Who's Going To Stand Up and Save The Earth?
Neil Young
2014-07-12, Hyde Park, London, England
Photo Paolo Brillo |Facebook
Earlier this week, we posted on Donald Trump Discusses Neil Young. Yesterday, we tried to tie together in a single post our comprehensive world view. While it didn't turn out quite as well as we would have hoped and became way too ambitious, hopefully it resonated with a few folks.
At this point, we would like to add that the Earth's challenges are not going to be solved politically. Nor will they be resolved with economic, social or military solutions either. We must admit after many years of long hard thinking and discussion is that we have is a spiritual and moral crisis. IOW, corruption on THE HIGHEST FLOOR (and most of the floors below, too).
Which brings us to Neil Young Discusses Donald Trump.
Neil Young On An Inauguration Day Like No Other | Forbes by Steve Baltin:
Neil Young: “I can’t imagine what inauguration day is gonna be like this year, it’s gonna be unlike any other one at any time.”
“Maybe this election thing needs to be looked at again, maybe there’s something wrong with it, maybe there’s something wrong with the candidates, the choices, the availability, the forum that it is, the two-party system, the whole thing. Maybe the whole thing is a little bit off and people are looking at it, that’s why there wasn’t any interest,” he says. “Many people when Bernie went away just went away. They said, ‘He was the only one we liked, the other ones we don’t like and we’re not gonna vote for something we don’t like cause we felt what it was like when we were backing somebody we really believed in.’ So that’s what happened in my view.”
“But it’s all water under the bridge, I think for activism we’re going to be really nourished by what’s going on and people are gonna come together with music and social media and feeling and trying to keep the ideals of the country and do everything they can to preserve that which they believe in, that they’ve believed in their whole life, many of them have fought for,” he says. “I just think it’s not gonna go away slowly, not gonna go away quietly.”
“Art always reflects the times and these times are very intense and I would expect the art to get very intense and I would expect the generation of the youth to get very intense along with the art and the music and the social media,” he said. “The times are going to be shining very brightly for those people to see. And they’re gonna comment on it, they’re gonna have opinions. They’re not gonna go quietly into the night, they outnumber, there are many of them.”
Donald Trump & Neil Young - 2014
In 2008, Donald Trump went to so many Neil Young concerts that Rolling Stone reporter Andy Greene interviewed him about his Neil Young fandom. “[Neil has] performed for me at my casinos over the years and he just brings it down,” Trump said. “I’ve met him on occasions and he’s a terrific guy. … Whatever the hell ‘it’ is, he’s got it.”
Also, see:
- Donald Trump Discusses Neil Young
- Neil Young to Donald Trump: This note is NOT for you!
- Full Statement by Neil Young on Donald Trump's Use of Song "Rockin in the Free World"
- Neil Young Weighs In On US Presidential Election
- "Fuck You, Donald Trump" Says Neil Young Onstage; Posts Video Clip to His Facebook Page
- "Got A Man of The People Says Keep Hope Alive": Neil Young’s "Rockin' In The Free World"
- Bernie Sanders Campaign Video of Neil Young’s Song "Rockin’ In The Free World"
- INTERVIEW: For Neil Young, the Trump Era Feels a Lot Like the '60s | Mother Jones
- Neil Young Discusses His New Album, Trump, Future of Pono | Rolling Stone
- "Rockin' In The Free World" Lyrics Analysis
Once again Neil has hit the nail on the head. He is still engaged in the fight! He commented that the art is going to get intense and I take it to mean that the music is going to reflect the time much like it did in the 60's. but much more than that, it's his call to us to get involved, to stand up to the lunacy that has just happened to Amerika. People, we have a leader who's voice we followed in the past, who's voice helped to end that horrible war in Vietnam, let's follow it again. Let's stop just talking about how things are and protest for what we believe in. Yes, the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls!
ReplyDeleteVariations on "I can't believe I'm still protesting this shit" were seen everywhere yesterday..... http://www.bradblog.com/Images/StillProtestingThisShit.jpg
ReplyDeleteBut every time it rains
ReplyDeleteYou're here in my head
Like the sun coming out
Ooh, I just know that something good is going to happen
And I don't know when
But just saying it could even make it happen
On top of the world
Looking over the edge
You could see them coming
You looked too small
In their big, black car
To be a threat to the men in power
--Kate Bush...Cloudbusting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pllRW9wETzw
"Amerika"?
ReplyDeleteSeriously?
Thanks to the Jefferson Starship.
DeleteIt's a fresh wind that blows against the empire.
'who's voice helped to end that horrible war in Vietnam' ? run that by me please elaborate?
ReplyDeleteIt was the musicians who wrote protest songs that in turn opened up minds that later led protests against the war. Those in turn I believe helped end the war. You must be young, or unable to remember the sixties.
Delete@ Old rocker Dave - thanks for all of the good points made here relative to Neil and music history.
ReplyDeleteOnce again Neil has hit the nail on the head. He is still engaged in the fight! He commented that the art is going to get intense and I take it to mean that the music is going to reflect the time much like it did in the 60's. but much more than that, it's his call to us to get involved, to stand up to the lunacy that has just happened to Amerika. People, we have a leader who's voice we followed in the past, who's voice helped to end that horrible war in Vietnam, let's follow it again. Let's stop just talking about how things are and protest for what we believe in. Yes, the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls!
@ Maheto - yep, likewise, we can't believe we're still blogging this shit still going on over 20 years?! The struggle continues and the dream never dies.
@ Mr Henry - thanks for the lyrics and timely video, as always.
@ Andy - surprised that such a long time Neil fan is so unfamiliar with this? Maybe you missed this because you were too young? But since it appears you did, please review this link for some history and context:
http://www.thrasherswheat.org/fot/ohio.htm
Old Rocker indeed!
ReplyDeleteI can remember but I always though C & N were more politically motivated against the war not Neil - I can't recall a song that was anti-Vietnam war at the time?
ReplyDeleteOhio, for one. Why the condescending tone, brother?
DeleteNot condescending, ok OHIO which was written in the wake of the shocking event at Kent State but when the war was raging 65-75 what Neil song was about Vietnam? I certainly know my early Neil and admittedly much of the last 10 years has passed me by. I'd be interested to hear thanks.
ReplyDeleteKent State ws protesting Nixon saying th War is Over, while sneaking into Cambodia. This Ws less than 2 Weeks B4. 1970. U can't Imagine how it struck Every High School, let alone th Universities. There ws a draft, then, High Schooled cares about. Back then Viet Man Ws th solution to Juvenile delinquency for 17 Yr olds. Ohio ws in th HEART and SOUL of th War. It Still brings tears to My Eyes.
DeleteWar Song
ReplyDeleteFind the Cost of Freedom
What Are Their Names
Wooden Ships
Military Madness
Daylight Again
Now you're testing my Neil Young knowledge - I think only War Song from 1972 was a Neil Young song - my memory is that he never bought into the whole hippie Vietnam debate. Find the Cost Of Freedom was b-side to Ohio (I have the vinyl single). I rest my case Young's songs were never really anti-war unlike Living with War. The others songs were CSN plus Kantner.
ReplyDeleteYep but still
ReplyDeleteOhio
War Song
After the Goldrush
Still a pretty strong trio
Enough history, your missing my point! My comment in the beginning was so we all would come to the realization that we need to protest what is going on. Whatever Neil's stance on the Vietnam war was, the fact is we are still at war. At war with those who don't care about the environment. At war with those who oppose our right to free speech, those who put profit in front of personal freedoms. And yes, those who send our sons and daughters into harms way in under the guise of exporting democracy. I think what Neil was saying was get up, stand up, for your rights!
ReplyDeletePS: Blows Against The Empire by Jefferson Starship is still a relevant album, much like Living With War.
The Constitution gives us the right for "PEACEFUL" protest against our government. In 1966 Frank Zappa wrote the following song about the Watts riots. These words are as relevant now as they were then.
ReplyDeleteRead them carefully....
"Trouble Every Day"
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/frankzappa/troubleeveryday.html
To Old Rocker I was just saying Crosby & Nash were more robust in their anti-war songs at least in those days we had the songs instead of just a slogan on a t-shirt
ReplyDelete@ Andy - "Now you're testing my Neil Young knowledge"
ReplyDeleteThat's what we're here for!
Maybe check that link we post on Ohio again, please? Seriously, a good point on Vietnam, war and protest music.
@ Old rocker Dave - We got your point and thank you. And you're in sync with where NY is coming from we think. Particularly if you take what we know from May 4, 1970 and the aftermath of days....
@ Dan - thanks for link. We'll check it out. We always liked Zappa. The music could always be a bit of a challenge but we definitely liked his spirit & spunk. He was actually truly intellectual when it came to musicians and was a rare breed indeed.
Spoken like a true Canadian.
ReplyDeleteLookout Joe on the '73 tour Neil has said before playing the song this is for the soldiers coming home.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment and your service Steve. I too served in the Army as a forward air controller.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a soldier just been using that handle because it's one of my favorite Neil songs.Thank You for your service.
DeleteHello, all! It's pleasant to see this space remaining active lately. I concur that Neil is pretty much dead on in regard to his thoughts on Trump's inauguration. "Sometimes all these changes make me sad... but I keep planting seeds, 'till something new is growing". My mind continues to be blown by the timeliness of the Peace Trail album. Say what you will about how his songwriting has evolved or changed through the years, but Neil remains a man with his finger on the pulse!
ReplyDeleteThese days, I proudly wear my organic cotton "Peace Trail" cap!
@Andy--It is true that Neil used to be less overt/topical in his songwriting than the Three Musketeers (C, S, and N). He wasn't a protest singer per se, but definitely one with a social and political conscience. Someone pointed out War Song, recorded with Graham Nash, which is a fine and overlooked song. There's also Soldier, from The Journey Through the Past soundtrack, which I believe has anti-war overtones ("Soldier, your eyes/Shine like the sun/I wonder why"). Along with Ohio, there's one other Neil Young song I know of that mentions Nixon by name (not counting "Goodbye Dick", a goofy ditty from the CSN&Y tour that was going on in summer '74). That song is Campaigner, an often-forgotten rarity from Decade. That's the one with the immortal line, "Even Richard Nixon has got soul". Again, it's not an obvious song about the Vietnam War, but it does show a healthy degree of engagement with the political climate at the time. Likewise, After the Goldrush and Here we are in the Years are open to interpretation as early Eco-conscious songs. And there's Southern Man, which can still give me chills as a call for racial justice.
I agree that, at least in those days, Neil was more cryptic about his meanings, with more layers of poetry coating the ideas, but the clues are there if you look for them in a number of songs (Broken Arrow, Revolution Blues). Moreover, his work with C, S, &N makes him a clear part of that movement or moment in political and popular music history.
Trivia: Besides Tricky Dicky, I'm trying to think of either NY songs that mention a current or past president by name. There's "Ronnie and Nancy" in Everybody's Rockin'. Keep on Rockin' in the Free World alludes to the "thousand points of light", but I don't believe George H.W. Bush is mentioned by name. Living with War (2006) was one big "up yours" to the second Bush, but in spite of there being a song called "Let's Impeach the President", I don't believe George W. Bush is ever referred to by name on that album. That song has pointed soundbites from his speeches, but the lyrics never mention any names. The song Lookin' for a Leader, however, does briefly mention Obama... a couple of years before he was elected. I could be wrong, but somehow I don't think Neil will be in any rush to work Trump's name directly into song.
ReplyDeleteThis is off topic but check out this:
http://www.capitalpress.com/Orchards/20170109/first-gmo-apple-slices-to-go-on-sale-in-midwest
Especially if you're in the Midwest right now.
The GMO's aren't falling too far from the trees!
And I thought January 20th was bad enough!
Just in case you're not keeping score:
ReplyDeleteBig Oil 3
Mother Nature 0
We are fucked.
@Ian - good trivia. The point here is that Neil has been calling out Presidents & Leaders by name directly or indirectly for a very long time.
ReplyDelete@Arthur -not too off topic. Big Ag wins again. Can't say we haven't been warned.
@MNOTR - happy New Year Mother. Likewise, can't say Neil didn't warn us back in 70's on Vampire Blues. Big Oil just keeps on sucking blood from mother earth...
Congratulations Americana on your latest expression of democracy , with the voice of the everyday people heard .
ReplyDeleteVery refreshing to see the natural pendulum of common sense push back the era of privileged Liberals talking green !
Keystone approved .... Ye Hah !
Canada , your largest trading partner thanks you for Americana First policy .
Neil should be happy too , he'll have cheaper fuel to fly his danger birds on his next tour while wearing Earth T-shirts !
God Bless America and Long live our Gracious Queen ....... Eh !