1
There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
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
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
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
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Lyrics submitted by magicnudiesuit
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As others have said, this song is actually about hippies protesting a curfew at their favorite night-clubbing spot. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_What_It%27sWorth%28Buffalo_Springfield_song%29
However, FWIW was written broadly so that it resonates with the spirit of protest everywhere. It quickly became an antiwar anthem. Today the song can be heard at Occupy rallies, and its lyrics still fit perfectly.
Yes, I agree. I remember when the song was new. I always associated it with Mike Nesmith of the Monkees talking about the Sunset Strip riots on the Monkees TV show.<br /> <br /> But now it fits so perfectly OWS. When I participate in my local Occupy Movement I find myself singing it aloud just as I sing "Give Peace a Chance" and "Power to the People." Those three songs are the trifecta of protest songs for me.
Our national debt sure isn't going down and neither is taxation. Let's protest THAT ! Everybody now...Kumbaya.....
@Foobar not just a "favorite spot", the entire Sunset Strip