Style of “For What It’s Worth”

The music and word choice of the song “For What It’s Worth” lends even more importance to its meaning. The beginning of the song is very calm, and Steve Stills’ begins in a quiet and conversational tone. The first few lines, “There’s something happening here/ What it is ain’t exactly clear” catches the listener’s attention, and creates a feeling of suspense at the unknown threat. This first verse demonstrates the “central tension of the song: the contrast between the drama of the situation on one hand, and the emotional reserve of the singer and the music on the other” (ReasonToRock.com). The source of the controversy is ambiguous, which seems to indicate that the singer is focusing on the feelings evoked by it, and the increasing intensity. This would explain why the song is so quiet, as it is asking us to rationally approach the situation and “look what’s going down,” rather than give in to our emotions. In the final verse, the singer explicitly warns the listener of the troubles ahead. To punctuate this, another voice harmonizes in the background, and handclaps are added. After the lyrics end, the guitar continues almost aimlessly, leaving the listener with the unspoken threat of the potential chaos and destruction caused by their actions, or perhaps even more so by their inaction.

-Andrew Fein