Ohio
Crosby_Stills_&_Nash Lyrics

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

Gonna get down to it soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been down long ago
What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground

How can you run when you know.

Gonna get down to it soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been down long ago

What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know.

Overall Meaning

The song "Ohio" was written by Neil Young and is performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. It was written in response to the Kent State shooting that occurred on May 4, 1970. The first verse, "Tin soldiers and Nixon's coming, We're finally on our own," reflects the idea that the government is coming to oppress the people, and they must stand up for themselves. The phrase "tin soldiers" is a reference to the National Guard, who were called in to keep peace at Kent State University, but instead ended up killing four unarmed student protesters. "We're finally on our own" reflects the idea that the students were fighting for their own freedoms and the future of the country.

The chorus, "Gonna get down to it, soldiers are cutting us down, should have been done long ago," reflects the frustration felt towards the government's continued oppression and the need for change. The second verse, "What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground, how can you run when you know," is a direct reference to one of the students killed in the shooting, Allison Krause. The line is meant to make people think about how they would react if someone they knew was killed in a similar situation.

"Ohio" is a powerful protest song that reflects the anger and frustration felt by young people during the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement. It was an anthem for a generation that was fighting for change and helped to bring attention to the Kent State shooting and the youth protests happening all around the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Tin soldiers and Nixon's coming
The military is advancing and President Nixon is also involved

We're finally on our own
We are left to face the situation on our own without any support

This summer I hear the drumming
The sounds of war are becoming prevalent and ominous

Four dead in Ohio
Four people have been killed in the midst of the conflict in Ohio

Gonna get down to it soldiers are cutting us down
It is time to confront the reality that soldiers are attacking and killing us

Should have been down long ago
We should have taken action to stop this situation from escalating earlier

What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground
Imagine if someone you knew and cared about was killed in this conflict

How can you run when you know.
It is not possible to ignore what is happening and turn a blind eye

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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02SUITE JUDY BLUE EYES

03TEACH YOUR CHILDREN

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

jim northrop

6y↑262

Almost fifty years after this era, i continue to feel such anger at this vain and futile sacrifice of a country’s most precious asset - it’s young. We lost 50,000 of my brothers and sisters on the battlefields of VietNam.

We were drafted for two years to fight a pointless war. We were barely in our 20’s, but we were children taught to become killers.

After a tour of duty in Nam, we were rotated to Germany,etc. I heard so many stories of those who chose to shoot themselves in their own leg or feet, so they could be taken home, away from all that madness.

This tribute for those students who were murdered by our own troops on that Ohio university field expresses my feelings exactly. Four more who died at the hands of madmen who ran a supposedly democratic country.

Yet, all these sacrifices - all these lessons - have been lost on America’s current leaders.

Jeannine Murray

1y↑3

I was at a holiday party (2023) a few weeks ago and conversation turned to how old some of us are and things we had in common. A friend who is 75, like me, went to Kent in the 60's, graduated in 1969. I also had gone to Kent for a couple of summer classes, but didn't graduate, eventually getting my degree from a different school.

But as talk at the party turned to Kent and the events of May 4th 1970 my 75 yo friend started excusing the national guard and accusing the students "There were a lot of bad outside people there just to make trouble." After all this time, after all the reports and books and evidence! I couldn't believe what I heard her saying!

The day after the shootings, when I went to work at the Cleveland stock brokerage, the Account Managers were laughing and saying that the National Guard was wrong ... because they "should have shot them all".

As the anniversaries and speeches about that day have mounted in number, I expected that kind of rationalization had finally died off. But my friend sadly proved me wrong. I spoke up and tried to add some relevant counterpoint, mostly because everyone in the room was younger by a generation or more than we were.

I still live in Ohio, married my Kent State boyfriend, raised a family here. Even though I wasn't on campus that day, I knew the area where the slaughter took place. My boyfriend and I had rode around that nearby road many times during the summer I attended. And some of our friends were on campus when it happened and told us how it affected them.

Those who were there need to keep telling the story, listening to the families of the dead and the survivors. We need to keep pushing back to anyone who says those kids deserved to die.

bluskies1000

I believe only volunteers had more than one tour in Viet Nam. Draftees served only two years.
Lol. I was skipped by the Draft, and felt like I was shirking civic duty, so I was among the early volunteers of the All Volunteer Military. The ironic part, as a trusted volunteer, with sensitive duties, I was considered to valuable to waste, and was never allowed in a combat zone!
This was during the 5 year transition from draft to all volunteer. Draftees were catatonic, Commonly observed symptoms include:
Stupor - inability to move, speak or respond to stimuli
Lack of verbal response
Agitation
Mutism
Hide's when possible
.... the most useless people, generally speaking, putting all work and danger on your back, it was a relief to see them gone and decent smart people take their place.

All comments from YouTube:

Güneş Onur

50w↑74

As a Turkish citizen and thousands of miles far away from Ohio, this song also chills me, whenever I listen to it. And of course the tragic event itself. During my youth as a student, we experienced quite the same massacres in Turkey. I hate the month of May in which I lost many of my friends. It makes me angry, to be still ruled by the same corrupt politicians in my country. What a pitty..!

Michael Scotton

33w↑3

Ah-fucking-men (like amen not gay) ! as long as there are people that keep the spirit like you and see it for what it is then theres hope!

cmarlowe1

31w

gearing up for another showdown!

TzunSu

29w↑2

I'm Swedish, but i've visited Turkey more than any other nation except my own throughout my life, from childhood to adulthood. I hope you will get rid of Erdogan and the rest of your trash politicians so i can feel that i can morally go back. I miss going to Turkey, but i cannot support the regime. I wish you the best of luck.

2 More Replies...

Mary Steffens

2y↑297

This song still gives me chills. I remember that afternoon like yesterday. Amazing that we survived that era and unfortunately didn't learn much!!!

maf5454

2y↑30

So do I my sister. May 4,1970, one hell of a birthday present huh? I turned 16 that terrible day and was forever changed. I was taught by my folks, teachers and other public officials that the military would never turn their weapons on civilians and murder them. I guess this proves that wasn't true. I saw it on the evening news cast and couldn't believe what had happened. I remember looking over at my Mom and asking, "Mom what did those people do to those soldiers?" She looked back at me and took a big breath and said " baby child (I was her youngest) I don't know" I also asked her the question "what will happen to those soldiers, didn't they just kill people for protesting the war?" One more time a big breath and she said "yes they did, but they are soldiers and someone gave them an order". I ask her "then would the man who gave the order be in trouble?" She looked at me and said "probably not". Then I remember getting real angry and said "why not, all of those soldiers killed those people and that is wrong" There was more conversation but she was right, to this day 52 years later not one person has been held responsible for those murders, not one. Those people were exercising their First Amendment rights " the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances". That day I became and antiwar protester and was forever changed. Thanks Mom you did your best in a really tough situation with a kid that was just starting to become aware, RIP you earned it.
Thanks for reading my ramble. Be well and safe, peace to you and yours.

Angela Lee

2y↑2

Me too

Kevin Dolan

2y↑5

I am 43 I love this song and it's always just a reminder of what is coming

Chuck Becker

2y↑2

I have to disagree. We learned a lot, but a good bit of what we learned was wrong. Our great-great-grandchildren will still be paying the price.

12 More Replies...

Cheryl Conti

2y↑110

I was 18 and shocked into hell. At 68, I still feel the sadness madness and the frustration. We only wanted to be heard and to stop killing us. Peace and Love.

Dan the Meatman

47w↑2

St.Petersburg, Florida love always love .back in the day ⛈♥️🙏🐟🎣

Debra Harvey

42w↑2

Love, is what was always needed. It still is and is sadly lacking, @danthemeatman9883. Also in St Pete, Florida.

antimnimoniakos

29w↑1

You have my respect sir. Greetings from Greece.

Longshotsblues

50w↑21

Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer and William Schroeder. May 4, 1970. You have never been forgotten and you never will be. Not only the Colleges walked out the next day, High & Jr. High schools as well.. i was one of them. Two days after this massacre was my 13th birthday. To this day I cannot get through this song without crying. ☮🕊

jim northrop

6y↑262

Stormsinger99

6y↑10

Not just the current leaders, but virtually every leader since.

bluskies1000

2y↑6

I really liked CSNY & Neil's music, but I have harbored resentment against this, ignorant of how the US Gov't works, Canadian for 50 years' now, since I learned the real "Ohio" story.
When Nixon ended the Draft in 1969 and started the All-Volunteer Military, there was a transition period of about 5 years as the military geared up it's recruiting. During that transition Congress, due to complaints of corruption, eliminated the Draft Boards and replaced them with a random lottery with no special exemptions.
In 1970 a few dozen or so Kent State students, no longer exempted, lost the lottery, so the students rioted, tearing up the school and the local towns downtown area. That town's Mayor called the Gov. and activated the local town's guard unit of riflemen in thin cotton uniforms. The students armed with rocks and went after them, basically. The Guards lacked rocks to reply with, but they did have bullets, and a few eventually shot back.
So the lyric's should be Tin Guardsmen and the Governors coming (with Congress), were finally on our own.... (?) (asked to do our share). I'm sorry people were hurt, but what did they expect when they attacked the Guard protecting school buildings?
Speaking as a objective observer of the times. I was poor & 18 at the time and had thought it was unfair that well to do got exemptions. So I was cheering as the Draft went to random lottery with no exemption. Later I volunteered to try to make All Volunteer work.

Tom Spears

2y↑5

More like 83,000, once they stopped using Johson Math.

Larry Guterriz

2y↑7

Loud and clear Jim. Yes, 50 years later this song still makes a lot of sense. Your generation should be put on a pedestal and worshipped forever because you guys lived the best decade of them all. Sorry for the loss of your brothers in Nam, always in our hearts.

Samhalta

2y↑12

@bluskies1000 There is something called proportional use of force in self-defense, although I'm not sure whether it is a legal principle in the US. Basically, you don't respond to rocks with bullets, or to bare hands with a knife. That's how it has been for centuries here in Belgium (and its predecessors).

27 More Replies...

Siaya7

1y↑54

I was 19 years old, a sophomore at Ohio University in Athens Ohio. I was suppose to be at this protest that day at Kent. Last minute my family in Berea asked me to come home for a family need. My friends went. When I heard the news, the grief, sadness and even fear one of my friends might be one of the 4, I will never forget that day. It was a TIME, ERA, MOVEMENT that could only be experienced in those days, those who lived that ERA know what I mean. This song will forever be a MEMORIAL OF TRUTH. A sad day for America

P. J. Smith

33w↑2

So well said.

P. J. Smith

33w↑1

I am a writer. I want to write an article on this. I was not there. But I will never forget. Would you be interested in an interview?

John Allen

3y↑521

My buddy called me and said I should listen to this song again. Thank you for writing it Neil. There's pictures of us all over the internet, you can see it at 0:16 in "The Day the '60s died." Bill is a tall guy with kind of bushy hair wearing a black leather jacket. I'm right in front of him taking a drag off my cigarette and I'm wearing a purple fringe suede jacket. In the very front, between a girl and a guy in a gas mask, is our buddy Todd. He's giving the National Guard the finger. He made the cover of Look magazine with a picture of him throwing a tear gas cannister back at the NG. This was before they opened fire on us. That morning they rang the liberty bell and there was a ceremonial burying of the US Constitution because Nixon was trampling all over it. A few hours later, a general riding in an open air jeep zig-zagged back and forth across the commons saying , "Return to your domiciles immediately" over a scratchy megaphone. They had tanks and halftracks and guns and we wanted THEM off campus immediately. We were really mad. Nixon had won the election by promising to get us out of Vietnam and then he makes a speech saying we were invading (he said it was an "incursion") Cambodia and widening the war! So that's what kicked the protests off to begin with. We just sat down in the middle of Route 534, a major road, stopping traffic in both directions. They sent a big helicopter to hover right over top of us and there was a lot of heavy prop wash. The night before quite a few store windows were smashed downtown (which I tried to stop) and somebody set fire to the hated wooden ROTC building the next night right off the commons. I heard they trained future officers for Vietnam there and that they were biological warfare experts. So after the general the NG just started slowly marching across the commons. We were on the other side yelling for them to get off campus. As they got closer we started backing up the little hill behind the commons and the liberty bell. I saw a few people throwing rocks when the NG got closer to us. None of us, not even in our wildest imagination, ever thought the NG would shoot at us with their guns. Some people said their guns weren't even loaded. It was common back then to see the NG all the time at things like labor strikes and there was never any shooting. We were exercising our 1st Amendment right to protest. My dorm was at the top of the hill so when we backed up there I ducked in the entryway. Other people started down the hill on the other side. The NG passed where I was and followed the crowd and then opened fire. I saw people hitting the ground. At first we didn't realize what had just happened. Then we were in total shock and people were trying to help the ones who were hit. You could smell the gunpowder in the air. At the same time the Guard was retreating slowly in disarray. We started following them as they backed off until we all just sat down next to the liberty bell in defiance. Most of us were ready to die if that's what it took. That was when the professor came out and started telling us we had to leave or they were going to slaughter us. He was crying and very compelling. So we got up and started walking away. The rest is in the history books. My roommate's girlfriend, Allison Krause, was one of the people killed. None of the NG was ever indicted for the killings but 25 students were indicted. My Dad and I had discussed what we were going to do if I was indicted and we pretty much agreed that I would sneak into Canada and try to keep a low profile. My Dad was a former FBI agent and I'm sure there were times when he was totally baffled by my reasons for being a part of a counter-culture movement. But he supported and loved me no matter what I did. I've lived in northern California near the redwoods and Mt. Shasta for the last 40 years and Bill lives in the beautiful Atlanta, Georgia area, so we decided to meet up at Kent on the 50th anniversary. They've got a memorial there now where you can learn about what happened, why, and what we can do in the future to prevent it from happening again. There is a plaque from the National Registry of Historic Places marking the event. The exact spots where people were killed in the parking lot are outlined in black paint. Immediately after the killings about a hundred and some colleges shut down across the country, the students at Jackson State were killed and about a million people showed up in Washington, DC, and another million in NYC to continue the struggle. After that I left Ohio and moved to the desert in Arizona where I stayed for the next 7 years. Nixon finally ended the war in Vietnam. What happened on May 4th, 1970 has had a profound effect on my life. Like Jimi Hendrix said, "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will be at peace."

Gr33n 3ggs

3y↑43

Overwhelmed..... thank you for sharing this incredible story ❤

anael55

3y↑35

Thank you so much for telling your story and for making it out alive. I was only a witness via the news footage that day & it broke my heart. We will never forget. Peace.

Patti Neal

3y↑22

Thank you for sharing your story. My heart hurts for you and all of the students at Kent and Jackson.

Patrice Sage

3y↑16

Too bad the only place people truly learn about it is in Ohio.. maybe we wouldn't have been seeing and hearing nearly identical scenes in Minneapolis for the 50th year.. protesters being called 'mobs', 'outsider groups' being blamed. I am nearly 50 years old now & was never taught any of this. No one I know was unless they lived locally. I had to mature past my 12-13 year old musical tastes to find out it even happened. Maybe if they had taught everyone it wouldn't be repeated? Or so accurately at least... Thank You for sharing

Juanita Dale Slusher

3y↑2

What a trip! Thanks!

80 More Replies...

Monica Gilardi

1y↑12

I think of this song whenever I'm reminded of the Vietnam War. So tragic. Those students died heroes for calling for an end to that wasteful war. So many died for no good reason. May they all rest in peace and may their families find peace.

Nancy Benefiel

41w

Most of the kids killed were not even involved n the strike. They were just walking to class.

Theresa Lux

26w

What about our troops that were in the jungles daily and nightly I'm sure that day there were far more dead than four Many people were jerks to our troops during Vietnam Many of those people didn't want to be there or knew they were being screwed over by who else US Politicians I'm not saying what they did at Kent State was right but what we did to those who fought in Vietnam was wrong You Don't Do That Even If You Disagree With A War

Monica Gilardi

25w↑1

@Theresa Lux I think you misinterpreted my comment. Like you, I feel all who fought and died in Vietnam are heroes. I also feel they were treated unkindly and unfairly by Americans for having been called to service by their country. Trust me, I know no one who feels any differently when it comes to the Vietnam War. And the Kent students are part of the entire casualty of the Vietnam War.

Bill Brown

3y↑147

Even now 2021 this song brings tears . So powerful and still relevant.

B. ST

2y↑5

It's sad how Neil Young no longer speaks for the little people who seek freedom, ..instead he pushes for government obedience.

Ladykat

2y↑2

Yes it does.

Wes Edwards

2y↑3

Correct. As a junior in college in California this song written soon after the shootings by Neil Young, changed me and from thereon, my entire life.

Belvin Sweatt

2y↑2

Still in 2022.

deadpiratehead

1y↑64

Rest in peace, David Crosby.

Michael Reid Perry

44w↑5

And Henry Kissinger still breathes our air. It really fucks.

Lars DcCase

36w↑1

A great classic song filled with so ,much meaning. Thank you Neil Young for writing it, thanks for CSNY for putting it to music. Rest in peace David.

Chuck

5y↑95

One of the most powerful songs of the time. I was a teenager in the late 60's and early 70's, facing the prospect of being drafted into a war I knew nothing about. It was a terrible time in American history and frightening how close the depictions in this video are to the current state of affairs in our country.

daniel m

2y↑2

You can thank JFK and LBJ for that.

Dian

Actually it's a reboot reburst of guilded age actors actresses demanding olde money tithes...that's Why reruns kept just plopping all over the fkg place....🎶🤫🎹🍭🏟️🎮🦔🐌🤥🦩🤫🦔🦚🦚🦚🦩🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🕸️🦈🦖🦥🦨🦨🦨🐡🐡🐡🦑🦑🦑🦑🦟🦟🦟🦟🐧🐧🐧🐊🦊🦁🐗🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖🤫🛌🧘🧑‍🦯🧑‍🌾🕵️🧙🦹🥷🎮📺📻🎭🎫🎟️📸🃏🀄🪄🎞️🎥📼🎬🎭🎭📞☎️📀🖱️🖨️💽📱🔊🎼🎵🎶🔉🔈💣🪤🚬📢📣📯🔔📜📡🩺💉💊💉💊💉💊🛰️🛰️👓🕶️🌁💺🗾🧤🎪🗼🗽🕍🕌🕋🏥🏚️🏤🏣🏯🏛️🎢🦻🗣️🧠👀🤡👻🌚🌝😡🤐🤬😤😠😡

Robert Pace

1y↑1

Fortunate Son by Credence Clearwater Revival too

Uncomplicated English

5y↑102

I was a young vet just out of my first tour in the army when this all happened. CSNY did something normally not done with this one. They were having their first success with "Teach Your Children" when Kent State happened. There was an unwritten rule that if you have a song in the charts you don't "step on yourself." They broke that rule with "Ohio" because they felt it was so important to make a statement. Still one of the angriest rock songs ever and after all these years it still gives me chills EVERY TIME I HEAR IT.

Hanson

2y↑8

Neil Young has that bravery to speak up, one of the few heroes

Samhalta

2y↑9

@Hanson Yes, especially since him and Nash weren't US citizens at the time and could easily have been deported for whatever reason.

John Trickey

Bull!

Uncomplicated English

2y↑4

@John Trickey it's hard to argue with your brilliant logic.

William T Koltek

2y↑4

And it got played on the radio!

4 More Replies...

Ricky Zeichner

1y↑33

This song is still chilling! RIP David Crosby! Thank you to David and all of his Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young band mates for honoring the Kent State Massacre victims.

Squirrels are people too

1y↑3

Thank you for calling it what is was : a massacre

Mikhail Vladislav

It's sad that the national guard didn't take out more of the trash and Nixon stepped down when he did.

9 More Replies...

Robert Brown

1y↑40

I'm a black man that loves hip hop. But this is a stone cold classic and funky beat with a powerful message. Dam

TonyDanza4Lyfe

25w↑3

Into hiphop too and my wife’s black but this song is incredible

Phil

2y↑16

I graduated from Kent State in 2008 & this song is still played at parties and gatherings! It’ll never get old!

Kristine Kruszelnicki

2y↑28

My dad played "oldies" all the time when I was growing up. (I was born in 1978). I remember hearing this song throughout my youth but only recently did I understand the meaning. I'm currently writing a university paper for my American History class and the song has never held more meaning for me than it does now! I hope to some day visit and pay my respects to the university students who died so young and were murdered without just cause.

Belvin Sweatt

2y↑2

You are right. They were murdered. No other way to put it.

1 More Replies...

Chris Lewis

48w↑5

RIP David Crosby
His emotional singing at the end of this song is so powerful i literally can not listen to it without sobbing. And thank you to neil young for going into the forest for fifteen minutes and writing the most important protest song of all time.

john leigh

6y↑56

I was born in 1959. I’m British. To us growing up in the UK the Vietnam war was on TV daily but was a long way away. I was well into my 40s when I realised what a profound effect it had on all of us and it’s ramifications are still echoing down the decades.

Julie Reminiec

1y↑1

John, My cousin who was a Vietnam Vet passed away last July...
I lived through that terrifying era
It was on the nightly news ( on every TV channel) here in the States as well...My father prevented me from watching the end of the news cast when the casualty lists were mentioned

john leigh

@Julie Reminiec May he rest in peace and I thank him, and his comrades, for their service

Ian Fuller

1y↑4

We made the same mistake with Afghanistan and Iraq

1 More Replies...

Ian Fuller

1y↑26

RIP David Crosby, thank you for the evergreen tunes!

PeterMerrittMusic

10y↑91

Knowing the story behind the song makes it that much more powerful. Got the chills when the line, "What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground," came up along with that infamous picture.

Jonathan *

3y↑3

learn more, this was not just some peaceful protesters who just all of a sudden got shot down..

Gregory Carroll

3y↑4

@Jonathan * you obviously weren't there

bluskies1000

@Gregory Carroll I read "Letters from Kent State", talked with a few who were there, and can only blame the crazy students who were throwing rocks.

Gregory Carroll

2y↑8

@bluskies1000 Yeah bet you did. Only a few students were throwing small rocks and they were no closer than 40- 50 yards away. The vast amount of students and the ones who were killed were 100 yards away or more (thats a football field away)..two on their way to class...werent even protesting let alone throwing rocks. One guy was shot 300 yards away and wounded So you get a few rocks tossed at you and you open fire on protesting students with military weapons? Typical military response. Id suggest you take a trip to the campus and see what happened with your own eyes.

1 More Replies...

Jeannine Murray

1y↑3

James

3y↑11

My dad was there. His stories about it were horrifying. It's a disgusting tragedy.

Bill Watson

My Dad was there as well. He was part of the guard. One of the buildings was smoking on the campus and the guard heard someone yell "Fire". Unfortunately the people who shot those young people thought that was their commanding officer yelling a command. Fortunately my father wasn't one who fired.

Debbie V

1y↑5

As a graduate, parent of 2 graduates, resident, and retired faculty, the University has done a good job of making sure every first year student learns this history, there is a memorial that traces the path of the events that day. There are bullet holes in a sculpture that is still present near the area where the students were shot. It's something else to take that journey, put your fingers on those eroded bullet holes, visualize the chaos of that day. There is a memorial service and vigil each year on that day and library archives, a conflict management and resolution center and department with degrees available to major in. Yes, a lot of things have changed in the 52 years, but it is still very fresh in our minds every time I'm on or near campus. "lest we never forget"

The Eow

37w

Right on. However I hope you don’t mind me saying, the phrase is “lest we forget”. Meaning “in the event we forget” this tragedy, and it fades from memory, the songs and memorials will remain to remind us.

adow77

1y↑4

This song helped build global solidarity amongst young people against the war. It had a profound impact, and even now it still invokes strong feelings in me. David Crosby's vocals at the end are so heartfelt. This is a particularly good video because of the photos.

FunFacts

1y↑1

Fun fact; it’s tragic that Crosby died not to long ago, but on the good side, it brought us back to this good song

Stargazer

3y↑25

This song still hits hard in today's events

Aham Ham

3y↑1

Proverbs 4:20-22
My son, attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your eyes;
keep them in the midst of your heart;
for they are life to those who find them,
and health to all their body.

Martin Buinicki

3y↑197

I'm now 73 yrs old. Those who remember it as "live" won't be around that much longer. Honor your elders, they have seen the past and can see the future.

Stacey Rose

2y↑8

Bless you I will remember you always. You will never ever be forgotten 🙏❤

ellyn

2y↑10

I’m 14…I swear I will let this song live on!!

Belvin Sweatt

2y↑5

I’m 73 also. I remember this very well. I was working in Kent when this happened.

Jane Baker

2y↑1

@Belvin Sweatt May God Bless You

15 More Replies...

thomtlc Harbison

10y↑426

This song is more than a classic. This song is important.

D H

7y↑5

Nah. It's self-important. The isolation of the incident demonstrates that. Not to downplay that it's a serious thing when American citizens get killed by their own soldiers, but when your soldiers are drafter kids who were just handed automatic death-machines with little training and are sent on a campus with them, well that's what you call a bad idea. Why they had M16s is beyond me - probably should have been limited to smoke grenades, tear gas, rubber bullets maybe. But the song has no other tragedies or "massacres" to list off, and is limited to repeating the body count in Ohio over and over. Those times were easily colored by singular incidents because feelings seem to have dominated the scene. Meanwhile, communists were wiping out millions. Riots, police, national guard, and even a draft was nothing to the horrors of living under communist rule. The Cold War was a continuation of the global conflict that began in WWII, but the first generation faced it down, while the next generation balked at it.

Bill Ding

3y↑5

@D H what do you call dc today

Jerry Mammoser

3y↑1

Good point

Jerry Mammoser

3y↑11

@D H ...self important. As in self-important Americans? It was written by a Canadian. No one life, by law is worth more than another. We weren’t living under Communist rule, where, unfortunately, you gotta expect they’re gonna come in and slay a lot of innocents. We were a free and democratic country. THAT’s the difference. No monarchy, no czar, no strongman, no shit. This was America. Hindsight 20-20. If you weren’t there or if you weren’t here in America when it happened, you cannot understand fully the horror. It needed to repeated over and over. That’s the point, Nilsson.

D H

3y↑1

@Jerry Mammoser propaganda. I know why MPs started popping off. The Truth doesn't have an agenda. It should be ok to tell both sides of the story. Why is it not? Propaganda. Hippies reek of self-righteousness as much as they do of B.O and weed.

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Bello Fortis

1y↑4

RIP Mr Crosby

Your soul has passed, but your spirit lives on!

Dominique Goineau

3y↑9

L'intro de cette chanson est devenue ma sonnerie de téléphone portable depuis de nombreuses années pour mémoire de ce que l'on peut faire dans ce monde de fous.
Merci au CSNY et à Neil Young

2fallguy

2y↑3

Arguably, the best protest song. Seeing the killing on TV, Neil Young just picked up his guitar and this was the result. Still resonates after all these years.

M Vassallo

10y↑36

The guitar sound in the chorus is masterful. Inspired songwriting. Harder music than anything Metallica etc. ever recorded.

Lance M. Zeigler

3y↑37

Listening on the anniversary of the tragic day... 05.04. in 2021. Always brings me to tears. Every single version. Every performance.

Gregory von Stolz

2y↑1

Me too !!

Lance M. Zeigler

2y↑1

Back again in 2022. Times aren't getting any better, sorry to say .

Jean Crawford

2y↑4

This song still calls us to do our duty as Americans, and it counts more than ever.

dan imal

1y↑3

well david and neil were in SF and when they woke that morning and saw the news of the tragedy , neil started strumming the chords and writing the lyrics down in tandem ..and 20 minutes later the song was done . so crosby then called stills in LA and said , book the studio for the night and him and neil headed for the airport . by the end of the evening they had that very take recorded and overdubbed the vocals to complete the track . by all accounts , when they had finished it , david began to cry .

cds162

3y↑132

Still listening 51years later. I was drafted into the army and sent to Vietnam.

James McBay

3y↑12

Happy to read....you made it out alive.. ✌

Diane

3y↑9

I’m sorry...I’m glad you made it back home.

anael55

3y↑7

I'm so glad you're still here brother.

Victoria Cunningham

3y↑9

Glad you made it back, very sad times

Joey Scruggs

3y↑3

Lucky you made it home

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Christy Alice

1y↑1

I will always be grateful to have lived in an era of social awareness like the 60s and 70s. Thankful for bands like CSNY for helping to lead the way. Good Bye David. Love you and Thank You.

Oscar Olson

2y↑6

I listen to this song often, but I always come here on May 4. RIP Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Sheuer, and William Schroeder.

09kittykatz09

6y↑10

Loved the harmonizing in this song! Was driving through Ohio on vacation when the news came on the radio about the tragedy at Kent State!

Bryan Jackson

16y↑17

RIP you young people. You will prob. only be remembred by the masses through this song. Love to your families, they bear the burden of history

Kingheart

4y↑22

I had a psychology professor in college who was actually friends with Allison Krause. He was with her when she got shot. He asked her if she was ok, and she said it burned some but she thought she would be ok. He stayed with her until the ambulance game, but later she sadly died.

robert thacher

1y↑2

Oh, this was my last week in HS The last week of May 1970. Mostly goofing off. Lots of fun and topical. Grad was just around the corner. Such a talented group! Soon, we would be adults!

Tom Evans

1y↑2

I hated the Kent State protest then and will never forget today. I saw CSN&Y play this song live at the Old Met Center in Bloomington. RIP David Crosby & those who lost their lives peacefully protesting at KS.

thexalon

50w↑2

53 years ago, and still never forgotten. Today, as with all other May 4ths since, there's a commemoration at Kent State.

And to his dying day, Alan Canfora, wounded that day, believed an order was given to shoot. I believe him.

OscarandBernie

1y↑3

My neck of the woods and this always brings tears to me. RIP David

TimeTheory 2099

51w↑4

NEVER FORGET!!
When history if forgotten,
it repeaties it's self.

anne5surf

16y↑6

I love this song and you have certainly done it justice, the images are moving. Excellent video!

spiralrose

1y↑1

This song and it’s context Will forever give me an adrenaline rush and chills down my spine.

Never forget Kent State

JOSEPH JAKUBEC

7y↑223

Your goverment in action. As a Viet Nam vet I thank all the heroic protesters for saving thousands of lives. Took me many years to see that they were right and brave for taking a stand. To bad we don't have some of those brave people around today. Now we march in lock step with the government. Murders ( weekend warriors) were never charged.

melissa lee

7y↑3

Joseph kaubec

Help Us

7y↑12

JOSEPH JAKUBEC thank you for your service!

flyinspirals

7y↑7

Because nowadays when people protest, our own government threatens us, that's why! SOS to the middle class. We've been SOSing since 9/11. Homeland security will threaten to label you a terrorist, they prosecute dedicated peaceful protesters, and throw them in prison for years. They slaughtered the ecological movement, but few people noticed. Remember the line AND THEN THEY CAME FOR US? These fascists need to be stopped quickly.

michael gallegos

6y↑1

JOSEPH JAKUBEC p

Kim Butcher

JOSEPH JAKUBEC never question your duty

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ronkirk50

2y↑3

I was in Vietnam when Kent State happened having joined the Air Farce to avoid becoming a grunt in the Army or Marines. I did my tour in relative safety loading cargo planes at a big air base and got a chance to visit Australia and Hong Kong for R&R as well. We all followed events back 'in the world' with great interest. What a time in our history.

j9ohnsb

2y↑6

Makes me cry! Went to Kent State my freshman year was 2 years after the shootings. Saw CSN&Y perform this in person at The Coliseum in Ohio (very close to Kent) soon after they came out with the song. One of them (can't remember who) took off their shirt to reveal a Kent State T-shirt underneath. MEMORABLE!!!!

Robert Wilson

1y↑2

I am 74 years now.... what incredible memories.... some of the stuff we were trying to peacefully stand for.... sigh.... Vietnam, what an incredible WASTE of LOVED ONES..... We all still miss them plus the 4 in Ohio....

Johnathan Davis

9y↑14

This song makes me wish Ohio had separated from the union after this incident.. having been on both sides of the fence during protests (military & civilian) at different points in my life.. things can get out of hand really quickly.. either way it rarely ends peacefully once the troops show up. I live in Australia now but my heart belongs to Ohio.. the days of the great America died along with the spirit of the middle class, due to actions like these.

Anna Grass

3y↑1

Ah, hate to burst your bubble.. but most grownups felt the kids deserved it. However on that note many people did go to Canada and Mexico and never came home.

Mongo

@Anna Grass I lived in Kent for years. Yeah, the people by and large hated all students.

Joni Taddeo

16y↑2

Poignant pictures & song, of that terrible day at Kent State. Kudos to Neil Young, for writing this anthem. The pictures tell it all.Thanks for posting this.

Kathy Jones

41w↑1

Some songs are timeless and now here we are again. I hope everyone understands the blood shedd for our civil rights, that are now quickly being taken away. Voting blue in all elections is the most patriotic thing Americans can do for country and democracy 💙 vote for democracy, before there isn't one.

Barrak Liberal

2y↑28

Most folks don't know the profound effect this had on our society. The Governor of the state of Ohio resigned over this.

Archaic Sage

2y↑1

If it happens today, there will be a very different response.

Zack’s Rockin’ Lifestyle

2y↑1

@Archaic Sage Yes. If something like this ever happens again, it’ll be a good thing “our” servicemen are in uniform. Uniforms make for easy target identification. ;)

Backinblack Bunny

Should have got the chair

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Zedwoman

9y↑15

I was 23 years old and living in Berkeley when this happened. Two of my brothers were freshmen at Kent at the time. Never forget. Never forgive.

Corinne Wasser

24w

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Years later, these protest songs still move me to tears.

Patrice Sage

3y↑2

FYI, Devo was born that day.... The Kent State shootings had a profound effect on some of the students who later became prominent musicians. Chrissie Hynde was a student at the time, and eventually formed The Pretenders. Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale were also on campus, and after the shootings, they developed the band Devo based on the concept of "De-Evolution," meaning the human race was regressing. Said Casale, "It refocused me entirely. I don't think I would have done Devo without it. It was the deciding factor that made me live and breathe this idea and make it happen.

AmericanSplendorLost

10y↑51

44 years ago today... may they rest in peace, and may there come a time without war.

Aham Ham

3y↑3

"My son, attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your eyes;
keep them in the midst of your heart;
for they are life to those who find them,
and health to all their body."
Proverbs 4:20-22

Squirrels are people too

2y↑1

War will end when mankind ends. Unfortunate but true

Backinblack Bunny

Sorry my dude but citalism and war are inextricably linked

Robert Rees

16y↑3

I watched this and was extremely impressed. I sent it off to my father, who was here in california when this happened. He said that seeing these images brought up a lot for him. All in all, a masterfully done series of pictures. Hat's off to you.

GLOWING OWL

3y↑1

I don’t even listen to this band but the melody of this song kept playing in my head and I was on a frantic search to identify and find this song .. it took me hours ... the moment i finally found it my forehead between my eyes started twitching like crazy like there’s an important message for me here ... what the heck !!!

Craig Nehring

50w↑1

Even with the passing of time, this still burns within my soul. God forgive them.
I pray for the dead and tormented

raiderdanCA

2y↑3

An Iconic song, and a truly tragic day in our history ... we must never forget

Jason Brown

How are you doing?

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Cherri B

16y↑7

Well how can we not think of peace,and anti-war these days!! Great tune!! Thanks for sharing with me Toni and David!! PEACE!!

Rick Brown

1y↑4

Rest in peace, David Crosby. Today is a sad day.

Michael Burke

2y↑1

An anthym of the times , full of angst anguish and anger. Raw emotion laid bare. Appropriate, no doubt.

Rick Martin

2y↑2

Thank you for your story. I was very young but old enough to understand what mind shattering event just happened. So sowerful for the family's of those young innocent people. May God bless them

Paolo Rosazza P.

1y↑2

A piece of American history. Great.

TheSkipper01

1y↑2

I had heard this song a few times growing up in the early 90's but I never knew of the story behind the song until my Dad and Aunt had explained the story about the song. Even without the story behind the song, I had thought it was a catchy song. Also, when did the Public Reception of Vietnam Vets change from Hatred and Scorn to Thank you for your Service?

Kristen Piranian

16y↑1

I really think more people should be reminded of Kent State. I wasn't born yet, but I was told about it from my mother when she would play music she would tell me the stories behind them. Least the parents of those four got some justice out of the System.

William Dixon

9y↑17

I remember the reaction in my Southwest Ohio high school classroom...my senior year and many of us were bound for college or Viet Nam. The people headed to Viet Nam were just as quick to ask, "How can this happen?"

Jacob Forrester

1y↑1

Some things change, some don't. RIP David.

sue smith

1y↑1

73 yrs old this year and remembering seeing this on the news. When csn & young released this song i became a protester of the war in viet nam. Music makes a differenc, music IS the difference

Train Angry MMA

1y↑2

RIP David Crosby. #Legend

Diane Gallagher

29w

Blown away that a song as freaking great as this only has 1.2 millions hits.

Sandra Bees-Marr

2y↑1

My heart still breaks remembering this horrible day!

Drina JGB

2y↑7

I remember this well. Thanks to Neil nobody will ever forget.

carrie b

1y↑1

I was 13 years old when this happened. I had two older brothers who were at high risk of being drafted. This was the largest youth Rebellion to ever happen in this nation.
When parents and non college students started marching on DC that's when government policies started to change.
I remember the neighborhood that I grew up in which was very much a working class neighborhood that there would be Draft parties when guys were in their senior year of high school because they knew it might be the last time that they saw each other or their neighbors or families. This was not only a protest against what was happening to Vietnamese citizens but it was a fight for ones that life's were at high risk due to the draft.
if you were a young man us citizen. Ironically enough most of the college students who are doing the demonstrating we're not risk of being drafted because they were exempt. It was the working class white guys and black guys who were being shipped off.

Aetherflow

25w

Im watching The Vietnam War Ken Burns and finished episode 8. This is playing as the closing credits. Its such a good documentary.. terrible times..Im sorry you all had to go through this. I had to come and listen to this classic again..

The Green Fortress

8y↑8

absolutely love how the photos goes to the lyrics! thank you! :)

Artful Dodger

8y↑9

It was an incredible time to be alive.

1709Steve

9y↑82

We sent 18 year old boys to fight on the front lines. Raised in eastern North Carolina, sitting in the bars on the beach, young soldiers would ask us to end the war before they had to do another tour. We did our best to stop the killing of American kids in Vietnam, we fought the war stateside.

DRWNSTONOBOOGY

9y↑10

Though I was born in 1960, my oldest sister lost her fiancee in Vietnam. A great fella! Soon afterwards she gave me all her Beatles albums. This was soon after Bobby Kennedy was shot. For a spell I would listen to the "nice stuff..Paul Mac." At some point in "70" I heard "Give Peace A Chance", "Instant Karma". My soul and conscience did a 180 and I embraced the raw or Lennon tracks both solo and Beatles, Woodstock, Smothers Brothers, Peace, you name it, the whole ball of wax! An endless supply of creativity and passion that still helps fuel me today!

Terri Dorn

@DRWNSTONOBOOGY My ❤ still breaks for your sister and her fiance🙏💔🙏❤🇺🇸

bluskies1000

Joe Hall

2y↑3

Gives one chills everytime.

dadgad1

16y↑11

This video does bring up a lot. It is an anthem. Where are students today? Is there a voice on any campus demanding an end to war? After four years of fighting for social justice on my campus, Kent State happened. I moved to Canada one month later; never looked back. They said, "Love It or Leave It", so I did. I have always played in a band. We have always covered this song. Peace my Friends, dadgad

pete robbo

3y↑1

They're obsessed with themselves now. A sad state of affairs.

Mongo

@pete robbo I wish I could disagree. I retired from university teaching; times have changed.

David Atkinson

2y↑2

I was in college at the time when it happened. I remember vividly all the mixed emotions. Something of a dark time in our nations history !

Robin OfTheWest

That day changed my life - my outlook - life was never the same after that.Came home from work, watched the news - news caster broke down in tears - never saw that before. No one was ever charged, Gov. Rhodes, should have been.

Biffthesurf

15y↑2

I just discovered Neil Young use to play in a band with the late- great Rick James. I checked this guy out and Neil young has some great music.

William Fleaher

2y↑1

One of Neil's best!!! There are so many by the way!!!

cindy mckimm

1y↑3

Neil's plaintive "why" gets me every time.

CookingKept MeSane

36w

I remember this like it was yesterday...poignant time in this country's history

John S Rous

The perfect tune to commemorate a not so perfect day in our nation's history.

Marilyn B

2y↑16

it seems all these classic songs can still be sung today for the young kids today as a baby boomer i can tell u we tried to make things right

Archaic Sage

2y↑1

...and failed.

Marilyn B

2y↑2

@Archaic Sage well hopefully the kids of today will do better

Marilyn B

2y↑1

@Archaic Sage well then i guess we’re in big trouble

Brian Harrington

It will never be right. The oppressive existence of the State must be burned down

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Teri Carder

9y↑6

This is a fricken anthem!
The song of that awful time in history!
And we're in yet another awful time in history, but you'll be hard pressed to find another song to match this today!
Not gonna happen! People don't like it because it speaks the truth, and people can't handle the truth! And the video brings it home! Forces us to remember! People don't wanna remember the bad stuff! But we need to remember, and figure out how to fix it, so we can avoid having to have such a profound song, and/or video, even being made about such senseless, unbearable heartache and pain!

bluskies1000

The song had nothing to do with reality.

Petar Reskušić

WHO NEED REALITY? 🙈🙉🙊ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE! 🌈☮️✌️

Jackson Morganfroghin

2y↑1

Forget May the Fourth be with you. A saying that remembers the War between the Stars. Let's say DFKS. Don't forget Kent State. Say that on 05/04. Abolish all war. Start with boxing. It's barbaric! (That's controversial) Start the comments now!

Frances Gandy Walsh

1y↑3

So long and goodbye David Crosby. Loved you man.

George Viada

2y↑3

This is one of my birth songs, which came out close to the day I was born in the late spring of 1970.

Jason Brown

Hello how are you doing?

School boy

1y↑2

Greg Reeves bass guitar lines are, simple yet funky.

Joshua M

This is so about current wars and riots to me. I love this song brings me right to current concerns in the world and at home.

Robert Manke

8y↑2

this music, this album, turned my life... soon the Redemption comes. We've never been clear on our own because Mercy is greater than the law... but it sure is going to hurt more than we ever like it to. nothing new there... be ready in your hearts.