For What It's Worth
Buffalo Springfield (Buffalo Springfield) Lyrics


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There's somethin' happenin' here
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

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" describe a sense of confusion and unease regarding a certain situation that's occurring. The first verse starts off by saying that something is happening, but it's not clear what that is. We then hear about a man with a gun who is warning people to be careful, leading the singer to think that it's time to stop whatever is going on. The chorus consists of the singer asking everyone to look around and see what's happening, to pay attention to what's going on. The second verse mentions "battle lines being drawn" and how people are speaking their minds but getting met with resistance. This could be a reference to the political and cultural divide of the 1960s.


The third verse takes a darker turn, pointing out how paranoia can take over someone's life, leading them to constantly fear punishment for stepping out of line. The song ends with the repeated chorus, urging people to take notice of what's happening and stop it if necessary.


Overall, "For What It's Worth" can be interpreted as a commentary on the political and social unrest of the time, the Vietnam War, and the civil rights movement. It expresses a sense of confusion and unease, but also a desire to take action and make a change.


Line by Line Meaning

There's somethin' happenin' here
There's something going on in society that feels important and significant.


But what it is ain't exactly clear
Despite our intuition, it's hard to put a finger on what's really happening.


There's a man with a gun over there
I see people with power and violence being used to maintain control.


A-tellin' me I got to beware
I'm being warned that I shouldn't challenge authority or question the status quo.


I think it's time we stop
We need to put a stop to this and take a closer look at what's happening.


Children, what's that sound?
Can you hear that? It sounds like something important is happening.


Everybody look what's going down
Let's take a closer look at what's happening in society right now and try to understand it.


There's battle lines being drawn
Society is being divided between different groups with conflicting interests and perspectives.


And nobody's right if everybody's wrong
In a divided society, it's hard to know who is right and wrong, and it's possible that everyone is wrong to some extent.


Young people speakin' their minds
The younger generation is trying to change things by expressing their opinions and advocating for social change.


A-gettin' so much resistance from behind
However, they face a lot of opposition from older generations who are resistant to change.


What a field day for the heat (ooh-ooh-ooh)
It's a great opportunity for the police, who are in charge of controlling the crowds and maintaining order.


A thousand people in the street (ooh-ooh-ooh)
There are a lot of people protesting and demonstrating, and they are not afraid to speak up.


Singin' songs and a-carryin' signs (ooh-ooh-ooh)
The protesters are using music and visual imagery to express their message and create a sense of unity.


Mostly say 'Hooray for our side' (ooh-ooh-ooh)
The protesters feel a sense of pride and belonging to their movement, and they are convinced they are doing the right thing.


Paranoia strikes deep
People in power are paranoid and fearful of losing control, and this fear is affecting the whole society.


Into your life it will creep
This fear and paranoia will gradually invade and affect our lives and limit our freedom.


It starts when you're always afraid
The problem starts when we're afraid to speak out and challenge authority.


You step out of line
If you dare to question the status quo or resist the system, you're stepping out of line.


The man come and take you away
The authorities will come and use force if they feel their power is threatened.


We better stop, hey, what's that sound?
If we don't stop now and pay attention to what's happening, we might miss the chance to change things for the better.


Stop, children, what's that sound?
The younger generation that will inherit the world needs to be aware of what's happening and take action to create a better future.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Stills

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@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



@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.



All comments from YouTube:

@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?

45 More Replies...

@RichardX1

This song, "Fortunate Son", and "All Along the Watchtower" are on the soundtrack to pretty much any movie with a Vietnam war scene.

@sampackman69

And paint it black

@fucker661

You forgot time of the season

@TrumpetMAB

Except this song wasn't written about the Vietnam War. It's about the Sunset Strip Curfew Riots in November 1966.

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