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 gone long ago What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground How can you run when you know?
This song too seems relevant. Although focused on the Chicago Eight trial, it's about state violence and protest suppression. Themes that also resonated post-Kent State. We know what's coming next if this doesn't end soon.
I liked this song until I learned none of them went to Chicago.
I don't believe Neil was at Kent state either. Gerry Casale of Devo was a demonstrator on that day in Ohio, and witnessed the killings.
Same with Chrissie Hynde.
TIL - explains a lot!
Young wrote the lyrics to "Ohio" after seeing the photos of the incident in Life Magazine. On the evening that the group entered Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles, the song had already been rehearsed, and the quartet recorded it live in just a few takes. On the radio in only a couple of weeks.
great song
Neil Young was at Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center last night Aug 25 and he sang this very song with his band Chrome Hearts. WOW!
I remember well.
I fear a “4 dead in Ohio” moment is coming soon in the USA with our cities being occupied by the military under the orders of a mad despot.
Yes, this has been much on my mind lately. The Nixon years on steroids.
Banger that is now also a harbinger.
When I grew up listening to this, I thought we had put most of this racist bullshit behind us. Apparently not. Racism is a disease.
Not many even know about Kent State.
That song is just as relevant now as it was back then when he wrote it, maybe even moreso. The tragedy at Kent State was part of Nixon's attempt to suppress protest and dissent but he was the one that had to resign in disgrace, let's hope the same thing happens again before the shooting starts.
Perfect song for the protests. I will be hearing this every time I see him in front of a microphone.
A song about freedom in America or lack thereof seems history is repeating itself
It's the end of that song that gets me, as Neil sings "How many more?" And then simply yells "WHY?!"
It's David Crosby.
Oh.
Wow. History repeats itself
Kent State turned my mom into an activist.
This song has been in my head every day for the last few weeks.
Neil is out on the road playing this song with a lot of fire. He's been opening with "Ambulance Blues" and singing: "I never knew a man who told so many lies, he has a different story for every set of eyes" As true about Trump as it was about Nixon.
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Thanks, wasn’t familiar. Would love to see a playlist of other songs also referencing the same thing.
I was a sophomore on high school. My school had a walk-out and sat down outside for a couple hours to protest this fucking disgrace. Most of the teachers joined us.
I know Neil wrote it, but back in 2017-2018 I asked Crosby why there was no new music with which to help motivate the resistance to the then fascist trump/ pence regime. He said that had tried but couldn't do it. Just couldn't come up with anything that felt right.
Really weird seeing this - tin soldiers and Nixon coming has been an earworm for days now. 😀😀
Back when young people had functioning hearts.
It's one of the great protest songs for (once again) very protest worthy times.
Uniformed Nat Guards, Armed and Patrolling our streets - DO NOT REPRESENT America. They REPRESENT THE ROGUE PRESIDENT ONLY. THEY have forsaken THEIR OATH by what they are doing! They deserve no Respect - for supporting an Unconstitutional Act of Intimidation. Record them for future use in Court!!!
Why can’t anyone write a song like that in this timeline?
I don't know about you, but I'm already wondering what flexibility exists in the melody, arrangement, and lyrics of "Ohio" to allow it to be updated when the inevitable happens.
He’s right here. www.instagram.com/reel/C50x5Y1...
Because wealthy music execs changed the industry decades ago to make sure "protest songs" couldn't become popular hits again. Our American lives and creativity are owned by corporations
We still can despite such efforts. Underground trends have captured the public since forever. Don't be discouraged, take action!
FWIW, I recorded a punk rock version of All you Fascists bound to lose... Not that it competes with Neil Young... youtu.be/dzk2EQpR23U
I remember Kent State. They opened fire on protesters, who were primarily students. We were utterly stunned and terrified. #KentState
But have you heard this? youtu.be/b6PKf8QLaAQ?...
Also, Chrissy Hines of the pretenders had a bullet pass so close to her head that it tussled her hair.
Jerry Casale, the bassist and one of the founders of DEVO knew her and had dated her. He and Allison Krous had dated off and on for most of his time at KSU. DEVO was the way he and fellow KSU student Mark Mothersbaugh decided to "get back" at society.
People who don’t know history are bound to repeat it. Seems like this could be right around the corner
and after they killed those kids on campus, they assassinated the youth presidential candidate (Bobby), then assassinated MLK to drive a wedge between black and white youth, who were getting way too close for the establisment. And that's how they broke the youth/peace movement
We don’t have any song writers standing up for freedom and democracy, why not? We need to hear from everyone who cares!
We do! There are even a bunch on bsky. They're just not necessarily getting radio play.
Any rock or country to recommend?
I can't speak on country music, but if your tastes in rock extend to metal, a couple of groups I'd recommend are Ghost and Tartigrade Inferno. Tartigrade Inferno is Russian but they have the same kind of thing to say about their governance as we have here. They're both fun, if a bit gimmicky.
As for individual performers, keep an eye out for folks on this here website. :)
"Four dead in Ohio Gotta get down to it, soldiers are cutting us down" All of this has happened before and all of this will happen again. Sadly.
I remember the day, i remember the song and i fear it’s gonna happen again. In fact I think that asshole is setting it up to happen. A lot of guard troops are still young kids with guns who don’t know how to deal with “policing”
He is absolutely setting it up to happen again. He thinks it should happen in every US state, and if he gets his hands on us, across Canada as well.
The National Guard were wrong to go after the righteous hippies protesting the Vietnam war, but in this case they are right to go into American cities to clean up lawlessness. If you side with the carjackers, murderers and muggers and crime, you should be bummed.
It’s coming! I would have hoped the National Guard would have learned something from this but apparently not as here we are again. Guess the NG will go another 50 years under a cloud of lies and cowardice.
I would like to think that most of the national gaurd are not happy about this but under threat of court martial they have no choice i think most of them never thought they would be patrolling sts against American citizens its catch 22 for them their mandate us to aid not to police
There is always a choice. And plenty of legal assistance for those making the right one.
Not when that choice bankrupts as the Trump administration has done to many not everyone can afford legal representation Trumps favorite tactic take them to court til they are broke and he is backed by federal money it costs him nothing many contractors lost their businesses this way
This song has been on repeat in my head for weeks. I will never forget what happened.
💯
Since people are already dying in the concentration camps I'd say a few weeks ago.
Crosby Stills Nash and Young The execution of the 4 students peacefully protesting… Shame on the National Guard. Do not shoot your fellow citizens.
This day just broke my heart.
So true!
Fuck yea man
Just saw Neil perform in Toronto. Great show but such a vibe change for Southern Man and Ohio. It was palpable, like all us fun having Canucks were suddenly stone faced and angry singing.
"awesome" so is "Love and War" ty
We need this spirit again.
I did wonder why he didn't play this at Glastonbury. To have a song you wrote over 50 years ago to be still relevant is sad.
I have to say this song has been in my head for a couple of weeks now. It's just a matter of time.
and here we go again let's hope not though...
Yep. That’s the first song I thought of when I heard he was putting military in LA, and DC and Chicago and and… trump has now told them to carry guns. “ four dead in Ohio” signs need to be made and held up in the faces of military that trump has weaponized against civilians
In response to a devastating magazine cover featuring the Kent State shootings, Neil Young wrote the song "Ohio" in about an hour. Just days later, on May 21, 1970, he, Crosby, Stills, and Nash recorded it live in the studio. The single was rushed to the radio and became an iconic symbol of the era.
Looking forward to hearing this at farm aid 2025
