"For What It's Worth"
A song by Buffalo Springfield, written by Stephen Stills. It was first released as a single in 1966 and then later on the rerelease of their first album, Buffalo Springfield, in 1967. |
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There's something happening here What it is ain't exactly clear There's a man with a gun over there Telling me I got to beware I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down There's battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everybody's wrong Young people speaking their minds Getting so much resistance from behind I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down What a field-day for the heat A thousand people in the street Singing songs and carrying signs Mostly say, hooray for our side It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down Paranoia strikes deep Into your life it will creep It starts when you're always afraid You step out of line, the man come and take you away We better stop, hey, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down Stop, hey, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down Stop, now, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down Stop, children, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down |
Buffalo Springfield was a short-lived yet highly original and influential folk rock group that served as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. |
During the Vietnam War years the song was adopted by the antiwar masses to symbolize worldwide turbulence and confrontational feelings regarding events during the 1960s (particularly the Vietnam War). However, Stills reportedly wrote the song in reaction to escalating unrest between law enforcement and young club-goers relating to the closing of Pandora's Box, a club on West Hollywood, California's Sunset Strip. After its formation in April 1966, a series of disruptions, including internal bickering, as well as the pressure of working in the music business resulted in constant changes in the group's lineup, and ultimately culminated in the group disbanding after roughly 25 months. |