There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
Originally recorded this day in 1966 by Buffalo Springfield, “For What It’s Worth” has become almost synonymous with the anti-Vietnam War movement, and specifically the Kent State University riots. However, the song pre-dates that event by more than three years. It’s actually about the Sunset Strip riots that took place in L.A. about a month before the song was written.
Yet as closely tied to a particular event or era as the song is, “For What It’s Worth” has a truly timeless feel. Acoustic quality aside, if you didn’t know this song originated in the ‘60’s, would you guess that was when it was written? Or would you maybe place it in the grunge era? Possibly even current day?
“For What It's Worth” was always my favorite cover off Feedback. It was also apparently the first rock song that really set Alex aflame and inspired him to become a musician. You can hear it, I bet. This is a song where the guitar is as much a storyteller as the vocalist, setting the scene, establishing the drama, then erupting in noise and fury at the climax. It’s exactly the kind of storytelling Alex would perfect, and become known for.
It is a great song and I agree it’s the best cover on that album. But the song screams out ‘60s to me. I couldn’t imagine it from a ‘90s grunge band, but maybe I’m being closed minded.
It’s a favorite and I think the first song I ever played percussion to with my very first high-school band.