For What It's Worth
Sheryl Crow & Willie Nelson 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've got to beware

[Chorus]
Think it's time we

Stop! Hey
What's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right, if everybody's wrong
People speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance
From behind

[Chorus]

Singing songs and carrying signs
Getting so much resistance
From behind

[Chorus]

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line
The Men come and shoot you down

[Chorus]

Hey! What's that sound
Look what's going down.

Overall Meaning

Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson's song "For What It's Worth" is a cover of the Buffalo Springfield classic protest song from 1967, written by Stephen Stills. The lyrics capture the atmosphere of the 1960s, where protests against the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement had become the norm across America. The opening lines "There's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear" sets the vague sense of unrest that was prevailing in society at the time.

The man with a gun in the first verse represents the authority figures who were using violence to suppress the protesters. The chorus "Think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound, everybody look what's going down" emphasizes the need for people to come together and take action against the government and the establishment. The battle lines being drawn in the second verse refers to the division in society between those who support the status quo and those who are fighting for change.

The line "Paranoia strikes deep, into your life, it will creep" suggests the growing fear amongst the people, as they begin to feel that their freedom and rights are under threat from the government. The song's powerful message still resonates today, as people around the world continue to fight against oppression and injustice.

Line by Line Meaning

There's something happening here
There is a situation unfolding and something is clearly stirring up.

What it is ain't exactly clear
The exact nature of the situation is not evident, and it's impossible to tell what exactly is unfolding.

There's a man with a gun over there
There is a man carrying a weapon visible within the frame of the situation.

Telling me
He is addressing me directly with a command or message.

I've got to beware
I need to be cautious and wary of the danger or threat present in this situation.

Chorus
It's time to stop and take notice of the events going on around us.

Think it's time we
I believe it's time for all of us to collectively act upon this situation.

Stop! Hey
Everybody needs to stop their current activity immediately.

What's that sound
There's a noise being made that is out of the ordinary and thus worth investigating.

Everybody look what's going down
All of us should pay attention to what's taking place and actively take part in making sense of it.

There's battle lines being drawn
The standoff between different sides is growing more pronounced.

Nobody's right, if everybody's wrong
When everyone is insisting upon their own viewpoint, no one can truly claim to be correct.

People speaking their minds
Individuals expressing their opinions about the current scenario.

Getting so much resistance
They are facing considerable pushback and opposition from others.

From behind
This resistance is coming from anonymous and insidious sources hiding behind the scenes.

Singing songs and carrying signs
Protesters are utilizing performances and visual aids to bring attention to their cause.

Getting so much resistance
These activists are being met with significant opposition from those in power.

From behind
This opposition is often concealed and not immediately apparent to onlookers.

Paranoia strikes deep
A deep sense of insecurity and fear is taking hold of the populace.

Into your life it will creep
This paranoia will insidiously influence how you live and think.

It starts when you're always afraid
Fear is the root cause of the paranoia that's currently taking hold of society.

Step out of line
If you dare to stray from the norm or question authority, you're risking your safety and well-being.

The Men come and shoot you down
Those wielding power and with firearms at their disposal will not hesitate to silence anyone who challenges them.

Hey! What's that sound
That unusual noise is still present and insistent, and warrants our full attention.

Look what's going down.
All around us, something significant is happening, and we need to pay attention to what's unfolding.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Stills

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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