For What It's Worth Analysis

“I think it’s time we stop, Children, what’s that sound? Everybody look – what’s going down?” “For What It’s Worth” was originally performed by Buffalo Springfield, but written by the guitarist Stephen Stills in just fifteen minutes on December 5th, 1966 (Shmoop). Throughout history, many people believed the song to be anti-war bred, a push for peace during the Vietnam War. However, this is not the case. “For What It’s Worth” was actually originally written for the Sunset Strip Riots. These riots, also known as the “hippie riots,” were the result of the curfew and loitering laws being placed on young adults who spent much of their nights “hanging out” and “clubbing” down Sunset Strip (“For What It’s Worth”). Regardless of the true meaning behind the song, “For What It’s Worth” was also adopted as an anti-war tune.

The title says the most. “For What It’s Worth” implies that an opinion is being given by someone who is not confident it will be helpful or even significant. Stills felt this way about the war. He felt it had gotten so out of hand, especially since riots and uprisings had taken place in the United States, that nothing we say or do would be able to fix it. Stills does not know if the violence will stop or turn around. Also, he uses words and phrases such as “battle lines” and “gun” and “hooray for our side” which parallel a warlike situation as well. The lyrics flow almost like a story that marks the beginning, middle, and end of the war while building a depressed and hopeless tone that forces readers and listeners to make a change before more lives are