Ahead of his appearance at Mt. Rushmore, Donald Trump played several Neil Young cuts, including ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’. Naturally, this inclusion of the song didn’t sit well with Neil Young.
Neil Young has always been outspoken about his disdain for the president. The veteran rocker has, on several occasions, demanded that Trump stop using his music during his campaigns — demands that date back to 2016, with Trump’s initial presidential campaign.
Young has penned an open letter directed to Trump in response to the latest Dakota rally, uploaded to his Neil Young Archives site.
“Although I have repeatedly asked you to please not use my music because it indicates that I support your agenda, you have always played my songs anyway at your gatherings, with no regard for my rights, even calling me names on twitter,” he wrote.
“Because you are in charge of the Covid 19 response here in the USA, I will not sue you, (as certainly is my right) potentially distracting from your important work at hand protecting and saving American lives,” he continued. “With the enormous power you wield on our behalf, I wish you all the best in your critical battle to save American souls from this threat. I know you will do your best for all Americans, regardless of political leanings. I give you my encouragement in your efforts to Unify America.”
Young concluded the letter by suggesting that Trump start interpolating his latest track ‘Lookin’ For A Leader 2020′ — a scathing takedown of the president.
“I suggest you listen to my song ‘Lookin’ For A Leader 2020,’ available on my website, neilyoungarchives.com as part of a work I recently completed with my wife- “The Porch Episode,” as I believe it would be an interesting addition to your next rally.”
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Last month, Neil Young shared his lost and long yearned for album Homegrown.
The record was recorded across 1974 and 1975, but was ultimately shelved as Young deemed it too “personal.” Last year, Young announced that the record would soon see the light of day.
“I apologize. This album Homegrown should have been there for you a couple of years after Harvest,” Young revealed.
“It’s the sad side of a love affair. The damage done. The heartache. I just couldn’t listen to it. I wanted to move on. So I kept it to myself, hidden away in the vault, on the shelf, in the back of my mind… but I should have shared it. It’s actually beautiful. That’s why I made it in the first place. Sometimes life hurts. You know what I mean. This is the one that got away.”
