Literary Elements, And Historical Impact Of The Song Ohio By Neil Young

This paper discusses the importance, literary elements, and historical impact of the song “Ohio” written by Neil Young and recorded by the rock group Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. The song responds to the May 4, 1970, Kent State massacre, the killing of four students in a protest rally against President Nixon. The paper also goes on to discuss the song’s logos, pathos, and ethos appeals, as well as the message conveyed by the lyrics and accompanying instrumentation. “Ohio” is deemed one of the greatest anti-war protest songs and not only does it protest the war but exemplifies the horrifying deaths of four students who were only exercising their rights of the United States Constitution.
Keywords: Kent State, Neil Young, Ohio, protest, anti-war

The protest anthem “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Introduction
Within ten days of the May 4, 1970 Kent State massacre Neil Young composed a powerful song: "Ohio." He wrote this song in response to seeing disturbing photos appearing in Life Magazine. This song is one of rock's greatest protest songs ever written. The single from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY) rocked the country, and especially the state of Ohio. The foursome gathered at The Record Plant studio in Los Angeles, California on May 21, 1970 following this unbelievable event to record "Ohio."
Historical Background
At ten o’clock that Monday morning, National Guard General Robert Canterbury met with President White and other University officials to discuss the situation (Gordan, 1990, p.

26-30). At eleven thirty General Canterbury arrived on the Commons, saw the crowd forming, and ordered Lieutenant Colonel Charles Fassinger to have the Guardsmen break up the rally. Shortly before noon, the students were still peaceful, and there was little activity at the rally. At approximately 11:55 a.m. a Kent State patrolman, escorted by three Guardsmen, was driven around the Commons to announce through a bullhorn that the assembly was unlawful, and ordered the students to disperse. The announcement enraged the crowd and students began to throw rocks at the announcer. For several minutes the Guardsmen fired tear gas into the crowd. The rock throwing and cursing contunued. At 12:24 p.m. the troops suddenly turned about-face, lifted their rigles to their shoulders, and opened fire into the crowd of students (Gordan, 1990, p.

26-30).
As suddenly as it had began, the shooting stopped. In the silence, Sandy Scheuer lay with a bullet through her windpipe (Whitney, 1975, p. 24-28). Jeff Miller was watching in disbelief when a fatal bullet struck him in the mouth. Allison Krause had retreated to the parking lot when she was struck in her shoulder and stopped in her chest. Bill Schoreder, a ROTC cadet, was furthest away when he was fatlly struck in the chest. President Nixon deplored the killings, but refused to comment on suffestions linking the violence to the Cambodian intrusion (Whitney, 1975, p. 24-28).
Thirteen seconds was all it took to create a memory people would never forget, and in that thirteen seconds four students were dead or dying, and nine others wounded. Although several investigations were held following the May 4, 1970, killings of four students on the campus of Kent State University, none could determine why a contingent of Ohio National Guardsmen suddenly opened fire into a crowd of students protesting President Richard Nixon’s decision to inbade Cambodia (Gordan, 1990, p. 16). A persidential commission concluded that the shootings were “unnecessary, unwarranted, and inexcusable” (Gordan, 1990, p.16).
Aristotle’s Appeals
Logos
The line, “Four dead on Ohio” refers to the four slain students at Kent State University (Rock Hall). It is clear that when Neil Young wrote this line merely days after the massacre he is talking about the students lives who were taken unjustly. When a young man or woman is on their way to college they feel a snse of freedom and are finally on their own. The line, “We’re finally on our own” describes the freedom and independence a person would experience going off to college, such as the students attending Kent State. Neil Young described the National Guard as “Tin soldiers” and went on to say, which many people agreed with Young that it was President Nixon’s fault for this massacre, “and Nixon is coming” (Ohio, youtube.com). There are many photographs, shown in the video, of soldiers lined up with their rifles aimed. Young captured this brilliantly with the line, “Soldiers are cutting us down” (Rock Hall).
Pathos
This is an extremely emotional song displaying the tragic events of that Monday, in May of 1970. Anger and sadness take precedent over any other reaction or feeling. Seven years after the release of “Ohio”, Young wrote:
It’s still hard to blieve I had to write this song. It’s ironic that I capitalized on the death of these American students. Probably the biggest lesson ever learned at an American place of learning. My best CSNY cut. Recorded totally live in Los Angeles. David Crosby cried after this take (“Ohio” analysis).
Losing a loved one, friend, or classmate is sure to bring sadness and anger to follow, and CSNY brought out these feeling with every word and beat.
Ethos
In many, many ways the Kent State shooting were unlawful and wrong. Taking four innocent lives, injuring others, and violating the people’s rights played a major role in the writing and releasing of “Ohio.” When asked about the releasing, 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 (“Ohio”, analysis).
The students of Kent State had every right to protest and the law violated those rights. Young wrote, “how can you run when you know” expressing that the government had screwed up and instead of taking responsibility they are denying and justifying their action (Ohio, youtube.com).
Evaluation
This is a great song chosen solely on the fact that so many students have lost their lives in shootings at a school, be it at a university or elementary school. It is truly sad that the senseless acts of some people have forever traumatized innocent people. “Ohio” is one of the greatest protest songs to ever be written and released. The lyrics show no doubt that Young is openly criticizing President Nixon through this song, and because of the anti-war and anti-Nixon sentiments in the song many radio stations refused to play it. B.P. wrote in his article, When lyrics meant something, “This was a time when to speak against the war or the government or the President was considered a risky thing to do” (B.P., 2012).
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young recorded and released, “Ohio”, in response to the May 4, 1970 slayings of four students protesting the announcement to expand the Vietnam war. The students were attending a rally at the Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.
Literary Elements
Rhyme, rhythm, and repetition are three important techniques that can be used in a variety of writing styles. Young has encorporated the use of all three techniques in the writing of protest song, “Ohio”. Rhyme may shatter the unity or balance of a work, whether it be a song, literature, or poetry, but this song flows easily demonstrating well written, rhyming lyrics. Young used the rhyme element in lines one and three as well as seven and ten. People tend to easily remember rhymes and pick them out. Rhyme can also pave a way for the rhythm technique to be used within a piece of work.
The rhythm of music is a mix of the words and the beat. Rhythm is a necessity of our language and people respond with enthusment when they hear it. The rhyming pattern Young chose paved the way to create a rhythmic song that people enjoyed as well as getting his initial point across.
The third, most powerful, tool to be utilized in the song is repetition. The repetition of the first ten lines not only creates a rhythm, but emphasizes Youngs point of view and provides the urgency of his lyrics. He wrote ten lives then reversed the order in last ten lines. Overall, Young felt that ten lines was sufficient enough to stress his thoughts. They layed a foundation for him to make his point. Young took these three literary elements to produce a song that resonated through the listeners, even years after this tragic event.
Message
In a 1977 interview David Crosby discussed the events that led to the release of the song “Ohio.” He stated:
I think we react just as you do.

When you saw the picture of the girl kneeling over the kid dead on the ground after Kent State, you were horrified, right? You said, how can they shoot somebody’s child for doing what the Constitution says they have the right to do? How can they do that? How can this happen? Well, we feel the same way…(“Ohio”, analysis).
The 1970’s was an era that conveyed peace. It was beautifully written and composed to express that peace should be among countries and within our own country. In the fade towards the end of the song, Crosby can be heard deploring “Four, why? Why did they die?” and “How many more” (Ohio, youtube.com). With the steady vocal level, the song is showing the importance of each line and in the fade showing sympathy towards the victims.
The music behind the lyrics is simple and straight to the point. When “Ohio” was recorded, they used drums and a guitar. The instruments themselves intertwined well with the lyrics, to make sure that neither overpowered each other. The song was recorded in less than five takes. From the beginning, “Ohio”, was not complicated to write or record, but was packed full of important messages and from a standpoint that so many Americans

believed.
Conclusion
The importance of this song will forever be with the people. It questioned the violent force of the government used to kill four innocent young men and women, who were only expressing their beliefs that the government had deemed rightful in the Constitution. The repetition of powerful lyrics stresses the anti-war message of the song. Neil Young, along with Crosby, Stills, and Nash were not afraid to speak out and their song “Ohio” ended up becoming one of the greatest anti-war protest anthems of all time.