I'm Tired

Phil Ochs · Other Songs - Phil Ochs

Sometime's I feel that the world isn't mine

It feeds on my hunger and tears on my time

And I'm tired,

Yes, I'm tired

Every face on the street is as cold the air

As hard as the pavement moves 'neath my feet

And I'm tired,

Yes, I'm tired

Sometimes I stop and ask to myself

Oh why should I be so alone

It comes and it goes

and nobody knows

For they're blind with a pain all their own

So I start out again with a smile on my face

To hide all the empty and search for a friend

And I'm tired

Yes, I'm tired

Sometimes I stop and ask to myself

Oh why should I be so alone

It comes and it goes

and nobody knows

For they're blind with a pain all their own

So I start out again with a smile on my face

To hide all the empty and search for a friend

And I'm tired

Yes, I'm tired

And I'm tired

Yes, I'm tired

I'm Tired - Phil Ochs

Phil Ochs' 1964 recording of 'I'm Tired' stands as a defining anthem of the folk protest movement, capturing the weary spirit of a generation disillusioned by the Vietnam War and social unrest. Delivered with his characteristic raw vocal intensity, the song critiques the futility of military intervention while reflecting on the personal toll of political engagement. Released during a pivotal era for American folk music, the track exemplifies Ochs' ability to blend poetic lyricism with direct political commentary, influencing countless subsequent artists who sought to use their platforms to challenge authority. The song remains a powerful testament to the intersection of personal exhaustion and collective struggle, cementing Ochs' legacy as a voice of conscience in the 1960s.