One Way Ticket Home

Phil Ochs · Other Songs - Phil Ochs

I'd like a one-way ticket home, ticket home

Where I can watch television, talk on the telephone

But every town I wander there's a billboard on a throne

Ticket home

I want a ticket home

Does anybody know my name, or recognize my face

I must have come from somewhere, but I can't recall the place

they dropped me at the matinee, they left without a trace

Ticket home

I want a ticket home

Elvis Presley is the king, I was at his crowning

My life just flashed before my eyes, I must be drowning

Seems like only yesterday I climbed aboard the plane

Raping distance in the skies, while diving in champagne

I would be in exile now, but everywhere's the same

Ticket home

I want a ticket home

Elvis Presley is the king, I was at his crowning

My life just flashed before my eyes, I must be drowning

Seems like only yesterday I climbed aboard the plane

Raping distance in the sky, while diving in champagne

I would be in exile now, but everywhere's the same

Ticket home

I want a ticket home

One Way Ticket Home

Phil Ochs was a defining voice of the 1960s folk revival, known for blending sharp social commentary with traditional acoustic arrangements. His songwriting often explored themes of alienation, political unrest, and the search for identity within a rapidly changing America. One Way Ticket Home stands as a poignant song in his discography, reflecting the introspective and narrative-driven style that characterized his most celebrated recordings. While Ochs frequently addressed broad historical events, this track captures a more personal sentiment regarding return and belonging. The song remains a testament to his ability to craft emotionally resonant melodies that complement his incisive lyrics, securing his legacy as a master of the folk genre.