Sunday
Apr092023
Recording of Ode To Phil Holland (India 84) by Rich Cohen
Sunday, April 9, 2023 at 03:00PM Please enjoy this recording of Ode To Phil Holland, words and music by Rich Cohen. This song was written by Rich for his friend Phil Holland, one of the volunteers in his group (India 84), who died while in Peace Corps service in the village in Rajasthan.
Lyrics to Ode To Phil Holland (India 84)
Words and Music by Rich Cohen
Here’s a song ‘bout Phil Holland
He was a friend of mine.
Joined the American Peace Corps
Back in nineteen sixty-nine.
Went to work for peace they said
Innocent, left a home and a bed
Cared about other people instead
And then he ended up dead.
Chorus:
Why do the best of us have to die so young?
Phil left this world before his work was done.
There ain’t no palace in the sky big enough for him.
May the memory of his sacrifice never dim.
Met ol’ Phil in Washington
Went down there a bit mystified.
Tests taken, the shrinks pacified
Depart on Pan Am a 24-hour ride.
Touch down, in an early June morning
Stumbled off the plane bleary eyed.
A stray dog greeted us tail a-wagging
Hot sun blazing, we’re already sagging.
Chorus
Packed out of Delhi for Rajasthan
Long train ride through the night.
Desert vistas an’ wind swept scenes
What’s that story about the Peace Corps dream?
Udaipur morning found us tired,
Packed bags an’ bodies in open trucks.
A climbing hot sun spoiled our fun,
Could we know Phil was the one?
Chorus
College grads were we now farmers,
Closely watched by Peace Corps informers.
Wondering if the draft we evaded,
Some sent back, their hopes faded.
Training over, sent to our posts,
Village life bare essentials,
Be first white man some had seen,
A few more quit, not so keen.
Chorus
Struggled to be credible
Promoting seeds of high yield wheat.
Most farmers thought me crazy,
The harvest came, what a treat.
The day arrived, heard Phil was sick,
Laid low in his village bed.
Fever gripped him night and day,
Slipped into a coma they said.
Chorus
U.S. Ambassador sent his ‘copter stat
Fingers crossed, we prayed we sat.
The odds were long, fever was strong,
The end came quick, Phil was gone.
Here’s a song ‘bout Phil Holland.
He was a friend of mine.
Joined the American Peace Corps,
Back in nineteen sixty-nine.
