For What It's Worth
Marianne Faithfull · Other Songs - Marianne Faithfull
What it is ain't exactly clear.
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware.
Everybody look what's going down.
Battle lines being drawn,
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong.
Some people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind.
It's time we stop,
Children, what's that sound,
Everybody look what's going down.
What a field day for the heat,
There's a thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly saying, "Hooray for our kind!"
It's time we stop,
Children, what's that sound,
Everybody look what's going down.
Stop,
Children, what's that sound,
Everybody look what's going down.
Paranoia strikes deep,
Into your life it will creep.
It starts when you're always afraid,
Get out of line, the men come and take you away.
It's time we stop,
Children, what's that sound,
Everybody look what's going
We got to stop,
Children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going
We got to stop,
Children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going
We got to stop,
Children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down.
For What It's Worth - Marianne Faithfull
Released in 1966, 'For What It's Worth' stands as a defining anthem of the British Invasion and the burgeoning folk-rock movement. Recorded by Marianne Faithfull, the track captures the restless spirit of the mid-1960s with its driving rhythm and urgent vocal delivery. The song became an unofficial anthem for the youth counterculture, addressing social unrest and generational friction without naming specific events. Its enduring appeal lies in its universal message of solidarity and its ability to resonate across decades. Faithfull's distinctive voice lends a raw, intimate quality to the recording, distinguishing it from the polished pop productions of the era. The composition exemplifies the genre's shift toward lyrical depth and social commentary, cementing its place in the canon of classic rock and roll. Today, it remains a staple of live performances and a testament to the power of music to document historical moments.