy kid stuff. 

Well, the blood and gore was upon the floor 

And I couldn't hardly stand no more, 

So I walked outside to get some air. 

A theater owner was standing there: 

Carryin' a picket sign . . . said pay tv was un-american. 

He said "i'm against that pay tv. 

I've much rather have people pay me." 

A dollar for parking, two for the show, 

Three for the baby sitter, there you go! 

Get to see a wide-screen spectacular . . . hercules meets godzilla . . . 

Audience meets nausea. 

Well, pay tv is fine to see 

You get much better quality: 

Broadway shows, heavy-weight fights 

First-run movies every night. 

Viewers of denver, unite! . . . nothing to lose but commercials. 

Well, people are afraid of something new. 

They laughed at planes before they flew. 

You know, you only get just what you buy 

So give that pay tv a try. 

Remember: . . . families that pay together stay together.