For What It's Worth
Rush Lyrics

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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

Overall Meaning

The song "For What It's Worth" by Rush is a cover of the classic protest song from 1966 by Buffalo Springfield. The lyrics describe a tense situation where people are gathering in the streets and speaking out against something, although it's not entirely clear what that something is. The first verse describes a man with a gun who is warning people to beware, suggesting that there is some form of danger or conflict brewing.

The second verse suggests that there are battle lines being drawn and that young people are speaking their minds and encountering resistance. The chorus repeats the phrase "what's that sound" several times, emphasizing the confusion and uncertainty of the situation. The third verse describes a field-day for the heat, implying that the authorities are mobilizing in response to the protests. The final verse turns inward, warning that paranoia can creep into people's lives and lead to them being taken away.

Overall, the song captures the spirit of the 1960s, when protests and social unrest were at their height. It speaks to a sense of disillusionment and frustration with the status quo, and a desire to speak out and effect change.

Line by Line Meaning

There's something happening here
Something important is happening that needs attention

What it is ain't exactly clear
What is happening is unclear

There's a man with a gun over there
There is a man with a gun present

Telling me I got to beware
The man is warning that danger is present

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
It’s time to pause and listen to a sound of concern

Everybody look what's going down
Everyone should take notice of what is happening around them

There's battle lines being drawn
Groups are separating to oppose each other

Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
If everyone is wrong, then no one is right

Young people speaking their minds
The younger generation is expressing themselves

Getting so much resistance from behind
They are facing opposition from people behind them

What a field-day for the heat
This is a great opportunity for those in power