The song itself was inspired by the Kitty Genovese stabbing in New York in 1964, where reportedly many watched as she was stabbed outside of her home with no one contacting the police or attempted to help in any way.
[Verse 1]
Oh, look outside the window, there's a woman bein' grabbed
They've dragged her to the bushes, and now she's bein' stabbed
Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain
But Monopoly is so much fun, I'd hate to blow the game
[Refrain]
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
[Verse 2]
Ridin' down the highway, yes, my back is gettin' stiff
Thirteen cars have piled up, they're hanging on a cliff
Now maybe we should pull them back with our towing chain
But we gotta move, and we might get sued and it looks like it's gonna rain
[Refrain]
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
[Verse 3]
Sweating in the ghetto with the colored and the poor
The rats have joined the babies who are sleepin' on the floor
Now wouldn't it be a riot if they really blew their tops?
But they got too much already, and besides we've got the cops
[Refrain]
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
[Verse 4]
Oh, there's a dirty paper using sex to make her sales
The Supreme Court was so upset they sent him off to jail
Maybe we should help the fiend and take away his fine
But we're busy reading Playboy and The Sunday New York Times
[Refrain]
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
[Verse 5]
Smokin' marijuana is more fun than drinkin' beer
But a friend of ours was captured, and they gave him thirty years
Maybe we should raise our voices, ask somebody why
But demonstrations are a drag, besides we're much too high
[Refrain]
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
[Verse 1]
Oh, look outside the window, there's a woman bein' grabbed
They've dragged her to the bushes, and now she's bein' stabbed
Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain
But Monopoly is so much fun, I'd hate to blow the game
[Refrain]
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
Outside of a Small Circle of Friends was written by Phil Ochs.
Outside of a Small Circle of Friends was produced by Larry Marks.
Phil Ochs released Outside of a Small Circle of Friends on Tue Oct 31 1967.