There But for Fortune
“There But for Fortune” is a 1965 single by Joan Baez, written by Phil Ochs in 1963, recorded by Baez in October 1964 for her album Joan Baez/5, and released by Vanguard Records.
Lyrics
Show me the prison, show me the jail
Show me the prisoner whose life has gone stale
And I’ll show you a young man with so many reasons why
There but for fortune go you or I, mm-mm
Show me the alley, show me the train
Show me the hobo who sleeps out in the rain
And I’ll show you a young man with so many reasons why
There but for fortune go you or I, mm
Show me the whiskey stains on the floor
Show me the drunkard as he stumbles out the door
And I’ll show you a young man with so many reasons why
There but for fortune go you or I, mm
Show me the country where the bombs had to fall
Show me the ruins of the buildings once so tall
And I’ll show you a young land with so many reasons why
There but for fortune go you and I
You and I
Release date
October 1, 1964
Genre
Contemporary Folk · Singer/Songwriter · Traditional Folk
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