FIRST TIME HEARING | Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Ohio

[@kualua6612]

Song is about 1970 Kent State University where 4 unarmed students were killed by the National Guard during a Vietnam Nam protest.

[@thomastimlin1724]

9 others were wounded, one crippled for life. Guard was never punished...such BS

[@ronaldstokes4841]

'S all that simple, Huh?

[@conniegaylord5206]

I graduated from HS that year! A real coverup. No accountability! You really need to look this up!

[@mickeyhank]

An utter classic, Ace. Glad you enjoyed it and clearly you were engrossed in it -- respect to you for that. Describes a real incident, as you surmised. Kent State University in Ohio, 4 students gunned down and killed during a Vietnam War protest. Indicative of that time period -- late '60s, the youth in America more so than ever before, I believe, rebelling, growing their hair out, actively disagreeing with what their parents' generation was doing, what their government was doing, being publicly active with their feelings. A charged time, lots of energy, lots of tension, as this song clearly expressed. Also, lots of fantastic music created by these young people.I saw it from the perspective of a, say, 7-12 year old....

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Same here, and very well said. Even as a kid, I just remember there being all this energy and tension in the air and yet it was a stimulating and colorful environment.

[@ronaldstokes4841]

As a draftee serving a tour in Nam when this happened, I'd agree, it was a period full of a stimulating and colorful environment where tension filled the air. Oh, you mean Kent State. Sorry. Ya gotta remember... they weren't battle veterans in those unis... they were scared kids.@@stevedahlberg8680

[@SnoBear626]

The entire Kent State incident is a prime example of why you don't want to see soldiers acting as law enforcement. As a Veteran I can tell you we were trained to fight for your freedom, not protect your civil liberties and rights. Two distinct and different skill-sets.

[@punkydoodle4774]

I've thought for a long time that ex-military should not be allowed on the police force. Just for the reasons you put forth.

[@SnoBear626]

@@punkydoodle4774 I would politely disagree with your thought. Veterans also have the advantage of being highly trainable.

[@ronaldstokes4841]

Nam Vet and 30-year police officer in Philly. What's your problem? You'd rather have the cops of today back down as punks loot your favorite store? Flee from their station as protestors attack? Go to jail because some useless slug dies while being subdued? Watch it Brother, reality has a tendency to jump up and bite you in the azz.@@punkydoodle4774

[@carlos_herrera]

Lol 'flush out your headgear new guy, you thịnk we waste g@@ks for freedom?'

[@rhiahlMT]

NY Governor just deployed the National Guard to "help with searches in the subway system". I cringed. As a Veteran, I agree.

[@gpxo11]

Two of the four that were gunned down were just leaving class and going to their cars to go home-they weren't involved in the protest-just at the wrong place at the wrong time-truly sad.

[@joelliebler5690]

This song is a total protest classic about those 4 students at Kent’s statU. Shot down by the National Guard called in by tricky Dick Nixon , one of the most damaging President to the heart and soul of our country!

[@stevedahlberg8680]

I was a little kid living in the American Midwest during this time. I wasn't old enough to understand the adult issues but I could absolutely sense the energy in the air. A lot of crazy stuff happened even in our neighborhood. But it was also a colorful and fun time as well. It was just a crazy mix of really bad stuff and really good stuff. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

[@babylonsister118]

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." So true! Woodstock included!!

[@bethphillips9693]

I remember it well. I was just talking to some friends about this Friday. The song really resonated. I was a teenager and this was so shocking to me. Things are a little crazy now, but it was a turbulent time. Civil Rights, Vietnam, Assassinations - Woodstock - bombings.

[@terriemartinez9989]

I remember it well. My brother had just returned from Viet Nam.

[@waynemoon5359]

Written by Neil Young and lead guitar played by Neil also.

[@poutine57]

yup! peace and love from Canada ❤

[@cletushouse906]

Great reaction. Lot of history there.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Hey, did you pick out Neil Young's voice and guitar playing in the mix? He was the Y in CSN&Y. He had come from a band called Buffalo Springfield which was successful and actually significant during these times. And then he was a core part of this band in their early years, and then when he went off and formed his own band with Crazy Horse, they shortened their name to CSN, for Crosby, Stills, and Nash.

[@ericanderson8886]

Very meaningful song, considering what was going on back then.

[@IDriveAnAudi]

I was 9 years old and remember when this occurred but of course didn’t understand the relevance at the time. Now as a former military guy it pisses me off and shocks me that some idiot in command gave the National Guard live ammunition that day. Live ammo is never issued except in combat or for training. Never for civilian crowd control. It was insane.

[@alanlucio3442]

I must say you are on a roll tonight. Great song choices all of The..

[@hannejeppesen1809]

Remember this very well. I'm on that generation. Neil Young spoke for us, when he wrote "we are finally on our own". National Guard killed 4 students who were not even in the protest, anyway the protest was peaceful.

[@arjaylee]

This song was recorded rapidly after Kent State. My only regret is that artists are not responding today, like these guys did. "For What it's Worth"Was about the Sunset Strip Riots in the sixties. I can't believe there are no songs about Jan 6.

[@off-stagemic3337]

Unfortunately, the only ones being written about January 6th are by the insurrectionists themselves.

[@marshastapleton1148]

CSNY, my first concert ever, I was 16

[@MisterWondrous]

All about the words.

[@glennwalker5700]

I was 13 when Kent State happened. I had a profound effect on me and my friends. As I was approaching my senior year in high school, I was deeply afraid of being sent to Vietnam.

[@rittherugger160]

One thing that really drives these lyrics is the fact that none of those 4 dead were even at the protest. They were 100 yards away changing classes, headed to the library or to lab. Students shot by guardsmen who might have been their classmate 2 years before. I understand your trepidation to discuss anything political with a world that is becoming more and more polarized while getting smaller and smaller.

[@markmurphy558]

We didn't have the luxury of avoiding "politics" back in 1970. We were at risk of being sent over to fight in the jungle against people fighting a civil war. We were trying to avoid getting our ass shot off.

[@StatsJedi]

I was 10 and living less than 25 miles from where the students were killed. Peaceful war protest.

[@xJRx77]

BTW, Neil Young was only with the band on a couple of albums. The main group is CSN

[@Prone2Thrill]

History is important and not to be revised but factual to learn from

[@Altman1953]

Being a Viet Nam Vet I of course have an opinion on this subject. First off... GREAT SONG. Captures the "feel" of the times very accurately. Secondly, let me just say that the same students and citizens who were protesting in the street had every right to voice their opinions. But... those same protesters and activists was the same crowd who stood in the airports as us servicemen came home and SPIT ON us simply for doing our duty. We would be harassed, called "baby killer", and SPIT ON.

[@MySerpentine]

A lot of the protestors *were* vets. My dad was at his share of protests and he saw the cops beat up guys in wheelchairs for daring to not want more people in wheelchairs.

[@dwgrly]

I was a high school freshman when this happened. There was an unauthorized large student protest in the student commons ( which I attended. 320 students were suspended. For some reason, I was not reported as absent from class. My school has an underground student paper, 8:18. Many. Students there had older siblings attending college in Madison, WI and other active anti Viet Nam war ampuses. This was May 1970.

[@StewartUSAF]

Most of those pictures are from the timeframe around the Kent State massacre. Some of the pictures are *from* the massacre. CSNY saw the news reports of the massacre and wrote this song and recorded it within a month. They released it and knocked their own song off of the top of the charts. You should also listen to the B-Side of this single (Find the Cost of Freedom). Sandy Scheuer, Jeff Miller, Allison Krause, and Bill Schroeder. Always remember their names.

[@rk41gator]

Heavy song.

[@anitapaulus937]

I was in high school in 1970. There was a draft, and the Vietnam war was happening. Lots of protests, and the Kent State one went South, killing and injuring multiple people. Two of my brothers were draft age and bot I listed one in the Air Force and the other in the Army. By enlisting, they had better circumstances as to where they ended up after basic training. The one in the Air Force was stationed in Japan, and had to deliver mail to Vietnam, and the other was stationed in Panama.

[@mikefetterman6782]

Yeah, before 1979, videos just were not a thing. The very first show IN THE WORLD showing videos was FRIDAY NIGHT VIDEOS. It started in 1979. MTV started in 1981. Video Tape was invented in the 70s so ANYTHING you see of bands before 1979 was concert footage, television appearance where they sang live (or lip synched for the producers). It is weird to keep hearing youngsters say, "Hmmmm there is no video for this one". There was no video for any of them. Most were compiled by fans decades after the fact.

[@coldspring624]

Those times are here and now. To think they are the past is falling for the sleight of hands. I was a teen within miles of it .

[@kathyedleman633]

Check out "Carry On". ❤

[@nielgregory108]

THIS this the PERFECT example of how GOOD young people have it today. People "protest" today but it's not a protest. It's a party. People who protest today do it because they have it too good and have nothing else to complain about. Including you, young fella and I hope you understand that. Jesus, you don't even have to leave your house to make a living today. Think about it. That is insane!!

[@robbob5302]

The protesters were throwing rocks at the soldiers. Tensions rose and rose. Finally, somebody snapped. Bullets began flying. And four lives ended, forever.

[@MySerpentine]

Yeah, because some kid 250 yards away was really a danger to the guys with the guns.

[@FrogLegs313]

A lot of the pictures are of anti-war protests across the country (and world) in the lat '60s. many of them are specifically of the day (May 4,1970) when Young, inexperienced National Guard troops were issued live ammunition and sent to quell that day's protests of bombings in Cambodia and the presence of ROTC and National Guard recruiting activities on campus. Nobody has ever decided whether there was a specific order to open fire or if one or tow on the "soldiers" got scared and pulled their triggers setting off the unit. When the firing was finally stopped, four students lay dead and 9 others were wounded. Two of the dead weren't even involved but simply on their ways to their next class. There was a second occurrence a few days later in Mississippi on the Jackson State College campus. No-one was ever taken to task for either of these events.

[@lightatthecape2009]

Kent State may have been the end of the freedom of the 60s. It took place two months after Nixon ordered bombings in Cambodia, a neutral country. Music in the 60s was political and the antiwar movement was huge.

[@Bar-l7w]

😢

[@billwilson2025]

You just ran into one

[@j.andrewk.327]

It was not Nixon, but the gov of ohio who was responsible for the guard.

[@thomasripley1548]

Time of madness and distrust of our leaders and their use of young Americans to advance their political asperations....not my favorite time. I personally hate political agendas

[@terriemartinez9989]

It was a scary time during the cold war in 1960s and Early 70s. 1964, President Kennedy was eliminated and The Bay of Pigs was looming.. I remember it well. 😢🕊️🇺🇸♥️✝️🎼

[@lesblatnyak5947]

American folklore

[@leighloutreedore8926]

NOT folklore... HISTORY!