Ohio

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

The soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio

Gotta get downto it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming
We're finally on our own.
This summer I haear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.


Lyrics submitted by Hunter, edited by bkabbott

Ohio song meanings
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21 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    This is about the events of May 4, 1970, when the US National Guard shot 4 unarmed students at Kent State University in Ohio. Neil Young wrote this shortly after seeing a news report on the tragedy. It was released 10 days after the shootings.
    JeffKaos71on November 25, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    songfacts.com/… Check out this picture
    JeffKaos71on November 25, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    The lyrics say it all. It is what you read.
    jim68nyon July 30, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Should be "tin soldiers"
    bazmegon December 04, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    This song means a lot to me. The shooting at Kent State is something that should've never happened and one of the most important days in American history. Sometimes I think this is a better protest song than Blowin in the Wind or For What It's Worth. It shows that the government wasn't only fighting a war in Vietnam, they were also fighting against the counter-culture in America.
    AcousticFarewellon February 03, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    The line "shoulda been done a long time ago" is a direct quote from then President Nixon when asked about the National Guard opening fire on campus protester! It was a much scarier time in America than most people will ever realize! Nixon had been wanting to find ways to KILL kids on campus protesting HIS war!
    scottyboydon September 20, 2017   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    A protest song of Kent State back in the early 1970s.
    Axelroonion May 26, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    In addition to the protest it's about the four students who were killed when the national guard opened fire on unarmed students demonstrating against Vietnam!
    anomalous21on June 03, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Great lyrics, good tune
    MGDon June 06, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    The lyrics say it all. It is what you read.
    jim68nyon July 30, 2005   Link

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