For What It’s Worth

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin the timeless track "For What It’s Worth" by Buffalo Springfield from their debut album, Buffalo Springfield. This iconic song, often mistaken as a Vietnam War protest anthem, was actually inspired by a local clash in Los Angeles. In November 1966, Stephen Stills penned the song after witnessing the Sunset Strip curfew riots, where young music fans protested against restrictions on clubs like the Whisky A Go Go. As the house band for the Whisky, Buffalo Springfield had a front-row seat to the tension, with Stills capturing the moment’s unrest in lyrics like, “There’s something happening here, but what it is ain’t exactly clear.” The song’s cryptic yet universal message resonated widely, climbing to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967 and later being named #63 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

One fascinating tidbit about "For What It’s Worth" comes from its recording process. The band, frustrated with their producers Charles Greene and Brian Stone, secretly recorded the track without them. Greene and Stone’s method of recording each musician separately led to a tinny sound that the band despised. For this song, Buffalo Springfield captured their live, unified performance, resulting in its raw, authentic vibe. The track wasn’t initially on their debut album but replaced “Baby Don’t Scold Me” on re-issues after becoming a hit. Over the years, it’s been covered by artists like Stevie Nicks, Cher, and Rush, and even sampled by Public Enemy in their 1998 song “He Got Game.” Stephen Stills once noted in an interview for Neil Young: Long May You Run that he didn’t want the song to define the band, saying, “Here’s my opinion, you don’t have to listen to it,” reflecting his desire for Buffalo Springfield to be more than a one-hit protest act.

Social media has kept the song’s legacy alive. A 2016 post from @RollingStone highlighted the 50th anniversary of the Sunset Strip riots that inspired the track, while a 2019 @NPR post clarified its non-Vietnam origins, emphasizing its roots in LA’s counterculture. Stevie Nicks, in a 2022 @StevieNicks post, shared her love for her cover, saying the song “has always meant so much to me.” Fans on platforms like @TheCheekySilver in 2025 quoted its lyrics, calling it a “hippie anthem” that still resonates. The song’s cultural impact endures, often evoking the 1960s’ social upheaval while remaining relevant to modern struggles.

Buffalo Springfield formed in Los Angeles in 1966, a supergroup of sorts with members Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Richie Furay, Bruce Palmer, and Dewey Martin. The band’s origin story is a mix of chance and talent. Stills and Furay met in New York’s folk scene, but it was in LA that they connected with Young, a Canadian musician driving a hearse packed with gear. Legend has it that Stills and Furay spotted Young in traffic on Sunset Boulevard, flagged him down, and convinced him to jam. Palmer and Martin soon joined, and the group named themselves after a steamroller brand they saw outside their manager’s house. Their unique blend of folk, rock, and country, coupled with intricate guitar work, set them apart from other folk-rock acts like The Byrds. Despite their short two-year run, marked by internal conflicts and Young’s occasional departures, they left a lasting mark, with members later forming Crosby, Stills & Nash and Poco.

Though Buffalo Springfield disbanded in 1968, their legacy thrives online. Their official website, buffalospringfield.com, offers discography details and historical insights. You can follow updates on their Facebook page, though it’s more archival than active. Their Instagram shares nostalgic photos and clips, perfect for Zoo Freaks craving retro vibes. On X, the band’s account posts sporadically, often retweeting fan content. Fans gather at sites like Neil Young Archives, which includes Buffalo Springfield material, and on Facebook groups like the Buffalo Springfield fan community, where enthusiasts share rare photos and memories. Zoo Crew encourages you to dive into these spaces, crank up "For What It’s Worth," and keep the freak flag flying!