Tin soldiers and Nixon's coming,
We're finally on our own. This summer I hear the drumming, Four dead in Ohio. Gotta get down to it Soldiers are gunning 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? |
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la La la la la la la la la La la la la la la la. Gotta get down to it Soldiers are gunning 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's coming,
We're finally on our own. This summer I hear the drumming, Four dead in Ohio. Four dead in Ohio Four dead in Ohio. How many – how many more? Four dead in Ohio. |
Why is "Ohio" significant to the Vietnam War?
"Ohio" is an anti-war song written by Neil Young about the Kent State, Ohio shooting in May of 1970. There was a protest that day about the U.S. troops invading Cambodia that ended in 4 students of Kent State getting shot by National guard men who were attempting to keep the protest at bay. It’s a strong song that shows a protest and a concern about the Vietnam War, the lyric “Tin soldiers and Nixon’s coming” show this clearly. Near the end of the song, “Four dead in Ohio” is repeated several times. I think that this is a powerful way of conveying the message that the song states – why are these people dead? The Truman Doctrine stating that United States would support other nations threatened by outside forces, mainly communism, was not something this song supported. In fact, it blatantly disapproves the military activity that is taking place at home and in Vietnam. Also, the Domino Theory which stated that if communism overran one country (such as Vietnam) then the surrounding countries would also fall under communism. This in addition to helping South Vietnam was something that president Nixon was concerned about. Yet, citizens of the United States were more concerned about pressing issues that were happening in their own country at the time, such as racial and social injustices, and the slowly declining economy. The Vietnam War affected the U.S. society, and it gave rise to a new wave of thinking. People were peacefully protesting for freedom, love, and peace. This wave of empowerment by the people and for the people led to some critical turning points in our countries history, although not without times of conflict. Today, some of these positive values linger in United States society today. I think, that this song makes a good point. Yet, it’s a hard point to make. People were protesting here in the United States because they didn’t understand why we were in Vietnam, and then there were men in Vietnam bravely fighting for our country and risking their lives everyday. Whether this particular message is agreeable or not, I think that expressing a strong feeling such as this loss of 4 individuals through music is absolutely agreeable.
"Ohio" is an anti-war song written by Neil Young about the Kent State, Ohio shooting in May of 1970. There was a protest that day about the U.S. troops invading Cambodia that ended in 4 students of Kent State getting shot by National guard men who were attempting to keep the protest at bay. It’s a strong song that shows a protest and a concern about the Vietnam War, the lyric “Tin soldiers and Nixon’s coming” show this clearly. Near the end of the song, “Four dead in Ohio” is repeated several times. I think that this is a powerful way of conveying the message that the song states – why are these people dead? The Truman Doctrine stating that United States would support other nations threatened by outside forces, mainly communism, was not something this song supported. In fact, it blatantly disapproves the military activity that is taking place at home and in Vietnam. Also, the Domino Theory which stated that if communism overran one country (such as Vietnam) then the surrounding countries would also fall under communism. This in addition to helping South Vietnam was something that president Nixon was concerned about. Yet, citizens of the United States were more concerned about pressing issues that were happening in their own country at the time, such as racial and social injustices, and the slowly declining economy. The Vietnam War affected the U.S. society, and it gave rise to a new wave of thinking. People were peacefully protesting for freedom, love, and peace. This wave of empowerment by the people and for the people led to some critical turning points in our countries history, although not without times of conflict. Today, some of these positive values linger in United States society today. I think, that this song makes a good point. Yet, it’s a hard point to make. People were protesting here in the United States because they didn’t understand why we were in Vietnam, and then there were men in Vietnam bravely fighting for our country and risking their lives everyday. Whether this particular message is agreeable or not, I think that expressing a strong feeling such as this loss of 4 individuals through music is absolutely agreeable.