OHIO REACTION - Crosby,Stills,Nash and Young - First time hearing
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OHIO REACTION - Crosby,Stills,Nash and Young - First time hearing.
A very powerful song that profiles the killing of the 4 University students in 1970.
#musicreactions
#musicvideoreaction
#rockreaction - Hudba
The story I heard is Neil Young arrived at a rehearsal at one of his band mates' house. David Crosby was in the driveway reading a newspaper. He soundlessly handed the newspaper to Young, who first read about the massacre then. Young went off for a walk for about half an hour, and returned with the basic tune and lyrics for Ohio written.
CSNY worked and polished it then and there. They had another single starting to ride the charts, or at least expected to drop within a few days, and they insisted their promotion team release and promote Ohio.
The rest is history.
The CSN box set I have says David Crosby cried after they finished recording this. My husband (who, unlike me, was around during this time) believes CSN&sometimesY should get the Medal of Freedom because their music, especially this song, helped bring an end to the mess that was our involvement in Vietnam.
One other little known fact--it was recorded in one take.
@@apacheking9776
I believe someone mentioned that below. Prior to that, I had no idea. But, it doesn't surprise me with these four.
Totally agree with everything you said. I was in high school when this senseless tragedy occurred. A despicable act that should never be forgotten. It was May 4 1970. It was referred to a massacre, couldn't agree more. RIP all involved!
Iconic song. unforgettable, powerful lyrics and music. Really reflects those unique times I remember oh so well. (Wish he also would have written one for the 4 dead in Benghazi. (To Hilary; How could you run when you know..). but he'd never do that.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings
@@finallythere100 And she F*CKING got away with it!!!
@@debbiegoss4475 - Yes, but only here on earth. Looks like She's headed for an eternity to think about it..
So was I, a senior, in fact. May we never forget.
That's David Crosby singing "How many more" and "Why?" at the end of the song. It has been said that by the end of the song, which I believe was recorded in one take, David Crosby was in tears.
I grew up on Neil Young, one of my Dad’s favourites (and mine). I distinctly remember hearing this song for the first time when I was around 8 and my Dad giving me the major background on the song. I had been advanced to CSN(Y) and Buffalo Springfield by then. Whenever I hear Neil Young I think of my Dad who died two years ago. Wish we could have one more conversation about music. His favourites were Old Man and Four Strong Winds (Ian Tyson cover). Mine are Helpless, Needle and the Damage Done, And Long May You Run. And the entire Harvest album.
Better is After the Goldrush or Everybody Knows This is Nowhere Neil s 2 and 3rd Album!! Extraordinary is a live album by Crosby Stills Nash and Young called 4 way street! Some are acoustics but many are electric which is where Neil excels!!! Harvest was okay but too top 40 and almost all acoustic!!! You should hear Southern Man and Carry On and Almost Cut My Hair and it's on youtube!!! Southern Man and Carryon are each like 12 mins!!! With Stills and Youn trading leads
i'm older than you and when i think of young, i think of his father scott young who was a famous journalist in canada. also wrote a bunch of books. was on hockey night in canada and controversial for his time.
Sorry for your loss, but glad that music remains a connection to your dad
I wish I could have one more conversation with my dad too.
This brings back difficult times. 1968 I signed up for the draft it was also the first time that I was arrested for sitting in on a protest. I received a two year sentence. One year for trespassing and one for the possession of a deadly weapon(my afro comb). Songs like this remind me that I wasn't in the struggle alone. If you liked this you should like their 4 WAY STREET album. Times may have changed but the song remains the same.
A year for trespassing:??? Holy cow! Also, I remember those steel combs as deadly in the early 70s .. but on the other hand I just helped an elderly lady comb her hair with a plastic one. I'm not sure what to think of those combs. Though deadly seems a stretch ...
I used to work with a Vietnam vet and he told me the only reason he was there was because he and his brother had been arrested for some petty b.s. and they told him they were going to make sure his brother did a long stint. Unless of course, my coworker volunteered to go. He did it to keep his brother out of prison. He could never stand the sight of a cop after that. I'm sorry for your experience, and I hope you didn't have to serve that whole thing, but I wouldn't be surprised if you did. 😢
It sounds like they railroaded you. Really messed up.
Yup 4 way street was a great album too bad more people don't request it maybe cause top 40 never plays the long songs!!! The best tracks off it are Southernman and Carry On where Ne and Stephen switch leads
So sorry that happened to you! I was 7 years old and we lived in Ohio when it happened. My brother was draft age. I remember watching for his draft number on TV and remember my family being worried. I remember seeing the Kent State shooting on the news. I remember fear and sadness; too young to understand but old enough to know something was really wrong. Thank you for sharing what happened to you.
A great Neil Young Gem. Neil holds a special place in my heart as he sang about and hung around my grandparents hometown of Blind River, Ontario, Canada. 🇨🇦
I lived a Iittle over an hour from KSU in North Central Ohio. Two of the students that died were protesting the war but two others who died were just in a crowd of spectators nearby. The boy lying dead on the ground with the girl crying was shot in the mouth and died instantly. All of the students who died were over 275 feet away. 28 guardsmen fired 67 rounds in 13 seconds. 9 others were wounded. One was permanently paralyzed. Very sad. There were protests by over 4 million students in colleges all over the country during the next few days. I had a friend who was at Kent State. He was a rebel type and walked up to a guardsman who had his rifle pointed at him and he hollered at the guardsman: " what you gonna do shoot me too" fortunately he didn't shoot him. Not sure if I would of had the nerve to do that but always admired him for his guts. Looking back, (Am sure there was alcohol and perhaps other artificial courage boosters)involved 😎🤪. Great selection and song. Thanks Harri. 🔥🌏🤔😢
I was a student then. It's hard to express how it felt to witness....anger, betrayal, futility...disbelief....the song captured the emotions of the time and still resonate.
I live in the UK and still remember seeing the picture of one of the victims lying dead with another student screaming in protest and despair over the lifeless body. At the time we were treated to a plethora of photographs from Vietnam in the daily news and what struck me was the similarity of the pictures. I recall thinking that the American government had lost control. Far away country or homeland it didn't seem to matter who they killed.
"Ohio" encapsulated all of this along with a vocal which reflected the senselessness and futility of it all.
Harri, I think the song needed the strident instrumentation. There had been the protest songs of the 1960s which were mostly quiet and reflective. To no avail. This song had an in-your-face backing which said, to me, "enough". I'm not sure it made any difference though.
Great track.
I was a university student at the time this happened. I was chilling to me, as I was an antiwar protester as well. A great song. I was not in Ohio, but I was frightened just the same.
Great pick Craig. I still get chills when I hear this. The Kent State massacre happened when I was a senior in high school and that was when I started paying attention to many of the evil deeds done by our own government. It has gotten so much worse over the years. Our current state of affairs is sad and frightening. Thanks Harri. 🌺✌️
I was a junior. Same thing: I can't even hear the intro notes without getting chills. One of the girls who died was from Long Island, NY, which is where I grew up. We all felt: that could've been us. When word got out, the whole school emptied out, and we students marched to the district administration building in protest. I still want to weep for what happened, and how it shut down serious protests for years.
I grew up in the opposite corner of Ohio, but Kent State is in-sports-conference rivals with the local college, and this story's well known in most of the state. The worst part is that the students who were shot weren't even part of the protest - they were just going about their daily lives at the wrong moment.
Kent State's a cappella choir did a haunting cover of this for the 50th anniversary (all the more impressive since that was at the height of lockdowns and they couldn't *gather* to record it).
2 were protesting, 2 were just walking between classes
Incredibly bold statement at the time in the wake of the shootings. Neil Young was the first to call out Nixon by name in a protest song. At the time, he was a Canadian in the US on a work permit just like Graham Nash - they put huge bullseyes on their back, risking deportation or worse. They never hesitated. 'Teach Your Children' was in the top five at the time and this song pobably knocked it off the charts, costing Nash thousands in royalties. And they never hesitated for a second.
This song really does effect those of us alive during the time. It's one of the reasons many older people object to the National Guards being called out to quell protests in the US. To see Washington DC under the National Guard after the 2021 inauguration infuriated a lot of people. Nixon wasn't impeached, he resigned. He was told by members of his own party he would be impeached though. So, he resigned.
11 days later, 2 students killed and 12 injured when local and state police opened fire on them in their women's dorm in Jackson State, Mississippi. Steve Miller's "Kent-Jackson Blues" tells the story. It's worth a listen. Kent State essentially ended the Hippie Movement. PS: I ❤️ the song...😔
Ronald Reagan: If we have to have a massacre, lets get it over with. P.S.: Later a landslide win, and a second term as president.
A few years before Kent State, cops staged a riot on students at U of Wisconsin, for protesting Dow Chemicals' Agent Orange production.
I was in high school at the time, with long hair and a Sargeant Pepper style jacket and all, which screamed: "I am not soldier material, especially not in such a needless war, with casualties on the domestic front, from supposedly friendly fire." I mean, the National guardsmen who shot the American students were themselves American. Paths of Glory taking dark turns.
Laurel Krause keeps the memory of her sister, Allison, who was killed that day, alive today. A sad day for America.
A similar protest song by the band is "Chicago" which as a long history of corruption and boss politics. They've inherited so much wind, they are called "The Windy City".
Agree. "Chicago" should always be listened to in conjunction with "Ohio." I was in high school, too, a junior, when it happened.
This song was played on the radio a lot back in the day. It has a very powerful message, but it’s OK to enjoy the music. The groovy tune is what helps carry that powerful message to the people. :) I grew up about 20 miles from Kent State and it was distressing to know we were so close to such a horrific scene. I have friends who were there that fateful day. It’s just something that has always stuck with me. Unlike you Harri, I think it is much worse today regarding the harassment of students (or anyone) by the authorities. Everyone is so sensitive and uptight about everything these days and that can only lead to no good. So much for “live and let live“.
I agree it's worse today I'm 76 and never seen anything like today before
100% agree. Things aren’t looking good…again.
Remember this like yesterday. A beautiful Spring day looking towards graduation then it wasn't.....
4 students killed 2 male, 2 female and 9 wounded. Those kids weren't even protesting, just walking between classes. It really shocked the Americans at the time. . . . and since as well. It really opened my eyes about the American psyche, how sick it is.
It really is a "groovy" piece of music anyway. Most of CSNY IS groovy.
One of 9 wounded was crippled for life. The guard were never really held accountable...all smoke and mirrors and coverups. Governor of Ohio was up for re-election that year and wanted law and order, Nixon was an asshole who wanted law and order...after lying about not going into Cambodia during the Viet Nam War, then turned around and sent them there anyway, which set off a series of protests across college campuses.. I was in Junior high school at the time, and we were all scared to death that the national guard was going to come and shoot us. Now we have asshole and his son shooting up schools, movie theaters, colleges, concerts...as far as I am concerned, Kent State University is where all this bullshit started. A very poor TV movie was made about this 11 years later. they should have done a theatrical movie, never did.
Adding for accuracy & NOT as justification for the shootings (totally unjustified!), some were protesters. From the 1970 "Scranton Report" (the official Presidential investigation), All of those shot were Kent State students in good standing. Of the 4 killed, 2 were protesting, 2 were not. They are; 1-Jeffrey Glenn Miller, age 20, a protester. Shot from 265 ft. 2-Allison B. Krause, age 19, Kent State Honors student, a protester. Shot from 343 ft. 3-William Knox Schroeder, age 19, on ROTC scholarship. Not a protester. Shot from 382 ft, in the back, while walking to class. 4-Sandra Lee Scheuer., age 19, Kent State Honors student. Not a protester. Shot from 390 feet, in the throat, while walking to class. Of the 9 wounded, 3 were protesters, 5 were not & 1 was undetermined. Feet from guard when shot; 71, 110, 225, 225, 300, 329, 375, 495 & 750.
No some of them were protesting and throwing rocks at the guard
That some victims were not protesting just illustrates how uncontrolled the Guard action was, how dangerous having _them_ there was. Of course the shooting was unjustified regardless of whether some or all students were protesting at the moment or not. There was never any problem serious enough to require lethal force in response.
And Young! Neil Young wrote it!
I made two visits to Kent State University over the last two summers, to pay my respects. Walking the trails that had markers were each instance happened was jaw dropping and completely numbing. 13 seconds, 67 shots, 4 dead, 9 wounded. I will never let the world forget about this massacre
I had just finished college in Ohio (U. Dayton) and was heading to grad school in Michigan. At that time, Ohio's governor, Jim Rhodes, was a gestapo-like politician who had no clue about what was on the minds of and important to young people. To this day, I hold him personally responsible for what happened at Kent State.
You don’t blame the students that burned the ROTC building, cut the fireman’s hoses or rioted that weekend? I’m a Kent grad who was there in the ‘70’s. I know people who were there that day both students and guard members. Mistakes on both sides.
In order to understand how this could happen, you have to realize the scope of resistance to the Vietnam war at that time. Massive demonstrations were taking place over the U.S.A. I showed a friend the documentary "The Vietnam War" by Ken Burns, and he literally could not believe it. Just saying "demonstrations" or "protests" doesn't doesn't do justice to size of the division in society. It was the most divided the country had been since the Civil War.
Yes, it's so important that people understand what it was like back then. A lot of younger folks think it was all flowers, peace, love, and drugs. Like we got off easy. Demonstrations, and also civil rights protests with construction workers and cops clashing with protesters, and cities on fire every summer. Assassinations. And the war -- always the war. Every news report started with the body count from the war. They have no idea.
I went to Kent State and every year on the anniversary hundreds join in on a remembrance ceremony. Kent is still a very liberal and active university in the middle of cornfields in a very conservative part of the state.
This song was meant to be listened to, the song had to be great in order for the statement they were sending to the people to be heard. What happened to those students was a complete travesty, an unjust act, a black mark in American history. C, S, N, & Y had to know that this song would reach the masses. They really made their mark, every time I hear it, I actually feel proud that I lived in a time of real freedom of expression. There's no shame in enjoying this song, when you know what it stood for. Thanks for this reaction, it was awesome!
Following a 4 year investigation US Federal courts dropped all charges against 8 Ohio national guardsmen. 60 rounds had been fired, 4 students killed, 8 students wounded plus an additional student left paralyzed. RIP Allison Krause, Sandra Scheuer, Jeff Miller, Wm. Schroeder.
One correction. Nixon was not impeached. He resigned before facing that possibility. He then was pardoned by his successor. Which speaks of a double standard when it comes to the Justice System.
I have lived in Ohio my whole life. I remember this oh so well. The news jarred your brain. While the incident shocked the county there is always something more painful when it’s nearby.
Good reaction Harri. Sure does bring back memories. Carry On is a great song also by this band.
It isn't bad to appreciate the power of the music itself ~ remember the rally itself at Kent State was an anti war rally against the Vietnam War & President Nixon not only authorized the National Guard ~ he authorized live amminition in the guns ~ he was determined to break the spirit for peace ~ Neil Young was & is one of the greatest voices of my generation he i8s never afraid to write songs that are both entertaining & inspiring
Joni Mitchell did the cover art work.
Great album artwork by Joani Mitchell
One of my most favorite from CSNY! Powerful message behind this, and you would expect no less from these dudes! Nice one Craig! And you never cease to amaze Harri, love it when you get the gist behind these powerful tracks my dude!
I recently learned about an incident called the Battle of Blair Mountain in Madison, West Virginia. Evidently, that was the only time the US actually used bombs dropped from the sky on its own citizens (so I thought. Please read Ndugu Coleman's comment below). Love this song, and we need to be reminded that our past doesn't go away. We may forget, but the history remains and can be brought out to show exactly how man's cruelty to man plays out. Peace.
On the evening of May 13, 1985, longstanding tensions between MOVE, a black liberation group, and the Philadelphia Police Department erupted horrifically. That night, the city of Philadelphia dropped a satchel bomb, a demolition device typically used in combat, laced with Tovex and C-4 explosives on the MOVE organization, who were living in a West Philadelphia rowhome known to be occupied by men, women, and children. It went up in unextinguished flames. Eleven people were killed, including five children and the founder of the organization. Sixty-one homes were destroyed, and more than 250 citizens were left homeless.
@@Ndugu19 Wow. I'd forgotten about that. I remember when it happened, but we just don't want to believe that our own government could do such things. That reminder brought back feelings of anger and despair. Not thanking you for those feelings, but thank you so much for the reminder. We cannot let these things be forgotten. Peace.
It's all the more powerful for being musically compelling. More people would listen to it, and if they didn't realize it had a powerful message on first listening, maybe subsequent hearings would get lyrics across.
We were stunned! Watching it on TV I had never seen anything like that .
Jeffrey Miller, Allison Krause, William Schroeder and Sandra Scheuer-were killed, and nine others were injured.
Check out their other anitwar song "Wooden Ships". (wikipedia) "The words of the song depict the horrors confronting the survivors of a nuclear holocaust in which the two sides have annihilated each other. A man from one side stumbles upon a man (or woman, as in Jefferson Airplane's version) from the other side and asks him/her, "Can you tell me, please, who won?" Since the question has no real meaning in the circumstances or even at all, it is left unanswered. To stay alive, they share "purple berries", as a result of which they "haven't got sick once" (iodine pills, which protect against radioactive iodine-131 in nuclear fallout).[citation needed] The lyrics beg "silver people on the shoreline," described by David Crosby as "guys in radiation suits," to "let us be."[2] As the wooden ships, devoid of metal that would become radioactive from neutron activation, are carrying the survivors away from the shores, radiation poisoning kills those who have not made it aboard."
I was young when this song came out & all I heard was the cool guitars. As time went on I understood what the song is about. That was a violent & deadly wave of tyranny that may be returning again.
Neil Young heard the story and the song was written and recorded in a few days after the incident. It was on the radio a couple weeks later.
I've listened to this song many times over the last 45 or so years. Somewhere I read that tin soldiers are soldiers who mindlessly carry out the orders of their superiors. Only today though did I notice how much this rhythm, or groove you describe, sounds like a march, I wonder if that's what Mr. Young intended? Rest in peace David Crosby ❤️
Crosby,, Stills, Nash and YOUNG. You left out Young when you introduced the band in the beginning. I still love you though :)
Loved the reaction and of course the song. Since you’ve been diving into Billy Joel I request “A matter of trust” official video. It’s a lotta fun. You would enjoy!
This was one of the most iconic photos, the girl on the ground. Look it up and try to understand why even as senior citizens we do not trust the government
After this the National Guard was forbidden to have live ammunition they gave them rubber bullets
Joni Mitchell painted the album cover. She's so dreamy.
(Great song too.)
You forgot Neil Young who wrote the song!
The live version off the excellent 4 Way Street album sounds even more powerful .
You are absolutely right
A lot of people in the USA 🇺🇸 were pissed at Neil Young and Canada 🇨🇦 when this came out. It was banned for a short time in some states. Cheers
I was 10 going on 11. The times were so messed up. I was so little and didn't understand the history that was being made during the times since the mid 60's that I can remember and even earlier.
The brightest spot seems to be the music. The skill and talent of the musicians of the time were and are unmatched today. The message that the musicians of the time delivered was absolutely contrary to the establishment and their love of money and war that the establishment pushed for so hard.
I was in college when the Ohio National Guard murdered those poor kids. When we got word of it, 90% of the student body walked out of classes and gathered at the quad. We needed to process the sad event. This song brings on the tears every time.
I was a senior in high school. Same. Most of the students quietly walked out and congregated in a nearby park.
right time for this song!
Always liked the song and the line up. And remember that if the guitar is good...it's Steven Stills...
I was 13 when I read the news and heard the reports on television. That was when I went from being a boy playing ball and climbing trees to being a politically involved person...after the crying stopped, that is. 52 years later, and I'm still involved as much as I am able to be. It totally changed my perspective.🙄
Well said my fellow BOOMER; THE PROTEST GENERATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes this song did have a big impact when it came out
Neil Young and Stephen Stills were in a band called Buffalo Springfield. :-)
It was an epic song for students and for the anti war movement. An anthem.
My mom is from Kent, and my older brother was a baby when the shooting happened. The roads were blocked and the traffic jam delayed her from picking him up by a couple hours.
Crosby Stills Nash and Young. It was Written by Neil Young about this tragic event 🇨🇦
Students placing flowers into the barrels of their weapons.
Neil Young is one of my very favorites because I love his protest songs!!
I love their harmony!!
Iconic song. So sad.
CSNY was the first supergroup and everything they did was received as such, but it was controversial, as Neil Young continues to be. These guys all had enormous reputations. And talent. And egos.
This is what Young added to CSN…along with another great guitar.
Did you know "Joni Mitchell" is the artist of that album cover. 🎸☮️
Two of these guys were in Buffalo Springfield, by the way!
It's perfectly fine to groove out to this protest song, because the groove adds to one's feeling of righteous indignation. It's a serious groove. This song was created and released very quickly after the Kent State massacre and added to the outrage the country felt after seeing what happened on the news, becoming a hit and a classic in the process.
@@BobSoltis1 I remember it differently. No one was happy about those kids being murdered, one of whom was killed walking to their car and wasn't even part of the protest. You have no idea what you are talking about.
When I am forced to say Nixon's (spit) name I have to spit. Every time.
The Kent State Massacre was headline news in UK too. I picked up the paper, and that photo was on the front page.
The four men were horrified and pissed off. You can feel the fury and angst they had by the sound of their voices and guitars.
Brilliant, heartbreaking!
... Students in Ohio two hundred yards away
Shot down by a nameless fire one early day in May
Some people cried out angry "You should have shot more of them down!"
But you can’t bury youth my friend... youth grows the whole world round
It could have been me, but instead it was you
So I’ll keep doing the work you were doing as if I were two
I’ll be a student of life, a singer of songs
A farmer of food and a righter of wrong
It could have been me, but instead it was you
And it may be me, dear sisters and brothers, before we are through
But if you can die for freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom
If you can die for freedom I can too...
Holly Near, It Could Have Been Me
Neil Young wrote this and sung lead vocals Stephen Stills was the other giuitar. The 4 dead shocked the nation at the time
Don’t feel guilty Harri, you understand the message & know what armed ‘guards’ do for the govt! One can’t help sing along & even dance together. I still remember my absolute shock & horror when I saw the photos of the young woman, on the front pages of world newspapers. I have protested for decades & understand what the students were doing that day & for years on end protesting the VietNam 🇻🇳 war & all who perished. The one who wasn’t punished but pardoned was Nixon 🤮 and to this day I still blame those at the top. The shame of sending untrained very young men to a war many of them protested - they were forced to go by the Nixon govt thru the DRAFT🤬. Guess who had a rich daddy who with his connections got his son out of going to Viet Nam claiming he had bone spurs in his feet ?! Donald Trump! He seems to walk quite well around his golf courses!!
I still think about what happened at Kent State that day. I was so young, but it made a huge impact.
Best album right here.✌️😊💜
CSNY was a integrated band. The funky bass guitar lines, are played by Fuzzy Daniels.
check that again cat. On this album Dallas Taylor (white) played drums & Greg Reeves (black) played bass.
@paul mcclaren I meant Reeves unfortunately, I couldn't find my statement to correct it, however I made no mention of the drummer or his color.
When I look for reactions and I come across a new reactor more than once I sub.
This is really Neil's song but he wrote it with Stephen in mind for the other guitar solo.
Dancing to the music is not the same as dancing on their graves. Dancing to the music is a way to take it in physically. To feel it more wholly and dive into it. To feel the message both in your mind AND in your body. So no shame in dancing to this somber song at all. It's a misconception that dancing is only a cheerful, happy thing. It often is, but it can just as well be a way to take in grief and sorrow. Even anger and resentment. It can be a way to take things in, as well as a way to get things out of your system, without killing four innocent people who were protesting for - of all things - an end to the bloodshed.
People were protesting all over the country because Nixon had sent US soldiers into Laos and Cambodia without Congressional approval. It was illegal as hell, and he had promised not to do it. Everyone was furious. That's why the students at Kent State were out there, and the idiot governor of Ohio called out the National Guard unnecessarily. Kids holding guns on kids. It couldn't have been more preposterous. No one is sure why the shooting started, although there is a story that a stack of lunch trays were dropped and one of the guardsmen thought it was a gunshot. We'll probably never know. The whole thing was a clusterfuck, and a bunch of unarmed students were killed (4) and injured (9) for no sane reason. The governor of Ohio at the time should be in prison. He ordered the US military to take arms against American citizens. That's illegal as far as I know, but we no longer pretend America is a democracy. The rich make up their own rules.
Banned on Radio 1 in 1970. Me...as a 9 year old boy listening to the Top 20 chart show on Sundays, wondered why.
This protest song was written about this one sad incident at Kent State University, but it is a universal song for any like tragedy anywhere in the world. Performed and sung by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, but written by Neil Young. One more for the legendary Canadian, but full credit to the band for all they did to get it on the air so soon after the events of that sad day. RIP all the victims of senseless violence.
There is a video with actual footage from Kent State put to this song. I remember when this happened. I was 16. Now I have great-grandchildren in school. We have learned nothing. 😥
There are several days in history burned into my memory, Selma Alabama, and this day are indeed powerful. I was out in the streets in Portland protesting the Viet Nam war when Kent State happened. It sent a searing message, but NO ONE stopped until we were out of Viet Nam.
Ohio
Song by
David Crosby, Steven Stills, Graham Nash & Neil Young
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming
We're finally on our own
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio
Gotta get down to it, soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been gone long ago
What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
Gotta get down to it, soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been gone 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 hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio
Four dead in Ohio (four)
Four dead in Ohio (I said four, I said four)
Four dead in Ohio (how many more?)
Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio (I wanna know why)
Four dead in Ohio (you better tell me why)
Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio (why did they die?)
Four dead in Ohio (you tell me why)
Four dead in Ohio (I said why)
Four dead in Ohio (I wanna know why)
Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio (I said why)
Four dead in Ohio (why, Lord?)
Four dead in Ohio (why did they die?)
Four dead in Ohio (I said why)
Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio (yeah, why?)
Four dead in Ohio (please tell me why)
Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio (I wanna know)
Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio (why did they died)
Four dead in Ohio (you tell me why)
Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio
This is one of the saddest recorded songs in history in my opinion. Can you even believe this happened 52 years ago? I was 15 when it happened. To me it was like last year. My brother-in-law graduated from Kent in 1974 and we were all there for that and to remember that day as well. It was a very somber occasion. I am so glad you are reacting to this song. We need to keep the memory alive so that future generations will know what happened that day and why.
Harri Gordon Lightfoot wrote a protest song about the Detroit riots in 1975. It’s called “ Black Day in July “
Please note that there were mistakes on both sides of this horrific event. This whole incident was preceded by the announcement by President Nixon of expanding the Viet Nam war into Cambodia after promising to ending the war. Students had broken windows downtown the weekend before and also burned the ROTC building on campus. This prompted the Governor to send in the National Guard, which had just been deployed at another university the previous week, attempting to quell protests. One of the problems is that, at the time, the National Guard were not trained in crowd control. The State Police would have been a better choice as they were properly trained in crowd control. Another issue with the Guard is many of them joined to avoid going to Viet Nam.
When the Guard got on campus, there were many students who did not believe the soldiers had live ammunition. And when they tried to break up the protests they marched themselves into a fenced in corner. They turned around to march back, and at some point, turned around and aimed their weapons. To this day it hasn't been determined who or if an order was given to fire, or who fired the first shot. There are reports that rocks were thrown at the Guard, and that may be true, but having gone to school there 6 years later, I don't recall any large amounts of rocks in the area, and I lived right across the parking lot from where it took place. It is also noteworthy that many of those shot (and killed) were pretty far from the guard to pose any significant threat. Yes, mistakes happened on both sides, but there is absolutely no reason for the carnage that occurred that day.
The shootings here and at Jackson State helped change the attitude of the nation toward their view of the Viet Nam war. The town and the university were polarized for many years after.
On a side note, the university commissioned $25000 to sculptor George Segal to make a memorial of the Kent State shootings without giving any instructions as to what they wanted. when the sculpture was presented, it was of Abraham about to kill his son Isaac. This was rejected by the university, and now resides at Princeton University. One more mistake, despite the fact that the story of a man willing to kill his own son is an excellent metaphor for what happened. If you ask an artist who is internationally known for his literal interpretations in his art to make a memorial, you will get a literal interpretation of the event.
This was not just another great song by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. It was a song with a powerful message.
Kent State University has built a fieldhouse on the spot they gave their lives for peace. 😢
It should have been preserved....
This song was recorded live days later
The Guard in those days were "weekend warriors". Minimal training. Probably panicked. Poor command and control. Live ammo issued? Ordered to lock and load? Command given to fire? No one would want that on their conscience.
Great song. I visited the site a couple years back. Another moving protest song would be Billie Holiday's Strange Fruit.
He forgot the person who actually wrote the lyrics and music, fellow Canadian Neal Young.
The Ohio National Guard single handily ended the Vietnam war. Yes, the war lasted a while longer, but the anti-war protests became HUGE right after that. May 4th was Kent State. On May 9th there were 100,000 to 150,000 protesting in Washington, D.C.. On May 20th, 60,000 to 150,000 protesting at Wall Street.
Love Neil Young. Saw an interview with Steven Stills where he recalled Neil disappearing for a stretch (can’t remember if it was hours or days) after this incident and returning with this song to share with the others.
BTW, make sure you look up the Pulitzer Prize photo associated with this...
Another great song about this event is Beach Boys - Student Demonstration Time.
If a song has no appeal, then the message in it will reach fewer people. Cheers!