While the song has come to symbolize worldwide turbulence and confrontational feelings arising from events during the 1960s (particularly the Vietnam War), Stills reportedly wrote the song in reaction to escalating unrest between law enforcement and young club-goers related to the closing of Pandora's Box, a club on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. The song's title appears nowhere in its lyrics; it is more easily remembered by the first line of chorus: "Stop, children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down."
In 2006, Stills was interviewed by Tom Kent on his radio show "Into the '70s" and pointed out that many people think "For What It's Worth" is about the Kent State Shootings, although it was actually recorded several years before that event.
For What It's Worth
Buffalo Springfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But what it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
A-tellin' 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
And nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speakin' their minds
A-gettin' 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 (ooh-ooh-ooh)
A thousand people in the street (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Singin' songs and a-carryin' signs (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Mostly say, "Hooray for our side" (ooh-ooh-ooh)
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
We better stop, hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
We better stop, now, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
We better stop, children, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
Buffalo Springfield's song "For What It's Worth" was written by Stephen Stills in 1966, at a time when political and social unrest was prevalent in the United States. Stills was inspired to write the song after witnessing a protest in California in which young people were being arrested by the police for simply gathering and expressing their opinions.
The lyrics of the song suggest that there is something happening in society that is not completely clear, but it is causing people to become fearful and paranoid. Stills references a man with a gun and the resistance young people face when speaking their minds. The lyric "nobody's right if everybody's wrong" suggests a sense of confusion and moral ambiguity that was common at the time.
The chorus of the song, "Hey, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down" is a call to action for people to pay attention and be aware of what is happening around them. The song also includes a reference to the "heat," which is slang for the police or law enforcement, and a description of a large protest in which people are carrying signs and singing songs.
Overall, "For What It's Worth" is a song that captures the spirit of the times in which it was written. It speaks to a sense of unease and disorientation that was felt by many young people who were challenging the status quo and questioning authority.
Line by Line Meaning
There's somethin' happenin' here
There is something happening right now.
But what it is ain't exactly clear
But it is not clear what this thing is.
There's a man with a gun over there
There is a man who is holding a gun.
A-tellin' me I got to beware
He is warning me to be careful.
I think it's time we stop
I think it is time to put a stop to this situation.
Children, what's that sound?
Children, do you hear that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
We should all pay attention to what is happening.
There's battle lines being drawn
People are starting to take sides.
And nobody's right if everybody's wrong
There is no right side if everyone is wrong.
Young people speakin' their minds
Young people are expressing their opinions.
A-gettin' so much resistance from behind
But they are facing a lot of opposition.
What a field day for the heat (ooh-ooh-ooh)
The police are having a busy day (ooh-ooh-ooh).
A thousand people in the street (ooh-ooh-ooh)
There are a lot of people in the streets (ooh-ooh-ooh).
Singin' songs and a-carryin' signs (ooh-ooh-ooh)
They are singing and holding signs (ooh-ooh-ooh).
Mostly say, "Hooray for our side" (ooh-ooh-ooh)
They are mostly saying "hooray for our side" (ooh-ooh-ooh).
Paranoia strikes deep
Fear is taking hold.
Into your life, it will creep
It will spread into your everyday life.
It starts when you're always afraid
It begins when you are constantly worried.
You step out of line
If you step out of line,
The man come and take you away
The authorities will come and take you away.
We better stop, hey, what's that sound?
We need to stop and listen to what is happening.
Everybody look what's going down
We all need to pay attention.
We better stop, children, what's that sound?
Children, we need to stop and listen to what is happening.
Everybody look what's going down
We all need to pay attention.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Stills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@canahjustcanah3817
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
There's something happening here
But what it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
A-telling me, I got to beware
[Chorus]
I think it's time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
[Verse 2]
There's battle lines being drawn
And nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Are gettin’ so much resistance from behind
[Chorus]
It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
[Verse 3]
What a field day for the heat (Ooo-ooo-ooo)
A thousand people in the street (Ooo-ooo-ooo)
Singing songs and a-carryin’ signs (Ooo-ooo-ooo)
Mostly say, "Hooray for our side" (Ooo-ooo-ooo)
[Chorus]
It's time we stopped
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
[Verse 4]
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the man come and take you away
[Chorus]
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going
We better stop
Now, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going
We better stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
@MaxScheibenpflug
For those who haven't experienced it before:
1) Put in your headphones
2) Go to 1:50
3) Listen and enjoy to around 2:15
4) Take out your right headphone and repeat steps 2 & 3
5) Put the right headphone back in, take out your left headphone and repeat steps 2 & 3
6) Repeat steps 1, 2 & 3
Voilá, consciousness expanded!
@3stacksofHighSociety
All beautiful things are simple.
This song is modest, unassuming, minimalist down to the bone, yet it is profound.
Jarring, even.
You can say a lot, by saying little.
This one doesnt go in the time capsule......IT IS the time capsule.
It will play as long as mankind has a soul.
@cowprez
I'm 70 years old and remember when this song first came out. It is still applicable now as it was then. Sad.
@cmontana2141
Yep
@konosubaette8511
Yep
@southernbellesometimes5689
I’m 68 and I remember too! Very sad
@logangagnepain7154
Glad you made it this far, lone rider. Lets hope the world you gave us young folk won't be wasted.
@lardinal2413
wait if you are 70 now then you would be 18 in 1969 and you would have been drafted since the draft lasted until 1973 so did you serve in vietnam back then?
@jayleeper1512
It is 1966, I am 14 working cleaning construction sites and this is pounding out of my new transistor radio. Still feels the same.
@Philscbx
It Is Amazing,, how just three notes in, is all it takes to wake up a lost sector of memory.
Cheers
@ImJohnMorris1
was
@robertg.durant8489
You have a vivid imagination