http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g9PiEgYYUU
This video captures Woodstock festival of 1969, and the peace movement that developed around the nation. This song “What It’s Worth” was created by Buffalo Springfield, a band that would continue throughout the years with the springing of each members career, such as Neil Young. This was one song, of many, that captured the essence of what most people were crying on the streets. You have probably have heard this song with countless movies that were based from this time. There was an awareness that was captured in this era, where people really pulled together to recognize all of the wrong that was happening all over the world. I believe it was the first time people were using love and unity as a weapon, alongside with powerful music. I will always be a hippie at heart and I love this band.
By they way, this show was in 1967.
This song definitely captures the essence of freedom. Although it isn’t pin point specific, it is definitely specific enough to realize that Buffalo Springfield was talking about the current situation of his society. He simply calls for awareness in his society, questioning what is happening to America. The words and music come from an upbeat approach, encouraging people to fight for freedom.
This song is about what can happen to people when a military presence takes away freedom. In this case, the freedom from fear, if there ever was such a thing, is taken away by the Vietnam war. It also refers to the freedom to assemble, ‘thousands of people in the street’, also related to the vietnam war.