This week Helen Espinosa of This Life one step at a time said:So, thanks to Kerry of herheadache, our theme for Song Lyric Sunday is to post a song that helped teach you something new (something you weren’t aware of before you heard it). I hope I captured what Kerry wanted with her suggestion, but I think it’s a good one and am forever grateful that I have followers willing to help me out.
I have picked Ohio by Crosby Stills and Nash. Now I was not sure what the song was about at first until I researched it, no quick google fix in those days. What I found out shocked me.
The Kent State Massacre 1970 please read here
After the Kent State massacre, Neil Young saw a photo of 14-year-old Mary Ann Vecchio kneeling over the dead body of college student Jeffrey Miller. He poured his rage and sorrow into the lyrics to “Ohio” and called his Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young bandmates into the studio the following day to record the new song. Even though “Teach Your Children” was all over the radio, the label rushed the finished product out, and it was playing over the air before week’s end. CSNY broke up just a few months later, making “Ohio” their furious final statement – at least until the many reunion tours.
Source Rolling Stone magazine.
LYRICS
Ohio”
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We’re finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We’re finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
willowdot21 