“For What its Worth” is worth a whole lot to Americans. Stephen Stills and Neil Young of “Buffalo Springfield” Bridge the “Generation Gap” in the fight for Democracy.

By WAYNE D. KING

At No Kings rallies all over the country, there was a lot of music and singing. Celebrations of America like Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land,” Ray Charles singing “America the Beautiful,” spirited songs by Pete Seeger. But if there was one song that was featured over and over again, that almost everyone knew – but had no idea of its title – it was a song from the legendary 60s era band “Buffalo Springfield”: “For What it’s Worth.”

Written by the lyrical and melodic architect Stephen Stills, with collaboration from the 60s brooding experimentalist Neil Young. The song begins with a short musical string that immediately alerts listeners to the coming of a phrase that almost all knew: “Something’s happening here”.

As I stood, waiting to speak at a small rally in Plymouth, New Hampshire, I heard those first few notes of the song and watched the crowd nod – ready to join in on those first three words.

Those opening notes were like a bell ringing in our brains. I watched nearly one thousand people in this small New Hampshire community join in, as the lyrics began, and I felt a sense of hope that is hard to come by these days. A sense that we might just be turning a corner.

“What a field day for the heat. (there must have been) A thousand people in the street, singing songs and carrying signs, mostly saying hooray for our side.”

“Stop children, what’s that sound? Everybody look what’s going down.”

There’s still a lot to do to save Democracy, but I’m ready if you are. . .

Keep the heat on.

Notes & Links

The Buffalo Springfield 1967
 https://youtu.be/TXVe2XH5rpk

Stephen Stills and Neil Young Reprise “For What it’s Worth” 2025
https://youtu.be/GsPF1BwdXBI

Photo: Song of Freedom – Wayne King

Podcasts produced at Anamaki Studios in Bath, NH. 

This land lies in N’dakinna, the traditional ancestral homeland of the Abenaki, Sokoki, Koasek, Pemigewasset, Pennacook and Wabanaki Peoples past and present. We acknowledge and honor with gratitude those who have stewarded N’dakinna throughout the generations.