The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
The soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio
Gotta get downto 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 haear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio
Gotta get downto 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 haear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
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This is about the events of May 4, 1970, when the US National Guard shot 4 unarmed students at Kent State University in Ohio. Neil Young wrote this shortly after seeing a news report on the tragedy. It was released 10 days after the shootings.
songfacts.com/songimage.lasso
Check out this picture
The lyrics say it all. It is what you read.
Should be "tin soldiers"
This song means a lot to me. The shooting at Kent State is something that should've never happened and one of the most important days in American history. Sometimes I think this is a better protest song than Blowin in the Wind or For What It's Worth. It shows that the government wasn't only fighting a war in Vietnam, they were also fighting against the counter-culture in America.
The line "shoulda been done a long time ago" is a direct quote from then President Nixon when asked about the National Guard opening fire on campus protester! It was a much scarier time in America than most people will ever realize! Nixon had been wanting to find ways to KILL kids on campus protesting HIS war!
A protest song of Kent State back in the early 1970s.
In addition to the protest it's about the four students who were killed when the national guard opened fire on unarmed students demonstrating against Vietnam!
Great lyrics, good tune
The lyrics say it all. It is what you read.