" Ohio " is a protest song and counterculture anthem written and composed by Neil Young in reaction to the Kent State shootings of May 4 , 1970 , and performed by Crosby , Stills , Nash & Young . It was released as a single , backed with Stephen Stills 's " Find the Cost of Freedom " , peaking at number 14 on the US '' Billboard '' Hot 100 and number 16 in Canada . Although a live version of " Ohio " was included on the group 's 1971 double album '' 4 Way Street , '' the studio versions of both songs did not appear on an LP until the group 's compilation '' So Far '' was released in 1974 . The song also appeared on the Neil Young compilation albums '' Decade , '' released in 1977 , and '' Greatest Hits '' , released in 2004
Kent State shootings
Kent State shootings
Ohio (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song)