As curator for Sixties Music Secrets, I’m forever on the lookout for, but more often reminded of the power, innovation and spirit of revolution, the 1960’s contributed to our world and remains a kind of “base camp” for culture, politics, sex / the sexes, art and of course MUSIC! Throughout these difficult day’s, We’ve heard the media, pundits and politicians comment on how many of the events happening today are very reminiscent of the 1960’s! We agree and further believe the 60’s so frequently we’re trying to warn us! Earlier today this song came on the radio and I heard it in a way I’d never heard it before! A warning from the 60’s that we clearly didn’t hear! Listen carefully!
There’s something happening here
What it is ain’t exactly clear
There’s a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
What it is ain’t exactly clear
There’s a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it’s time we stop, children, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Everybody look what’s going down
There’s battle lines being drawn
Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
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
Everybody look what’s going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It’s s time we stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Everybody look what’s going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you’re always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you’re always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Stop, now, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Stop, children, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Everybody look what’s going down
Stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Stop, now, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Stop, children, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
.
Words and music: Stephen Stills / 1966
~SMS
Shoe….I’ll see your “For What It’s Worth” and raise you this:
Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.
Hey Curtis,
Of course we all are innately aware of the power of this great lyric, but when you stop and actually read them….well, even after all these years, they simply blew my head off!
Nice raise Curtis and “Pro F’in found!
Rick
Both songs…
Timeless and timely
Oops, Bob Dylan…
Wonderful song, always a favorite, as was Sills and his music and yes, this is so relevant just as it was in our young lives. Thanks for sharing it.
Hi Rick,
Would you email me off-list please.