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Saturday, November 27, 2004

Michael Moore Directs New Video for "Rockin' In The Free World"

ritfw-moore-ch.jpg

The new video for "Rockin' In The Free World" directed by filmmaker Michael Moore is now posted on the Warner Reprise site, Quicktime , and a .wmv file stream as reported by Baron on BNB.

The video intercuts footage from the film Fahrenheit 9/11 and performance footage of Neil Young and Crazy Horse performing the song on the 2003/4 Greendale tour. Much of the audience footage appears to come from the May 18, 2002 broadcast of the Rockam Ring Festival in Nurburgring Racetrack, Eifel, Germany.

ritfw-moore-bomb.jpg ritfw-moore-lights.jpg

There is a great deal of Iraq war footage edited into the explosive Crazy Horse performances. The montage of explosions and tracer fire at night is quite effective when intercut to Billy's heavy throbbing bass line and the strobing stage lights.

ritfw-moore-thief-cu.jpg ritfw-moore-cheat.jpg

Unfortunately, the video uses the film's song edit and deletes the lines:

"There's a warnin' sign on the road ahead
There's a lot of people sayin' we'd be better off dead
Don't feel like Satan, but I am to them".


Running about 3:10, nearly two minutes of the original 4:59 song on Freedom has been eliminated. More on the song "Rockin' In The Free World" and the original music video.

ritfw-moore-kid.jpg
"There's one more kid that will never go to school
Never get to fall in love, never get to be cool."


ritfw-moore-neil-cu.jpg

Also, see more commentary and reaction to the new video.

Rock the free world & Post a comment below! (Note: Contrary to a poster below, the only comments that have been deleted are those that were obscene and/or spam related. Otherwise, no one's freedom of expression has been impacted whether pro-USA or anti-USA.)


43 Comments:

At 11/28/2004 10:32:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The song is just as fresh and strong as when it came out in the 80's. Keep on Rockin Neil!

 
At 11/28/2004 04:57:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anyone know why they cut the verse about Satan from the video?

 
At 11/29/2004 03:20:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

On the subject of 'Rockin' In The Free World'. Neil played this with everyone, mainly Bruce Springsteen at the recent 'Vote For Change' (Oct 5th 2004) The performance was stunning and for a guy who's 59, when he straps 'Old Black' on he defies his weary body. After watching this, I believe the fire is still burning in Neil Young. Even Bruce Springsteen trades some great licks with Neil. I recommend everyone check this out. He also plays 'All Along The Watch Tower' which is great, but RITFW is incredible.

Hitchhiker

 
At 12/03/2004 09:04:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

 
At 12/19/2004 05:25:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great video featuring 2 live Neil Young performances: Rock In Rio 2001 & Weld 1991
The only thing i didn't like was the very short version of the song.
I hope music channels will broadcast it often
Antonis

 
At 2/17/2005 01:41:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's funny. Neil Young wouldn't be "rockin' in a free world" if it wasn't for all the brave men and women soldiers who have fought to preserve his freedom to rock. The fact is war is sometimes neccessary to preserve our way of life, our right to rock and be free. Oh the irony!
Jim

 
At 3/26/2005 09:29:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neil, Springsteen, Fogarty, etc should just sing! Nobody really cares what they think of Bush or the man in moon. In fact, the more they express their political preferences or biases- the more fans they lose, not gain. Winston Churchill said, "If you are 20 years old and not a liberal, you have no heart. If you are 40 years old and still a liberal you have no brain!" And, Micheal Moore is the biggest, fattest liar ever to masquerade as a movie maker, journalist, or whatever he considers himself. If you believe the crap in Bowling for Columbine or 911 please post your contact info, I'll make you a great deal on a bridge I own in Brooklyn. Just sing, Neil!!!!!!!

 
At 5/17/2005 11:17:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm gonna have to go ahead and say that the men and women fighting in Iraq (and around the world for that matter) have little to do with this song. As a matter of fact, the true irony is that it's these very soldiers as well as a slew of "free" Iraqi people (they aren't all insurgents, you know) who have to bear the brunt of our admintration's continued denial of it's faulty and egocentrical decision-making. It is very true that war is necessary, but this is not one of those cases. There is no doubt that Sadaam Hussein was a tyrant and a murderer, but his disposition was not the reason that we first invaded Iraq (though it quickly became the "initiative"), and his removal has had no effect on our freedom or way of life. If you get right down to it, our preemptive strike proved to be a failure in its original goal, which was to prevent the transfer of WMDs. As far as Michael Moore is concerned, I feel that he did mislead us somewhat with the way he presented "911", but he couldn't make up the footage. Maybe we had better think about what is really happening in and around this country instead of floating around buzzwords like "freedom" and "democracy". And wouldn't you know, our gas prices are still up. The version of RITFW that was played in "911" is the studio version reordered (and sped up--I hear it at about a half step higher). The backup vocals on that track are done entirely by Neil (who consequently has a very high voice) via overdubs. They probably were more noticeable in the theatre because of the surround system that they use. And one more thing, I highly suspect that Neil couldn't care less what we think about his songs, but, for the record, I think it is one of his very best.
Andy

 
At 8/03/2005 05:18:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love this Song, iM going to cover it for sure

 
At 8/03/2005 05:19:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

ye si will cover it
Damien Davis

 
At 10/03/2005 08:08:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love how Michael Moore re-edits the song to make it seem like Neil Young is actually protesting government, when in fact it was celebrating PRO DEMOCRACY protests in CHINA. The ultimate irony would be if this was deleted like the other pro-USA comments made.

 
At 10/05/2005 09:49:00 AM, Blogger thrasher said...

Contrary to post 10/03/2005 08:08:07 PM, the only comments that have been deleted are those that were obscene and/or spam related. Otherwise, no one's freedom of expression has been impacted whether pro-USA or anti-USA.

 
At 10/28/2005 10:09:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why cant Canada invade the US and make some sense of this sorry excuse of a country. Neil would rule as president. freedom fries...that kinda says it all doesnt it.

 
At 11/16/2005 05:58:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"There's one more kid that will never go to school
Never get to fall in love, never get to be cool."

WOW. Yeah, that's really what the song was talking about, that picture describes it all, let me just say that before that verse in the song, it was talking about a mother who killed her baby and dumped him in a trash can.

I'd also like to post this link:
http://www.zipperfish.com/free/yaafm9-pop.html

 
At 12/30/2005 03:27:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

My hat is off to you Andy 5/12/05. Truly, many of the wars that this country has been in had nothing to do with protecting our freedoms. Really does one really think that Vietnam, Korea, Irag and many other wars had anything to do with our rights to be able to “Rock in a Free World”. I would have to disagree with the fact that people don’t care about Neil’s politic views. Those that grew up in the 60s now all to well that many song were written for politic views and that people were drawn to the message of the song. This is the different between the X-generation and those of use that are part of the Baby Boomers; we were not always about image. As for Michael Moore, I can not see any evidence that shows the move he made was a big lie. If this was the case, he would have been charged with slander. Hay I found it to be very true in the film9/11 that yes, the military does exploit the lower social class of the country. What is disturbing is that these young naive kinds are led to believe is something that is faults and die all for some-ones personal agenda like our current president that I choose to call the Anti-Chris. This song was written many years before the films like 9/11 and the content in the manner it was written fits the fill very well. Way to go Michele Moore and keep Rocking Neil

 
At 3/01/2006 08:29:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Only Thing Missing In The Video Is The Planes Crashing Into The World Trade Center

 
At 4/04/2006 01:28:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous of 3/26/2005, I just have to point out that the quote you mangle is from Denis Healey, Prime Minister 1974-79, and went more like "Anyone who is not a communist at 18 has no heart; but anyone who is still a communist at 30 has no brain."

Personally, I think politics through music is vital. It can spread a message to those who might not ordinarily hear it, and it can keep moral going. Think of the songs of the French Resistance in WW2, the Red Flag, the songs of union activists throught the years, the anti-Vietnam chants et cetera. True, a lot of today's protest songs seem less powerful than those of the past, but that is probably because we are more cynical now about the effect of public opinion.

F911 was a simplistic and politically polarised film, but then most viewers from outside the US accept that it had to be, as that is the nature of US politics. For those in countries with a more free press, nothing in F911 was a suprise, or even that controversial, as we had heard it all before.

It is scary to imagine a Government you trust is possible of atrocities, but time and again it has been proven beyond doubt: My Lai Massacre, Ludlow Massacre, Cambodia, East Timor, Iran-Contra, September 11th 1973, Somalia, Haiti, and currently Iraq.

As for something Winston Churchill did say, when deciding on how to treat the rebellious Kurds in the new Iraq cut up by our imperialism, he thought that bombing them using poisonous gasses would "liven them up".

 
At 4/14/2006 08:07:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love Neil and have for decades but he is off his rocker. Ripping out lyrics that don't jive politically with a self-promoting filmmaker is dead wrong. Where is the art here?

I love Neil, but I get a sick feeling in my stomach to see him destroying his art to satisfy his beliefs (for the moment, I might add).

 
At 4/14/2006 08:12:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, and to kronel12 , hahaha...don't forget Neil's lyric:

"take my advice, don't listen to me."

 
At 6/14/2006 01:57:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neil Young ROCKS! All Hail Neil!

Michael Moore is a Fat, Hideous, Ignorant, Douche Bag!! or as I call him, "King of the Douche". I'd love to see him brutally tortured, raped-no, he'd like that,- tortured, beaten, and fed his own cock and balls,-oops, I mean,-fed his own vagina, then have his naked, mutilated body dragged around Texas by Bush's Secret Service. THAT would be a great video.
VIVA AMERICA! VIVA FREEDOM!

 
At 7/14/2006 01:45:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

In reference to 6/14/06, it scares me to think that individuals like this have the right to vote. Truly you lack the ability to express your self in a somewhat intelligible manner. It is not what you wrote but in the manner you wrote it. I am not the first to say that Moore is a fat unattractive person and he does go to extreme left to make a statement and does not practice what he preaches. Moore also goes a bit too far to embellish the truth. What I will say and agree with anonymous 12/30/05, the military does exploit the young lower income class of this country. The film F9/11 does talk of truths and individuals options (Not necessarily a representation of actual overall truth). The situation in Oregon is truthful. I live out here and this has been a problem for some time. What does this have to do with terrorism, nothing. Here M.Moore tactic was to draw people into something that had nothing to do with the issue or in this case topic at hand. Never the lease, it is a true statement. There are those in the military that have very strong opious about the situation in Irag. Does this mean that the solder in the film F9/11 is speaking for every solder that is over in Irag, no of course not. Up to this point M. Moore has not lied about anything. Moore is just pointing out some things that go against what others don’t believe in. What is also bothering some is that a lot of people in this country are divided by Democrats and Republicans. It is like you are either for Bush or you are against him. I say, it shouldn’t matter what party a President, congressman, senator, governor, ect. are representing, we should vote for the person that is best suited for the position and forget about the party they are affiliated with. Moore is truly against the American involvement in Irag and so am I. I really don’t understand why American blood is being spilled on Irag soil. This is not about WMD, or terrorism. I do know that there is a buck to be made over there by privet companies and how can any one say that this is not true. If this wasn’t true, then why are people going over making the statement that they couldn’t pass up the money that they could make over there only to return home minus a head. This to was pointed out in the film, and how is this a lie? The way I look at this, when C. Columbus said the world was round; people called him a liar, when he provide it was round, people still didn’t believe him. Why is this, it’s because it becomes a threat to ones own belief. I am not a fan of Moore’s, and he does make him self out look like an idiot. But I did appreciate some of the things he brought out in his film. As for the song by N. Young, well it was a song that drew some people into the film and it work. Just look at our commercial he have on TV. One commercial that sticks out with me is the Beck beer commercial with the song that talks out “Don’t you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me”. This makes me wants me to go out and by a beer and hope that my wife will get freaky on me. I wish some one could really tell me what lies did Moore present in this film, and why are we over in Irag if it isn’t about WMD or Terrorism. Need we forget, this country was already falling apart and it was just a matter of time before they would have gone into a civil-war. If it was about humanity, well then we should have gone into South Africa. It is also very bothering some that so many people are for this so called war in Irag, yet these very same people refuse to join the Arm Services and are unwilling to spill their own blood. I have nothing to quote here but I do tip my hat to 4/04/06 and thank you for correcting 3/26/05. I figure if I can not come up with my own quote, why use some one else’s.

Back to anonymous 6/14/06, I hope that you can get pass your uneducated, barefoot, hillbilly mentality. If you want to engage in an intellectual discussion, then you need to bring up some fact and present yourself in a manner that represents some form of intelligence.

 
At 8/18/2006 07:56:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

i just know that if you listen to rockin in the free world and you are not moved, your heart's not beating. I play it to my kids and we all sing along the chorus....fuck the t.v.....play music and dig life.

 
At 9/28/2006 03:41:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It should be obvious to any learned person that Michael Moore is a proficient propagandist. He has had much time to develop these techniques stemming all the way back to his association with Mother Jones magazine which was highly subversive propaganda most of which decried success through commerce. The fact that Townshend chooses not to deal with Moore brings me great relief.

Townshend is very religious. And while I don\'t know it for sure, I would think he would be opposed to anyone using his songs to promote a vision of anti-religion. Moore does this with a vengence. One example is his calling the vast majority of the United States Jesusland in an attempt to discredit the faithful among us.

Moore is also very self serving, ala Jesse Jackson. The guy is worth tens of millions paid to him by ignorant people who don\'t care to research the facts. He is a shakedown artist whose only talent is the ability to produce wonderfully rich propaganda. What better way to bolster his lies than with songs written by other washed up subversives like Young who made their riches bashing \"the establishment\" while the rest of us worked and produced in the environment of the establishment to build our lives and raise our families.

Applause for Townshend and his support for God in a world that is slowly being eaten by terrorists who claim to be religious in the same way that Moore claims to be a journalist.

 
At 10/17/2006 06:01:00 AM, Blogger Brett Lock said...

Townshend is very religious? Perhaps you're getting him confused with Cliff Richard!

 
At 11/17/2006 11:19:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Regardless of your political views (I'm an anti-Bush leftist), anyone should be able to agree that Michael Moore is a real scumbag. I DID like his movies, before it was proven how they are filled with lies. And such lies and propaganda are things everyone should oppose. Example: http://www.hardylaw.net/Truth_About_Bowling.html

 
At 11/17/2006 12:40:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I made a video with "rockin' in a free world" when i was in Montreal :

http://florentpoirier.hautetfort.com/
archive/2006/04/02/
keep-on-rockin-in-a-free-world.html

hope you will like it :)

 
At 1/07/2007 03:12:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This new video verson of RITFW is so great,It conbined 3 different live footages (91,01,03) together, the picture is so powerful and the guitar solo is much better than album verson. Neil is the best guitar player in world.

 
At 6/26/2007 01:00:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The song is about social ills ignored while billions are spent on defense.
"Keep on Rocking..."
Is saying , oh well, life goes on.

The "thousand points of light" was a reference to the network of spy sattelites. This phrase was prominent in several of Bush 41's speeches and many conspiracy theorists saw it as a veiled reference to the mysterious "Illumintati".
(lights = illumination)
The "kinder gentler nation" was a phrase that Bush 41 often used as reference to a "re-defined" post Cold War USA. Congress had downsized the military because the perception was that in the new age of Technology a large force was no longer necessary. (OOPS)
We were being told that we were in a new age of Peace and Prosperity for all. And since we could freely watch our enemies as well as our friends we needn't be concerned with war.

This song IS CLEARLY A JAB AT AMERICAN POLICIES.

The homeless man and the environment are neglected by the wealthiest nation with the largest defense budget in the world.


The second verse makes a reference to an abandoned "crack baby".

Maybe Neil Young should be credited with "THE BABY MOSES LAW".

I LOVE NEIL AND I LOVE CANADA BUT I DON'T APPRECIATE THEM CRITICIZING AMERICA.
AFTER ALL, THEIR NATIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS A HUGE FAILURE.
TAKE NOT ALL YOU LEFTIES.
CAN YOU WAIT 4-6 MONTHC FOR EMERGENCY SURGERY?
AND BY THE WAY MEXICANS AREN'T THE ONLY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS!!
MANY CANADIANS COME HERE ILLEGALLY TOO!!.

 
At 7/06/2007 04:52:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

@ 9/28/06

Some say it's all lies, but I've yet to see anyone point out what exactly those lies are. I don't see any real lies there, a majority looks to be true, even if it is done in an 'a**hole-ish' way. If he's against religion, that would only be ignorant. Kind of like the religions that are against everything else. Sad that you think of people like Young, who's messages try to get people to see flaws and stand up to fix them and strengthen the nation, as establishment bashers, destroyers of freedom, anti-whatever. What this country was founded on is circling the drain and it's not Young pulling the strings.

As for your claim "a world that is slowly being eaten by terrorists who claim to be religious" - I can only assume that your head is buried deep within your ass and your only knowledge of these 'terrorists' are based on what you've seen in the media. They are religious with different beliefs. It wasn't too long ago Christianity shared some of them i.e. how they treated their women. You might be shocked at what they followed back then and what some still follow. Terrorists. The government and troops were over there bombing, killing, instigating, and helping to pit them against eachother way before, up until, and after 9/11, which happened to provide a great opportunity to go all in.

 
At 10/20/2007 12:45:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neil ...For Sale or Trade?? Tickets, Guitar Etc... "1972" Was a cool year... You need a new Car for your Web Site! A 1972 Cadillac Eldorado 2 Door. Like New! It will be like a new guitar to you and the fans!

 
At 12/11/2007 12:26:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Apropos of:

In the post 9/11 world, the lyrics take on a sinister new meaning:

'There's a lot of people sayin' we'd be better off dead.
Don't feel like Satan but I am to them.'


It is very hard to listen to these words today and think about what they mean to people of various religious beliefs. How could Neil have possibly known the prophetic power which these lyrics hold today?


Specifically, with regards to the 'Satan' part, Neil wasn't being prophetic, at least not intentionally I think, so much as reflecting upon the Iranian mantra: 'America, the Great Satan'. This phrase featured prominently in Iranian rhetoric all through the 80's (that and 'Death to America')--less so now.

 
At 1/15/2008 08:59:00 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

I love Neil Young. I have since 1970 or 71 when I first heard him sing and listened to his lyrics. His albums have somehow told the story of my life and helped me through many happy and troubled times. He sings from his heart and speaks his mind. There is nothing wrong with that. I love his acoustic work and his piano work, but his electric guitar really rocks. Southern Man, Like a Hurricane, Rockin in the Free World and many others. Cowgirl in the Sand continues to be one of my favorites. The first time I listened to the lyrics of Powderfinger - It sent a chill up and down my spine and what can you say about After the Goldrush?

But Michael Moore is a con artist who stretches distorts the facts and lies to make anti-American points. Why Neil would align himself with a socialist like Moore is beyond me. Socialism does not work. Government programs do not work. Government health care will not provide better service it will just cost more and we will wait longer. Look at the way Emergency Rooms are today and every Doctors office and Hospital will be the exact same way except they will all cost more because you will have another layer of bureacracy. There is no incentive for the government to do a good job. If they fail they raise taxes.

Michael Moore will not suffer because he is rich and will buy his own Doctor. The middle class will suffer.

But I still love Neil Young.

Neil, just open your eyes to the evil of the socialistic propaganda and lies of Michael Moore, Hilary Clinton and the rest of the politicians that buy votes with our tax money.

If all the rich movie stars and rock stars and athletes want to give their money to pay for health care for the poor - go ahead and do it. Just stop forcing the middle class to bear all the burden.

 
At 6/12/2008 10:13:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

the song is amazing. the analysis has obviously been written by a USA average intelligence citizen (if that is till to be adressed with the term "intelligent") who has absolutely no idea about what happens in his own country. Here and there the dear editor even manages to state things being the exact opposite of what every clear minded man is urged to think. nice song, catastrophic analysis.

 
At 6/19/2008 12:55:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Some notes:

Hurling insults is one facet of the crap that Neil's lyrics tend to comment on and lament;

Neil expressed support for Ronald Reagan at least early in his presidency. I was a huge Neil fan at the time and was shaken by this. I re-examined some lyrics for clues and with "Comin' Apart at Every Nail" and "Union Man" from the Hawks and Doves album, I got a sense of what a Reagan Democrat as they were to be called was feeling.

By the time "Rockin In The Free World" (RFW) was released, the shortcomings of the Reagan revolution were vividly apparent. Personally, I think he gave too free a rein to the Cabinet and the rest of the party apparatchiks with various results similar to those of the current day.

"A Thousand Points of Light" was George Bush the Elder's phrase for the many non-governmental programs and efforts to help the poor, the addicted, the undereducated. He was running to the center after trashing the honorable Bob Dole. The phrase "Thousand points of light for the homeless man" is CLEARLY a sarcastic jab at the threadbare nature of that safety net, the empty promises for the man who continues to be homeless.

A kinder, gentler American conservatism (Compassionate Conservatism) was what Bush was running on, and after the invasion of Panama with Operation Just Cause (Just CAUSE we FEEL like it according to Charlie Rangle), after the revelations of our complicity in death squads in Central America and the arms for hostages, I believe the American Executive branch of government was summed up as a "machine gun hand" again with the "kinder gentler" sarcastic jab. To use another quote, "Out of the blue and into the black. You pay for this but they give you that"

The verse about the woman in the night is simply a vignette of a crack addicted mother. She puts the kid away and she's going to get a hit,,,, damn straight she OUGHT to hate her life and what she's done to it. But then comes the "man of the people says keep hope alive, we got fuel to burn,,,"

I don't see Rev. Jackson there. I see Bush using Jacksonian packaging as a feel-good mantra for our consumer culture as we rattle on forward.

My band played that song every show for the closer or encore for some years too. GENERALLY, one can figure out what Neil is talking about if he wants you to, and if he DOESN'T want you to, then what's the point in trying?

 
At 6/27/2008 08:29:00 AM, Blogger frankquart said...

Why You say "The lyrics are a direct reference to President George Bush's (#41) campaign pledge" if the song's written in seventees???

Frank

 
At 3/11/2009 05:02:00 PM, Blogger Shakey719 said...

Hey, Thrasher! I'm using your Rockin' in the Free World article for a paper on the American Dream. Thanks! More barn!

 
At 4/14/2009 12:14:00 AM, Anonymous gill bates said...

I thought of it as a call to rise up and speak the truth to the people who have turned off to reality. It reminded me of ohio and how people cared about exposing the lies the government was espousing. Freedom raised in me the hope that musicians would inspire, through their works, the thoughtful people to hit the streets gaining the attention of the sleepers. Ha. If bush 2 had been around in 68 he and his cronies would have been in jail. Now the lazies let them walk...

 
At 6/02/2009 07:36:00 AM, Anonymous dr dip said...

Sometimes the truth hurts.
This anthemic song of Neil's,whilst cutting to the truthful bone, will always elevate controversy in its interpretation...just enjoy the song for "what its worth"...a really adddictive "punk" rock song
that will be as ageless as 'stairway to heaven' or that parochial springsteen hit 'born in the USA'

 
At 10/04/2009 03:42:00 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

'There are colours on the street
Red, white and blue
People shufflin' their feet
People sleepin' in their shoes
But there's a warnin' sign on the road ahead
There's a lot of people sayin' we'd be better off dead
That's one more kid that will never go to school
Never get to fall in love never get to be cool

 
At 8/16/2010 03:26:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very honestly? This is a good song. But it's NOT a great one.
There's only three stanzas; the meaning of each, frankly, is obvious and doesn't beg for much "interpretation."
There's poor people in America; that could be considered a warning sign that we're in trouble. Some people disagree vehemently with his politics so he drinks and so on to forget. Some poor women don't take care of their babies or forget about them to go take a hit of a drug; he feels that this is because of George Bush's policies. He feels that we're a militaristic society and that we're to materialistic and oil-hungry.
That's it, that's ALL he said. NO solution is proposed.
Good song? Fine.
Great!? An "Anthem?" I honestly don't think so. Keep walkin' - there's not actually to much to see here.

 
At 2/20/2011 05:21:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

My opinion on the idiots who love to listen to, "Rockin' In The Free World by Neil Young" and point;

I remember when the growth of the "Iron Curtain," was the murderous and terrible thing that our
government in the U. S. A. and other governments around the world were ignoring.

I also know that anyone who thinks that you can solve a problem, or motivate the world to solve a
problem, especially an everlasting problem like world hunger, drug addictions, wars and violent
aggressions with a slogan, song, poem, prayer or sermon are nuts and are out of touch with reality.

To take Neil's song for an excuse to point at anyone, person, party, social class, or government
and say shame on you for not fixing, anything, is doing just the very thing that has helped to
perpetuate such problems.

How many of the finger pointers in this great cloud of witnesses have ever taken it upon themselves
to simply walk up to that raggedly dressed young man or young woman who is obviously having trouble
deciding whether to purchase clothing detergent or milk and said, "Here let me help you with that,
and while discretely pressing a few dollars into their hand say, "I just feel that maybe you could
use a helping hand."

And then turn and walk away without waiting to hear a reply.

If you don't, haven't or never do this, you are missing the real meaning of any slogan, song, poem,
prayer or sermon and are nuts and out of touch with reality.

We can blame everything on dead presidents, dictators and politicians in general, puff up our
chests and march in the streets and then try to convince ourselves and our neighbors that we
really got those bad old public officials told off about that issue.

I would love to hear what Neil would have to say about all of the finger pointers.

One thing is for-sure though, the world is full of inspectors pointing out the faults of others,
problem is that we are running out money to pay the inspectors to just sit around and gripe about
people like Ronald Reagan, Michael More, Bill Gates or anyone else that happens to be out there
being made into a target for what is being sung about at any given time.

The answer is, after we have heard the slogan, song, poem, prayer or sermon and are motivated into
an emotion, into touch with reality, we need to get up and do something beside moan at others.

For those who claim that they gave to their church, club, cone-headed, quirky quirky quickie fix
idealogical social crutch there is a few words for the slothful that is best described by the very
book that some hate, some hate to read it... all, some claim it but never read it and some claim it
and read it wrong. It happens everyday, One that I like and that comes from the bible itself is
this from the Book of James the first chapter; James'
1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Another words, see a need, go after it, don't wait until you feel guilty for not doing something.

Doing anything that you really believe that is bad for you? STOP and find something more creative
and helpful to yourself, your family and your neighbors and do it with all your might.

 
At 12/16/2011 01:18:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

WHY did Michael Moore censor the lyrics? WHO was Michael Moore so afraid to offend?

"Don't feel like Satan but I am to them!" ✝☮

 
At 1/29/2012 08:36:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey I'm using your article to help me understand the song and some simbolisms. I'm not from the US and i'm a teacher of english. So it was really helpful. I really got an insight. A lot of info there!! thanx.
I live in the 3rd world, we have worst policies, more homeless people and drugadicts that you can ever imagine... i can relate to the song. Happens everywhere...

 

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