Buffalo Springfield
For What It's Worth
Buffalo Springfield was comprised of Stephen Stills, Dewey Martin, Bruce Palmer, Richie Furay, and Neil Young.
Stephen Stills wrote this song after the Sunset Strip curfew riots, a series of clashes between police and young people in Hollywood, California. The song would go on to become one of pop's most well known protest anthems. It has been covered and sampled by Public Enemy, Cher, Kid Rock, and The Staples Singers, among others.
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 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 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