Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

The Story Behind Buffalo Springfield’s Classic Protest Song: “For What It’s Worth” 

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Over five decades ago, “For What It’s Worth” was released by Buffalo Springfield as a single on Atco Records. Not only did it peak at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the spring of 1967, but it quickly became a well-known protest song.

According to Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the song’s publishing house, “For What It’s Worth,” has been played eight million times on both radio and TV stations since its release. In 2014, it came in at No. 3 on Rolling Stone’s The Best Protest Songs poll. 

“The way it’s written, it’s so open to interpretation,” Heart’s Ann Wilson said, who released a cover in 2015 on her first EP. “It’s so open that it’s brand new today. You can apply the song to any situation in any decade.”

But contrary to what most people believed, “For What It’s Worth” was actually not written as an anti-war song.

The Story Behind One of The Most Enduring Protest Songs

Written by Buffalo Springfield guitarist Stephen Stills, “For What It’s Worth” was inspired by the Sunset Strip curfew riots – also known as the “hippie riots” – in 1966 that took place between young people and police on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California.

The situation at that time was pretty tense. It started when a number of clubgoers descending on the Strip have increased, irritating the residents and upscale boutiques due to the late-night traffic congestion it caused.

In response, they sent a petition for the city to pass local ordinances, putting a stop to loitering and enforcing a strict curfew on the Strip. The Los Angeles Police District then instigated a 10 PM curfew for anyone under eighteen. As expected, this didn’t go well with the young music fans. They find the new laws infringing upon their civil rights.

So, on November 12, 1966, it was announced on several local radio stations that there would be a protest outside the Pandora’s Box club, which was located on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Crescent Heights. Fliers were also being distributed on the Sunset Strip, inviting people to join demonstrations.

Later that evening, as many as 1,000 young demonstrators gathered to protest against the curfew’s enforcement. Although the rallies started peacefully, trouble eventually broke out. 

 “The commercial merchants on Sunset Boulevard in a certain area decided that the element of young people on the street every night was not conducive to commercial enterprise,” Stills said during his 1971 interview. “A bunch of kids got together on a street corner and said we aren’t moving. About three busloads of Los Angeles police showed up, who looked very much like storm troopers. And I looked at it and said, ‘Jesus, America is in great danger.'”

The unrest went on the next night and occasionally throughout the rest of November and December. This forced some clubs to shut down just within weeks.

“There’s battle lines being drawn. Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong. Young people speaking their minds. Getting so much resistance from behind. It’s time we stop, hey, what’s that sound. Everybody look what’s going down,” the song goes.

Indeed, this eerily quiet song captured the uneasy mood of the moment. It launched the band to stardom and has remained one of the most enduring protest songs in ages. However, Stills had very different feelings than many might expect.

“We didn’t want to do another song like ‘For What It’s Worth,'” he said. “We didn’t want to be a protest group. That’s really a cop-out, and I hate that. To sit there and say, ‘I don’t like this, and I don’t like that’ is just stupid.”

Listen to the song in the video below.

Latest Stories

Josh Weathers raises over $337000 in a livestream concert fundraiser to help Texas families devastated by catastrophic floods.

Josh Weathers Raises Over $337000 in Livestream to Help Texas Families Hit by Floods

A guitar in hand and a heart the size of Texas. That’s Josh Weathers right now. While storms swallowed up gigs and highways across Central Texas, this Fort Worth native ...

Lauren Alaina fires back at trolls who mom-shame her for bottle-feeding her newborn, pictured holding baby Beni Doll Arnold.

Lauren Alaina Fires Back at Trolls Who Mom-Shame Her for Bottle-Feeding

A bottle in one hand and zero time for strangers’ opinions in the other. That’s how Lauren Alaina’s rolling and some loudmouths just found out the hard way. If you’ve ...

Kelly Clarkson seen emotional in a past photo, echoing fans’ heartbreak after she canceled her Vegas opening night due to illness.

Fans Are Heartbroken After Kelly Clarkson Cancels Vegas Opening Night Due to Illness

Nothing guts a diehard fan like standing in line for hours only to get hit with the words “Show’s off.” Kelly Clarkson found herself in that brutal spot last weekend ...

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton perform together on stage, teaming up for a new duet that might break country radio charts.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton Team Up for a Duet That Might Break Country Radio

Sometimes, country music gives you a pairing that is so perfect that you wonder what the hell took so long. Well, here we are. Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton are ...

Dolly Parton smiles in a sparkling gown, proving she’ll always look glamorous on the outside to match how she feels inside.

Dolly Parton Shares Glamorous Photo Says She’ll Always Look How She Feels Inside

Some folks roll out of bed looking like they just survived a bar fight but not Dolly damn Parton. On July 1, the queen of country herself dropped a glamorous ...

Lee Greenwood performs live in a patriotic shirt, years after nearly shelving “God Bless The USA,” now America’s beloved anthem.

Lee Greenwood Almost Didn’t Release “God Bless The USA” as a Single, Now It’s America’s Anthem

Sometimes, the songs that shape a nation nearly get buried on the B side. Back in 1984, Lee Greenwood was on a solid run of hits and living out every ...

Keith Urban smiles on stage in Akron, Ohio, where he made a heartfelt gesture for a blind fan that moved the audience to tears.

Keith Urban’s Sweet Gesture for Blind Fan Leaves Sister Thanking Him for Truly Seeing Her

Some moments at a concert feel bigger than the music. This was one of them. Keith Urban‘s always been one of the good guys in country, but fans at his ...

Gracie McGraw, seen here at a past event, recently left fans laughing on Instagram comparing herself to Jurassic dinosaurs.

Tim McGraw’s Daughter Gracie Leaves Fans in Stitches Comparing Herself to Dinosaurs

Sometimes, you just need a reminder that not every celebrity kid takes themselves too seriously. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s oldest daughter, Gracie McGraw, just gave the internet a masterclass ...

Willie Nelson smiles while performing onstage with his iconic guitar, as rumors swirl about Baylor University banning him.

Did a Texas University Ban Willie Nelson or Was He Just Too Much of an Outlaw to Show Up

Only Willie Nelson could have a “campus ban” rumor stick for 40 years and make him look even more like the cowboy rebel everyone loves. If you’ve ever cracked open ...

Roy Rogers, smiling in his signature cowboy hat and embroidered suit, remembered by fans as the King of the Cowboys in 1998.

On This Day, Fans Remember Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys, Who Rode Off in 1998

Sometimes the cowboy who taught America how to ride tall in the saddle and tip a hat with a smile is the one who leaves the biggest boots to fill. ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.