For What it's worth - buffalo springfield
Lyrics:
There's something happening here But 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 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 saying, "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 Step out of line, the men 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? |
Analysis:
The song “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield is one of the many songs that take a stance on the occurrence of the Vietnam War. The lyrics in the song help show certain aspects of this controversial war. The line, “There’s something happening here; But what it is ain’t exactly clear” shows that not a lot of people really understood why America was fighting in Vietnam, and what exactly we were fighting for. “There’s battle lines being drawn; Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong“ shows that when both sides believe the other is truly in the wrong, it’s difficult for the two to reach a compromise, and war is probably not the most effective mean to reach an agreement. The part of the song that says, “Young people speaking their minds; Getting so much resistance from behind” shows that many of the young people at the time didn’t agree with the war, and that their thoughts, ideas, and opinions were being oppressed and their peaceful protests were often attacked. The line, “Paranoia strikes deep; Into your life it will creep; It starts when you’re always afraid; Step out of line, the men come and take you away” talks about the psychological affects of the war on soldiers, and also possibly civilians both in Vietnam and in the U.S. This song is anti-war because it talks about the harm that war can cause to a society, making implications about protests and threats that children may face. It also mentions the toll taken on soldiers, and the paranoia and fear that “strikes deep” and affects the veterans for so long after their service. The lines, “I think it’s time we stop,” “It’s time we stop,” and “We better stop,” suggest that the song is anti-war because of their increasing intensity about the need to withdraw American troops. This song seems to be critical of the Domino Theory, because the first few lines of the song are, “There’s something happening here; But what it is ain’t exactly clear,” which relays the message that not many people really understand why America is involved with Vietnam, and that it’s not really clear why communism in another country is a threat to the U.S. This song shows how war affects both a society and the individual, by talking about the dangers for protesters who disagree with American involvement in Vietnam, and conversely, the support that others have for the war. It also talks about the psychological trauma that soldiers are left with after coming home, and the paranoia that still resides with a lot of them. I do agree with the message of the song, because it talks about the fact that the war has been going on for too long and that it should stop. I think that the Vietnam War went on for too long while not much was being accomplished, and yet America kept fighting, losing human lives, whether they were American or Vietnamese. - Emily Knighton |