Song Analysis Of 'For What It's Worth'

Peace, love, and music was all you needed to have a happy life during the 60's. Many believed the 60's was the rise of the hippie, others may say it was the beginning of change within the culture. Music was a enormous cornerstone for the people to their right to speak freely about social issues. Whether it was with peace and love or anger and violence, music was the canvas for it all, the 60's was the place to be. The era of freedom and change, a music rock group,Buffalo Springfield, consisting of five members changed the world's perspective by composing a melody called "For What It's Worth". Lyricist, Stephen Stills receives his inspiration from the Sunset Strips Riots. Dealing with riots and forced participation with a curfew that residents and business owners have
“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”. In the final verse states the singers phobia that his community's purity will become corrupt by violence and fear due to the different point of views colliding with one another in a hateful charge towards social destruction. As the lyrics intensify so does the music, soft voice singer,Stills, is the narrator or main protagonist within the song. He also seems to be the only person to be aware of the side affects that the conflict is creating, making him the more clear headed character throughout the song. Neil Young's guitars intensify as the lyrics become more vivid, during the first verse Young’s plays smoothly as Stills is first recognizing the problem. Throught the second and third verse Stills speaks about his surroundings and how they have changed due to the conflict. Young helps make the image more colorful by playing a almost distorted meloney that sounds chaotic and troublesome. The final verse Stills reveals the side effects that the conflict has caused among the people in the community, Young