English III 3/20: "For What it's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield

"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"

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This song always makes me remember the sixities, which is pretty strange considering I wasn't even alive in the sixties. Somehow though, I feel like I genetically absorbed the energy of the sixties through my parents. I am not one of those people who does nothing but glorify the sixties in an unhealthy and nostalgic manner, but I do think that we could learn a lot from the era which, despite many problems and shortcomings, managed to produce a massive positive movement.

As far as this song is concerned... it is a sweet sounding song that calls the people to stop and make sure that they are aware of what is "really" happening in their country: a message that we really need in times like these. The song, familiar to almost everyone (thanks to movies mostly), is a frightening message to the public: 'watch out for yourself because the ones who are paid to watch out for you are mostly worried about themselves"... as true today as it has been for a long time. Still the song manages to bring some measure of peace to the heart.