"Ohio" - Neil Young Lyrics Analysis

"It's still hard to believe I had to write this song. It's ironic that I capitalized on the death of these American students. Probably the most important lesson ever learned at an American place of learning.

David Crosby cried after this take."

from liner notes of the Decade album

photo by John Filo

Neil Young News


The Truth About The Kent State Massacre

Play and listen to a MP3 sample clip of "Ohio" (studio version)
"Ohio" lyrics by Neil Young
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Analysis of the lyrics of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young song "Ohio"

[Note: This is one of a series of articles which provide an explanation of the meaning of Neil Young's song "Ohio". While the interpretation of lyrics presented here is composed of several viewpoints, there is little consensus on the exact meaning of Neil's songs. The themes and symbolism of Young's songwriting provide a rich tapestry on which to project various meanings and analysis. ]

Immediately after the Kent State shooting (sometimes referred to as the "Kent State Massacre") on May 4, 1970, Neil Young composed the song "Ohio" after looking at photos appearing in Life magazine and then taking a walk in the woods. Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young went to the studio and recorded the song which was released to radio stations shortly after the killings. Soon, the lyrics "Four dead in Ohio" became an anthem to a generation. In some parts of the country, the song was banned from playlists because of it's "anti-war" and "anti-Nixon" sentiments.

The Four Dead in Ohio



"What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground?"

Excerpted from the article "An Analysis of Music and Lyrics in Relation to American Culture in the 1960s" on Epinions by Andrew Lasho. Lasho interprets the meaning of the lyrics to Neil Young's song "Ohio" and offers an analysis of the song's historical importance:

"When the United States began involvement in the conflict in Vietnam, the response was uproarious and rampant. Many young Americans despised the idea that their country was involved in an armed conflict that in no part was their own fault, and did not even directly effect them. They believed that the United States had no real business in Vietnam.

One of the most outspoken songwriters of this era and calling was Neil Young. Whether it was with Buffalo Springfield or with his other group, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, Neil Young expressed his opinion at every opportunity that presented itself. In his song Ohio, he expresses both his opinions about the war, and about a specific event that took place on the campus of Kent State University in Ohio.



"Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio."
("Ohio" lyrics by Neil Young)

On May 4, 1970, a student demonstration at Kent State, Ohio left four students dead, one paralyzed, and eight others wounded. This demonstration, meant to be one of many peaceful demonstrations against the war, was ended abruptly and violently when the National Guard fired into the crowd for 13 seconds. The brief shootings ended the lives of students Jeffrey Miller, Allison Krause, William Schroeder, and Sandra Scheuer. The distances ranged from 270 feet to 390 feet. Some of these students were not even directly involved. Justified or not by self-defense, the "massacre" sparked a nationwide student strike that closed many colleges and universities.

The line, "We're finally on our own" describes the feeling of freedom and independence in college, and the line "Four dead in Ohio" refers to the four slain students at Kent State. The "Tin soldiers" are the National Guard, and many people, including Young, felt that it was President Richard Nixon's fault.



"Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago."




The "Tin Soldiers" in Ohio "Cutting them down" at Kent State University
The Day America Killed It's Children

Play and listen to a MP3 sample clip of "Ohio" (studio version) or live in concert. (note*)

When asked about releasing the song "Ohio", Graham Nash responded:

"Four young men and women had their lives taken from them while lawfully protesting this outrageous government action. We are going back to keep awareness alive in the minds of all students, not only in America, but worldwide…to be vigilant and ready to stand and be counted… and to make sure that the powers of the politicians do not take precedent over the right of lawful protest."


James Allen Rhodes - Governor of Ohio &
Richard Milhous Nixon - 37th President of the United States

Some believe that a conspiracy covering up the true motivations behind the shootings that involved James Allen Rhodes, Governor of Ohio and President Richard Nixon. (See the book Four Dead in Ohio: Was There a Conspiracy at Kent State by William A. Gordon for more details.)

In 13 Seconds: A Look Back at the Kent State Shootings by Philip Caputo, the author details Richard Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia, the militaristic missives of the ultra-leftist Weathermen, and statements such as high-profile California governor Ronald Reagan's declaration about student protests, given three weeks before the shootings ("If it takes a bloodbath, let's get it over with") as part of the events leading up to that fateful day.

Jimmy McDonough writes in the Neil Young Biography "Shakey" about the song "Ohio": "In ten lines, Young captured the fear, frustration and anger felt by the youth across the country and set it to a lumbering D-modal death march that hammered home the dread."

The events in Ohio seemed to mark the end of the Woodstock nation. From Song Facts:

"Crosby once said that Young calling Nixon's name out in the lyrics was 'the bravest thing I ever heard.' Crosby noted that at the time, it seemed like those who stood up to Nixon, like those at Kent State, were shot. Neil Young did not seemed scared at all."

Author Dorian Lynskey writes in the book 33 Revolutions per Minute: A History of Protest Songs, from Billie Holiday to Green Day:

""Ohio" is perhaps the most powerful topical song ever recorded: moving, memorable, and perfectly timed. But it turned out to signify the end of the era of protest songwriting which had begun with the folk revival rather than a thrilling rebirth."


The front page of the New York Times newspaper (May 5, 1970) with the Pulitzer Award photographic image by John Filo that shocked America

From President's Commission on Student Unrest (Report , 1970, p. 87): "The indiscriminate firing of rifles into a crowd of students and the deaths that followed were unnecessary, unwarranted, and inexcusable."

In the Recording Studio for "Ohio"


"Ohio" single with the United States Bill of Rights
Highlights the right to peacefully assemble

From David Crosby's site, an interview with Bill Halverson, recording engineer for the song "Ohio". Halverson is interviewed by Tony Bittick on remembering the recording studio session:

"BH: Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young probably got there 6:00, something like that, and we set up. Live vocal mics, they had a little drum booth and it wasn't live enough for the guys so we opened the doors to the drum booth so the drums were just sort of in an alcove. And set up their...pretty much their stage amps, and with vocal mics and they fiddled around for a while and I don't recall us doing more than two or three takes of it with live vocal and live harmonies and everybody chiming in. And I was used to recording them all in the room together. We'd done "Almost Cut My Hair that way... we'd done a number of songs...with everybody playing and singing together and they were used to me doing it and I was used to doing it that way.

The mood was just very intense. I mean when they come into a room... I've been around those personalities for a long time, and the four of them take over a room. They are four distinct personalities and any one of the four is quite overpowering and together they're just a joy to be with. It's just a hoot to see them interact. And they were bent on getting it right and were on a mission.

["Ohio" was recorded at The Record Plant] ... on an old Quad-Eight console, an eight-track console that was modified where you could probably do 16 at one time without using... with just direct patches. We had a rented 3M machine from Heiders, probably a 79, 24-track.

[Using some of Wally Heiders equipment] ... yeah just because I really liked his machines and rented them all the time to bring over there. And he had enough extras where he did have a good rental business. Amp mics...I've always used Shure 57s... it was back in the days when I still used SM-57s on the snare and on toms and on snare and on high hats. I had a couple of Noymans on the overheads... it was after I discovered the D12 for kicks so probably the D12 on kicks... and vocal mics... I probably had some Shures just because the amps were in the room and I needed more separation. So I probably wasn't using Neumans on the vocals just because it was loud and everybody was in the room together.

TB: And all four musicians stayed in the room and helped mix?

BH: Oh yeah we all got in there and pretty much just mixed it together. Everybody has their input and there's no referees and it's just... you get on with it.

TB: The story that David has written and that I've heard is that he saw the picture in Life magazine and pretty much gave it to Neil Young as something kind of a challenge or a spur to write something and he did. Is that the story that you're familiar with?

BH: I've heard that story and I've read that story and all I know is he came in with the song and they had rehearsed it. I love the way the B-side got to be. And the B-side is "Find the Cost of Freedom". While they were listening to the mix and finishing up the mix they said "we don't have a B-side, we need a B-side for this."

So they had been rehearsing also "Find the Cost of Freedom" because they did that at the close of the show. So I went out and set up four chairs so they'd be knee to knee sitting facing each other and set up four vocal mics and a guitar mic for Stephen because he was gonna play guitar. Once I was set up they went out there and sat knee to knee with the four vocal mics and Stephen started playing guitar and then they started singing and sang it through. And before they could come in I rewound the tape, put it on another five tracks, and rolled it again, and they heard the guitar so they knew what was going on and waited for the vocal to come in and Stephen played along with himself, a little on guitar, played the little fills and stuff...

In fifteen minutes we had "Find the Cost of Freedom".

We air freighted tapes to New York and I also know, well I don't know, as I recall we had some acetates cut in LA and Atlantic in LA got it on the radio there and as fast as they could they got it mastered and pressed in New York.

TB: Do you recall hearing it on the radio for the first time.

BH: No. I do recall that AM wouldn't play it and it was very controversial that AM wouldn't play it and FM, the underground, all the FM stations started playing it... and it got up in the 30s or so just with FM play and at that point FM was pretty underground and AM was the deal. But they tried to ban it."

Play and listen to a MP3 sample clip of "Ohio" (studio version) or live in concert. (note*)


The Life Magazine (May 15, 1970) issue which inspired Neil Young to write the song "Ohio"

The Anniversaries of Kent State

CSN performed at Kent State University on May 4, 1997 during the 27th annual commemoration of the 1970 shootings. The group played at the end of the commemoration ceremony, held in honor of the 4 dead in Ohio and the 13 wounded:

"Crosby, Stills and Nash played an intricate role in the history of May 4," said Steve Skovensky, a senior family studies major and co-chair of the May 4 Task Force. "Their music is woven into the fabric of the people, the feelings and the pictures of May 4. This commemoration is important to them, and their being here will help serve the purpose of remembering and educating," said Michael Lee, professor of physics and May 4 Task Force adviser.

More recently, from NCTimes.net, former basketball star and broadcaster Bill Walton, who participated in antiwar demonstrations while an All-American at UCLA, believes the Kent State tragedy should stay fresh.

"'It definitely should not be forgotten,'' said Walton. 'This is one of the bleakest moments in our country's history. It was a terrible, terrible thing, and you need to keep that story alive so it never happens again. "






Photo by Norma J. Marr



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Comment on "Ohio"

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More commentary on Kent State shootings

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Excerpted from the article "An Analysis of Music and Lyrics in Relation to American Culture in the 1960s" on Epinions by Andrew Lasho. Lasho interprets the meaning of the lyrics to "For What It's Worth" by Stephen Stills of The Buffalo Springfield:

"Neil Young's other anti-war anthem came with his group Buffalo Springfield. 'For What It's Worth' co-written by Stephen Stills in 1966 has become one of the most acclaimed anti-war songs of the 1960s. The lines "Paranoia strikes deep / Into your life it will creep / It starts when you're always afraid / You step out of line, the man come and take you away" speak of the control that the government had over the people of the United States, and how those people were feeling at the time. The chorus, "I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound / Everybody look what's going down" speaks to the listeners and tells them to evaluate the war effort in Vietnam, and how futile it is."

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Links on Kent State Massacre

• Play and listen to a MP3 sample clip of "Ohio" (studio version) or live in concert. (note*)

• Read reviews and excerpts from the book Four Dead in Ohio: Was There a Conspiracy at Kent State by William A. Gordon

• Read reviews and excerpts from the book 13 Seconds: A Look Back at the Kent State Shootings by Philip Caputo

• PATTI SMITH covers 'Ohio' on the 34th anniversary, May 4, 2004, during a performance at Brooklyn, New York's Warsaw Club.

• More on the song "Ohio" performed by David Crosby and Neil Young at a Benefit For the Arts Outreach at the Valley Music Festival in Santa Ynez, CA on September 28, 2003.

• Photography and War: Digital History

• Also see Tell Us The Truth Tour concert review of REM's Mike Mills, Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, and Tom Morella covering 'Ohio' on November 25, 2003. Listen to a sample clip of The Live Concert Recording of Billy Bragg performing "Ohio"

• More on Bob Dylan's song "Blowin In The Wind".

• See lyrics analysis of John Lennon's song "Imagine".

• Also, see Music and the 60's, Is Protest Music Dead?, Protest Songs and Protest Songs Listing.

• Also, see Isley Brothers cover "Ohio" on the Isleys’ 1971 Givin’ It Back, done as a nine-minute medley with Hendrix’s “Machine Gun.”
  "At the time the Isleys were criticized for deviating from the original opening line, “Tin soldiers and Nixon’s coming,” instead singing “Tin soldiers with guns they’re coming.” It’s not clear why they changed it.

  Perhaps they wanted to make the song more timeless? Even without the image of Dick Nixon, the Isley version of “Ohio” is a bone chiller. While Neil Young captured the rage and anger in the original, the Isleys captured the fear of watching a government violently turn against its own people."

• Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Times - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Ohio"

• VH-1's Student and Teacher Site

• Ohio link Lousinia State Unversity Law School: National Security Law - Spring 2009 Course Material

• Lower Moreland High School | AMERICAN HISTORY Course Material:Neil Young "Ohio" Lyrics Analysis --- Kent State University Massacre {Recommended by Kevin C. and Sarah C.}

• VH-1's "25 Greatest Protest Songs Countdown" and Study Guide for Students.

• Read excerpts of From Camelot to Kent State: The Sixties Experience in the Words of Those Who Lived it by Joan Morrison, Robert K. Morrison

• Anti-War Music

• Kent State Memories - Wounded Student Alan Canfora

• Kent State, May 4, 1970: America Kills Its Children

• Peace Music: Where Have All The Hippies Gone?

• Kent State University May 4 Special Collections & Archives Home Page

• Kent State: The day America murdered it's children

• This summer I hear the drumming, Four dead in Ohio

• May 4 Archive and Best Kent State 1970 LINKS.

• Vietnam War Internet Links - Wellesley College

• Using Folk and Protest Music to Understand American History, 1963-1973

• The State of Today's Protest Music or Why Neil Young Is Wrong by Stephan Smith-Said

• Songs of Protest - "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" by Kingston Trio, "I Ain't Marching Anymore" by Phil Ochs, more

• In Country: Folk Songs Of Americans In The Vietnam War

• Protest: Songs of Struggle and Resistance from Around the World

• Protest: American Protest Songs 1928-1953

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  Play and listen to a MP3 sample clip of "Ohio" (studio version) or live in concert. (note*)

  "Ohio" lyrics by Neil Young

  More commentary on Kent State shootings

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