Finding stasis theory in songs can be difficult as most
songs are not written from a “problem, solution” viewpoint. It’s clear that the
problem being addressed in “For What It’s Worth” is that of the war in Vietnam;
or rather that there should be a lack of war in Vietnam. The solution provided is more vague, and generally open to interpretation. Clearly
the war does exist, so it becomes more of a question of why it exists. Buffalo Springfield doesn’t offer much on
this subject in their song, however they do explain why the war is bad thing. The line “Paranoia strikes deep/Into your
life it will creep” tells the audience that the war will only dig into their
lives and make them afraid. The solution offered to end the war is told through
these lines, “It’s time we stop/…/Everybody look – what’s going down?” Buffalo Springfield is telling people that
they have to stop and look at what’s going on around them before doing more
damage. Before anything can be fixed,
people must recognize that what they’re doing is wrong.
-Christina Atchison
I think that Buffalo Springfield's strategy of making people think about the war themselves and find their own flaws is much more effective than having messages shoved in their face like they are used to most of the time. Letting people think for themselves and draw their own conclusions also let's them think through their problems with the war and convince themselves.
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