" For What It 's Worth " quickly became a well-known protest song . In 2006 , when interviewed on Tom Kent 's radio show '' Into the '70s '' , Stills pointed out that many people think the song is about the Kent State shootings of 1970 , even though its release predates that event by over three years . Neil Young — Stills ' bandmate in both Buffalo Springfield and Crosby , Stills , Nash & Young ( CSNY ) — would later write " Ohio " in response to the events at Kent State . An all-star version of " For What It 's Worth " with Tom Petty and others , was played at Buffalo Springfield 's induction by Petty to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 ; Young did not attend
Kent State shootings
Kent State shootings
For What It's Worth