Ohio
ร„รกยถรปร‘รฏ(Neil Young) Lyrics


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Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio
.

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.




This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Neil Young's song "Ohio" reference an event in US history that occurred on May 4, 1970, when National Guard troops fired upon unarmed students at Kent State University in Ohio, killing four and injuring nine. The first stanza of the song mentions "tin soldiers," which is thought to be a reference to the National Guard troops, and "Nixon coming," which refers to then-President Richard Nixon. The second line, "We're finally on our own," could be interpreted as a declaration of independence from a government that would use force against its own citizens.


The chorus of the song repeats lines about soldiers cutting down people, and questions why this hasn't been addressed earlier. The second verse adds a personal element, asking listeners to consider the impact of violence against someone they know, and asking how they can continue to run from these problems. The final stanza is a repetition of the first, with the somber addition of "Four dead in Ohio" reminding the listener of the tragedy that inspired the song.


Line by Line Meaning

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming
The military and political forces responsible for the violence are nearing and posing a threat.


We're finally on our own
The singer feels that they are left to fend for themselves in the midst of chaos.


This summer I hear the drumming
The singer senses the ominous anticipation of war and bloodshed.


Four dead in Ohio
Four innocent people have been killed in the recent violence.


Gotta get down to it
It is urgent to act quickly to address the situation.


Soldiers are cutting us down
The soldiers are committing violent acts against civilians.


Should have been done long ago
The situation should have been dealt with earlier but no action was taken.


What if you knew her
Imagine if someone you knew was a victim of the violence.


And found her dead on the ground
If you discovered someone you knew had been killed in the violence.


How can you run when you know?
It is impossible to ignore the violence once you know about it, so action must be taken.




Contributed by Ryan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

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