For What It's Worth
Echoes of Change: Decoding Society's Pulse in 'For What It's Worth'
Lyrics
There's something happening here
Observation of a current event or situation
What it is ain't exactly clear
Uncertainty or lack of clarity about the situation
There's a man with a gun over there
Awareness of an armed person nearby
Telling me I got to beware
Cautionary advice due to potential danger
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Advocacy for stopping and paying attention to a particular sound or event
Everybody look what's going down
Encouraging collective awareness of the unfolding situation
There's battle lines being drawn
Indication of division and conflict
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Recognition that nobody is right if everyone is wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Acknowledgment of young people expressing their opinions
Getting so much resistance from behind
Facing opposition or obstacles from others
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Reiteration of the call to stop and pay attention
Everybody look what's going down
Emphasizing the importance of awareness
What a field-day for the heat
Reference to a favorable situation for those in power
A thousand people in the street
Large-scale public demonstration or protest
Singing songs and carrying signs
Expression of opinions through songs and signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
Mixed reactions, some supporting the cause
It's s time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Reiteration of the need to stop and be attentive
Everybody look what's going down
Encouragement for ongoing awareness
Paranoia strikes deep
Introduction of paranoia as a deep-seated fear
Into your life it will creep
Warning that paranoia can infiltrate one's life
It starts when you're always afraid
Linking paranoia to constant fear
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
Consequence of stepping out of societal norms
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Repetition of the call to stop and pay attention
Everybody look what's going down
Emphasis on the collective need for awareness
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Repetition for emphasis on stopping and looking
Everybody look what's going down
Continued emphasis on collective awareness
Stop, now, what's that sound
Further repetition to underscore the urgency
Everybody look what's going down
Continued emphasis on the need for awareness
Stop, children, what's that sound
Reiteration, specifically addressing children
Everybody look what's going down
Final call for collective attention to the ongoing situation
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