"For What It's Worth" is Buffalo Springfield’s most famous and enduring song, written by Stephen Stills and released as a single in December 1966. It reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967 and has become an iconic anthem of 1960s protest and counterculture12.
Meaning and Historical Context
Although often mistaken for an anti-Vietnam War protest song, "For What It's Worth" was actually inspired by the Sunset Strip curfew riots in Los Angeles in late 196631456. At the time, young people and music fans regularly gathered along the Sunset Strip, frequenting clubs like Pandora’s Box. In response to complaints from local businesses, authorities imposed a 10 p.m. curfew and anti-loitering laws for those under 18, sparking protests and confrontations between youth and police56. The most notable clash occurred on November 12, 1966, when about 1,000 people protested the closing of Pandora’s Box, leading to a heavy-handed police response456.
Stephen Stills witnessed these events and wrote the song in about 15 minutes, channeling the confusion, tension, and generational divide he observed46. The lyrics reflect a sense of uncertainty and the feeling that "something's happening here," but "what it is ain't exactly clear," capturing the mood of a society in flux16. Lines like "There's battle lines being drawn / Nobody's right if everybody's wrong" and "Young people speaking their minds / Getting so much resistance from behind" evoke the era’s clashes between youth and authority6.
Impact and Legacy
While rooted in a specific incident, the song’s ambiguous lyrics and haunting tone allowed it to resonate with a broad audience and become a universal protest anthem72. Its association with the Vietnam War and other social movements grew over time, even though its original subject was local unrest on the Sunset Strip3156. "For What It's Worth" is now considered a defining song of the 1960s, symbolizing protest, change, and the generational rifts of the era72.
Key Facts Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Writer | Stephen Stills |
| Release Date | December 1966 (single) |
| Chart Performance | #7 US Billboard Hot 100 (1967) |
| Inspiration | Sunset Strip curfew riots, LA 1966 |
| Notable Features | Haunting guitar riff, ambiguous protest lyrics |
| Legacy | 1960s protest anthem, often (mis)associated with anti-war |
Summary
"For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield is a haunting reflection on protest and generational conflict, inspired by the 1966 Sunset Strip riots over curfew and anti-loitering laws—not the Vietnam War as often believed31456. Its enduring power lies in its evocative lyrics and ability to capture the spirit of a turbulent era, making it a timeless anthem of social change.
