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A Toast to Those Who Are Gone Lyrics by Phil Ochs

Farewells & Fantasies

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[Verse 1]
Many's the hour I've lain by my window
And thought of the people who carried the burdens
Who marched in the strange fields in search of an answer
And ended their journeys an unwilling hero
[Chorus]
So here is a song to those who are gone
With never a reason why
And a toast of the wine at the end of the line
And a toll of the bell for the next one to die
[Verse 2]
Back in the coal fields of old Harlan County
Some talked of a union, some talked of good wages
And they lined them up in the dark of the forest
And shot them down without asking no questions
[Chorus]
So here is a song to those who are gone
With never a reason why
And a toast of the wine at the end of the line
And a toll of the bell for the next one to die
[Verse 3]
And over the ocean, to the red Spanish soil
Came the Lincoln Brigade with their dreams of a victory
But they fell in the fire of Germany's bombings
And they fell 'cause nobody would hear their sad warning
[Chorus]
So here is a song to those who are gone
With never a reason why
And a toast of the wine at the end of the line
And a toll of the bell for the next one to die
[Verse 4]
In old Alabama, in old Mississippi
Two states of the Union so often found guilty
They came on the busses, they came on the marches
And they lay in the jails or they fell by the highways
[Chorus]
So here is a song to those who are gone
With never a reason why
And a toast of the wine at the end of the line
And a toll of the bell for the next one to die
[Verse 5]
The state it was Texas, the town it was Dallas
In the flash of a rifle a life was soon over
And nobody thought of the past million murders
And the long list of irony had found a new champion
[Chorus]
So here is a song to those who are gone
With never a reason why
And a toast of the wine at the end of the line
And a toll of the bell for the next one to die
Credits
Phil Ochs

Phil Ochs

About “A Toast to Those Who Are Gone” by Phil Ochs

Read the complete lyrics to "A Toast to Those Who Are Gone" by Phil Ochs from the album "Farewells & Fantasies". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"A Toast to Those Who Are Gone" is performed by Phil Ochs. from the album "Farewells & Fantasies" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "A Toast to Those Who Are Gone", explore more songs by Phil Ochs using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"A Toast to Those Who Are Gone" is credited to Phil Ochs. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"A Toast to Those Who Are Gone" appears on "Farewells & Fantasies".

Visit the Phil Ochs artist page at /artist/phil-ochs for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.