First time hearing Neil Young “Rockin' In The Free World” Reaction | Asia and BJ

[@firefighterchick]

Neil's sarcasm is gritty. The free world has it's problems that those who have never struggled turn a blind eye too. Which happens everyday in every generation. I agree with you that we have so much that's good but we have to address our problems too.

[@sprtswrtr10]

Asia, when you said, "Are we?" You nailed it. Are we really rocking in the free world? Or, is this the price of rocking in the free world … This is social commentary. This is sarcasm. It's as though he's saying, look at us congratulating ourselves on our freedom while all this crap is going on around us unaddressed. This song is like at his Dylan at his most provocative, only better because it's a killer freaking lick. … I started writing this as I heard your post song reaction, and I'm sorry BJ, but it's not a celebration, but about the awfulness that we so readily turn away from - "there's one more kid who'll never get to go to school, never get to fall in love, never get to be cool - and of the lies we as Americans tell ourselves: "We've got a kinder, gentler machine gun hand." If you're an American who believes our greatness lies in telling the truth, recognizing our faults and trying to make them right, then this song's for you. This song speaks to me, one of the 5 to 10 best songs of my lifetime. Others on that list: American Pie, Tangled Up in Blue, Born is the USA (a very similarly misunderstood song from Springsteen) … Anyway, so glad you did this song, I encourage your listening to it over and over again. Heartbreakingly beautiful AND IT ROCKS. Perhaps it took a Canadian, like Neil, to see all of this so clearly.

[@willasacco9898]

Excellent summary of Neil and this song👍

[@jeffmurray1681]

Too bad he has turned into a pro censorship fascist.

[@Billiousful]

I heartily concur with your explanation sir.

[@drobichaud1000]

shut up hornsby

[@timthompson1695]

Great job, Clay... saved me writing something similar (but not as good).

[@johndrx165]

Neil can really get emotion across in his music. Hard or soft. Supporting the punk and grunge movements.

[@metalmark1214]

A well known Neil Young song that was a highly charged political song and was critical of president George H.W. Bush administration, mocking his political slogans "We got 1,000 points of light, for the homeless man," "We got a kinder, gentler machine gun hand."

[@Eowyn187]

And kudos to Neil for shedding Light. Aka Truth.

[@nealm6764]

It was more than his slogan's that he was criticizing. He was aiming squarely at the entire trickle down economics policies that Bush favored - where you make the rich richer and hope that their extra spending trickles down to the working class and poor.

[@revwillyg6450]

Bet Neil would take Pres Bush back if he knew what was coming in 2016!

[@nealm6764]

@@revwillyg6450 Very true. Because war, recession and neo con-foolery is so much better than mean tweets and an abrasive, egotistical personality who doesn't start wars and invade other countries. Sadly the left has completely lost its way.

[@dansmedstadmedia]

@@revwillyg6450 LMAO! You mean record high wages and record low unemployment for women, blacks and Hispanic's? Or maybe a secure southern border and 4 middle east peace deals? Or maybe it was energy independence, low gas prices and low inflation that you hate? I'll take all of that rather then 40 year high inflation, war in Europe, plunging wages, recession and record high gas prices, record high fentanyl deaths due to an open border, along with sex trafficking and record number of deaths at the border. Maybe you like all of what I just recited - if so that makes you a left-wing, America hating LUNATIC!

[@RSimoes10]

This song is a powerful social statement about inequalities in the US.

[@greggary7217]

I am probably different than most but I’ve always felt there is a galactic dose of sarcasm in this song. There is a woman literally dropping her baby in a dumpster to go get a hit. The kid dies , but hey, keep on rockin in the free world. There is a kinder gentler machine gun hand. it’s still a machine gun, but hey keep on rockin in the free world. The fact that in the same breath the music makes us feel good about being free in the free world is the ultimate wake up call - he just told us all that ugly, but dangle a great back beat and we all feel pretty good about stuff. Keep on rockin in the free world.

[@maxpotenza9868]

Yep, I see the sarcasm too. But I am Australian, and we are raised on sarcasm. Been listening to this song for 20 years, and it hasn't dated much, if any.

[@blindriv3r]

exactly, I still wear a 20 year old baseball cap from his 2000 tour, it says 'Authorized Music Service' in a logo on front lol, like an old fashioned auto shop/corner garage..

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Yeah we know how it goes

[@robertsonsid]

Sarcasm is the theme of this song!

[@davidbosworth4751]

call it sarcasm but its sheds light on a double standard. with freedom comes the freedom to ignore all the bad stuff that is happening. like the woman putting her baby in a dumpster to go buy crack! or the homeless sleeping on the street. while the governments got plenty of money for more weapons to go fight wars in other countries!

[@miketracy1064]

For 50 years plus one of the best song writers and performers period!!!

[@Billiousful]

Couldn’t believe BJ thought the song was in praise of America’s so-called freedoms. The song’s lyrics are shouting out sarcasm.

[@eddiemi]

First verse is about the homeless. Song was out in 1988 as homelessness had shot through the roof under Reagan/Bush. 2nd verse about a drug addicted mother. 3rd verse takes a few shots at George H. W. Bush (now running for President) and his campaign speeches about a 1000 points of light and wanting a kinder, gentler nation. Goes on to endorse Jessie Jackson (Keep hope alive).

[@tediousmaximus1067]

And homelessness has disappeared now? Homeless numbers has skyrocketed since Biden came into power. Republican or Democrat, politicians just don't care.

[@appalachianridgerunners6571]

You just have to live in that times to understand what Neil wanted, he should be very happy with this president.

[@eddiemi]

@@appalachianridgerunners6571 He preferred Bernie Sanders

[@eddiemi]

@@tediousmaximus1067 That's why he endorsed Bernie Sanders.

[@appalachianridgerunners6571]

He cares about who is in power, not the country.

[@jonathanlocke6404]

He memorably played this song on "Saturday Night Live" when it was new...Sometimes, you can find clips of it here on KZbin, but NBC and SNL are very proprietary and it gets taken off, or people post weird edited versions of it to try to get around. It's an incredible performance. Four piece band, two guitars, bass, drums. Neil's guitar sounds like a monster...

[@dinoraven6289]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKjYmZ5rjJiSp5I

[@SigmaTau6]

Yes! That SNL version is THE best live performance.

[@butkusfan23]

I dont usually like live performances, but that one is crazy good

[@surlechapeau]

Asia & BJ, you'll love his "Harvest Moon", "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)"/"My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)"!! Way back when, a friend of mine said he saw him playing guitar in Philly, at the 30th Street station.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Nope Harvest Moon sucks need more of Neil s Rock like Down By The River

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Nope better yet Down By The River

[@onelove1968]

Any live version of Neil playing this song usually last for about 3 glorious days. Sometimes at festivals, he even has about 50 other musicians/singers on stage to help sing and perform this classic rock anthem. It's become a 'grand finale' song. Also a favorite for many bands to 'cover' during live shows.

[@davidhart8621]

I've always loved his twist on George H. W. Bush: "a kinder, gentler machine gun hand."

[@kobaianvagabond1344]

This song always reminds me how much I hated that guy.

[@dominikr7794]

Don't steal our thunder BJ, he's Canadian, lol. Thanks for the content!

[@AsiaandBJ]

You bet

[@dannycasson1551]

The man is a living Legend. The Grandfather of Rock. He’s not afraid to tackle the tough issues of our times. I saw him do this live when he came here once. I had front row seats!

[@ridemfast7625]

Rogans on Spotify. Neil who... hahaha I have seen Neil many times, before he turned into an idiot.

[@bmwag47]

He mentions a "thousand points of ought" that was from president Bush 1. Also a "kinder gentler hand" on the machine gun, another reference to Bush. Very political song

[@alteredaustin1]

Literally not a single person in the world, except apparently you, has ever called Neil Young "the grandfather of rock". LOL GTHO

[@dannycasson1551]

@@alteredaustin1 kind of catchy don’t you think? Maybe it’s Godfather I don’t know. I get the laugh reference which has been used literally by everyone on the planet but the other four letters you’ll have to explain to me. I’m old

[@alteredaustin1]

@@dannycasson1551 About 40% of the world is without internet access. So at best, only about 60% of people in the world have used LOL. GTHO means "Get the heII out." As in "get the heII out with that nonsense." I could have done GTFO, but I was being nice.

[@glennred4830]

NEIL YOUNG is a Canadian artist that wrote a lot of great material when travelling the USA, observing the behaviours, politics, people, conflict and desires. USA lives in a bubble of exclusive issues, problems, confusion and strife.

[@orangeandblackattack]

one of which is NOT being forced to get a placebo shot called a vaccine.lol. Doesn't work worth a crap..it may be classified as a symptom reliever, and thats a stretch.

[@trapperjakk]

Amazingly Powereful song. Love your channel guys. Much love from Canada

[@randybaker6042]

The band I was in started every practice and every live performance with this song. We didn't mask it. We sang it as keep on rockin in YOUR free world and it was venomous. Great song by a great artist.

[@swampfizz]

Neil Young is a great man with all the philanthropy and benefit concerts he gives

[@jessegreen6138]

"Rockin in the Free World" was on the Freedom Album and Released on November 14, 1989. The song made to #2 on Billboards Mainstream Rock Chart. Check out Neil Young and Crazy Horse doing Hey, Hey, My, My (In to the Black). The Album was called "Rust Never Sleeps".

[@scottlong7352]

Love Neil. I highly recommend This Notes For You. Easy to miss this one. It’s a great song! Love you’re reactions!

[@jasonremy1627]

They called Neil the "Godfather of Grunge", and this song is a big part of that.

[@timothyherring3211]

It's good to see people are still "Rockin in the free world" Today's music that kid's listening to is computer generated beats and not real music. It takes instruments to make real music 🎸🥁🎷🎹🎺🪕🎻🎤 Thanks KZbinrs for keeping the real music alive and "Rocking in the free world".

[@unclebobunclebob]

Not all of today's music is computer generated beats and not real music. There are plenty....thousands...making real music as you describe it. So don't exaggerrate!

[@timothyherring3211]

What the kids listen to is computer generated . It's like they don't get taught instruments anymore in school. SMH

[@timothyherring3211]

@@unclebobunclebob what the kids are listening to , I said uncle Bob. It's like they don't get taught instruments anymore. SMH

[@kylesage-clontz]

Kids these days listen to plenty of musicians who play instruments. Don't be silly.

[@unclebobunclebob]

@@timothyherring3211 gotta disagree

[@tonydelapa1911]

As good as Neil Young’s acoustic guitar work is, I am happy you have seen a glimpse of the electric side of Neil. I have seen him do this live, but only once. I can tell you a couple of those old guitars he plays the sh!t out of need a cigarette after he has had his way with them! 😂 Please continue down the NY path. His longevity and back catalog are incredible. It is hard to believe so many great songs - in so many types of music - were written by one person. Neil can’t be defined by a sentence, paragraph, or genre. He has always been a trendsetter. So many times while exploring what was next Neil found out he was next. He has had several tragedies and disappointments in his life, beginning at a young (haha) age. Over the decades, he has produced many songs that were fascinatingly timely (Needle and the Damage Done, Ohio, After Berlin, Tonight’s the Night and many, many more). Live (video and audio together) versions are often the best way to experience Neil. For another rocker with a couple great guitar solos, see Like A Hurricane. Back on the acoustic side, I think Thrasher is one of his most thoughtful and beautiful songs. THANK YOU Asia and BJ

[@bobdelp2023]

WOWWWWWWW!!! WHAT MADE YOU DO SOME NEIL I WONDER, I LUVVVVVV IT YOU GUYS!!! 1. ELTON, 2. NEIL, 3. TULL TOP 3 FAVORITE ROCK BANDS OF ALLLLLL TIME AND ALLLLLLL HAVE HUGE CATALOGS :) RIGHT ON!

[@julianromane7533]

Angriest guitar solo. He performed this with Pearl Jam live on some awards show and brought tears to my eyes

[@scapito]

💯

[@bobdelp2023]

ALWAYS LUVVVVVV WHEN HE GOES OFF ON THOSE GUITAR RANTS!!! :)

[@TheCaptainchaffing]

this song is less about "being free" but more of like "keep thinking you live in the free world"

[@CalixYukon]

Some people say this is actually an unpatriotic song, but I don't think so. He wrote the song during the cold war after a concert he was supposed to play in the USSR was cancelled, he was showing you have the freedom in the west to criticize the wrongs of the nation and rock out in the free world. Freedom is about pointing out the faults in a nation without fear of reprisal something you couldn't do in the Soviet Union (or today for that matter in Russia). Just my intrepretation anyways. Great reaction, keep on rockin!

[@Eowyn187]

✊

[@waynedickson6860]

Every verse is not glorifying freedom,,it is mocking it.

[@CalixYukon]

@@waynedickson6860 Every verse points out flaws in the nation, that's something only free people can do.

[@waynedickson6860]

@@CalixYukon Sure..that is the tunnel vision way of seeing it and then there is the contrast between the title and the reality which is highlighted in every verse. You think you have freedom when you don't have choice and the choice you are given is the one predetermined already for you.

[@CalixYukon]

@@waynedickson6860 You sure it's me that has the tunnel vision? Imagine yourself a citizen of the soviet union hearing this song, hearing someone openly criticize their government and not end up in a gulag. Anyways it's my intrepretation, I could be wrong..

[@ericblair54]

I remember seeing NY at The Riverboat, a walk down folk tavern in Yorkville inToronto in the 1960''s

[@vickiconley3638]

Freedom and Neil do go together!

[@bhenderson2725]

The price for freedom is high, you got to keep on rockin n the freeworld and accept the worst of us, but that's when you have to step up, you can help the worse, or not. You are either part of the solution or part of the problem. Neil Young is a poet genius, oh and he's from my hometown, Winnipeg, Canada.

[@lisarhae9692]

Neil Young is known as "The Godfather of Grunge"!! I love that!! 🥰

[@LockedownSEO]

Neil Young and Rick James were in a band together in the 1960s.

[@christikirk7265]

Neil Young! A big influencer on my all time favorite bands. Even though a "Southen Man Don't Need Him Around Anyhow".

[@randallwilson]

It's because of people like you trying to keep good Rock music alive that i still listen to classic rock!

[@xnmcguire]

So glad you did this. Neil is Always going to do his own thing. Never superficial, he has always had a very deep emotional and social conscience and his music comes right from what he is feeling in the moment. Even if it isn't "commercially viable" His music is a direct conduit from his soul to ours. That is what we feel when we listen to him whether its his Motown band with Rick James and Bruce Palmer (The Myna Birds), his long time collaboration with Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield, CSNY), his solo acoustic works, Anything with Crazy Horse, and the Stray Gators, and Santa Monica Flyers, Pearl Jam, Power of the Real... even his forays into electronica with his 1982 album "Trans" in which he runs his voice through a vocoder. -- And this grew out of his collaboration with DEVO and the making of his art movie "Human Highway" (Neil also has made movies just as long as he has been making music). But there is a version of Neil Young and DEVO performing Hey Hey My My, which is definitely worth a listen. Anyway, I was born in 1970 and Neil was an established voice speaking the soul of America. In 1989 I was a 19 year old beginning my sophomore year in college when Neil played "Rockin' in the Free World on SNL." We literally could not speak or take our eyes off of him in the TV room in our college dorm. As we were emerging into adulthood and consciousness, wanting a break from the flag waving Reagan Era which dominated our high school years, (Just Say No, Paretnal Rights (PMRC), continued US Proxy Wars with the Soviet Union, through Afghanistan, Nicaragua etc) This song and his performance was like a big "FU" to the GOP and their habit of glossing over all of the real problems we face in the world and right here in the United States. And a Wake Up call for the rest of us who are just shuffling our feet and sleeping in our shoes as we let this happen. If the rest of the world thinks of the US as the "Great Satan"(as Iran referred to us) maybe we should be reflective on our own actions instead of being defensive or responding with violence. But every time we bring up details and solutions to how the system isn't working for everyone: injustice, lives of marginalized people, poverty, the reality of desperate mothers without healthcare / planned parenthood, and the wasteful consumerism leading our negative impact on the environment, - the just GOP just responded with a vague, "Freedom! 'murica!" I think others on this thread have clarified the origins of the Bush's "Kinder, gentler Nation" and "Thousand Points of Light" (just watch the SNL Bush- Dukakis debate of 1988 to fill in the details). The "major" issue the GOP was campaigning on in 1988 and 1992 was a Flag Burning Amendment. pffff....whatever🙄 No better way to ignore problems than to wrap it in a flag. Thank you again for brining this protest song to light." 🤟☮❤🌍 "Rockin' in the Free World" by Frank Sampredo and Neil Young There's colors 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 Don't feel like Satan, but I am to them So I try to forget it any way I can Keep on rockin' in the free world I see a woman in the night With a baby in her hand There's an old street light (near a garbage can) Near a garbage can (near a garbage can) And now she put the kid away and she's gone to get a hit She hates her life and what she's done to it There's one more kid that'll never go to school Never get to fall in love, never get to be cool Keep on rockin' in the free world We got a thousand points of light For the homeless man We got a kinder, gentler machine gun hand We got department stores and toilet paper Got Styrofoam boxes for the ozone layer Got a man of the people, says keep hope alive Got fuel to burn, got roads to drive Keep on rockin' in the free world

[@justinatest9456]

There's one more kid that'll never go to school Never get to fall in love Never get to be cool I love Neil Young's lyrics, this part never fails to get to me

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Yeah we know how it goes

[@danielkesselring9172]

Neil is ridic 😎🎸🎸☮️

[@musashi-san____1409]

LOL "Are we? Are we?" Neil would love you.

[@mikewarker4445]

Neil Young is a musical beast! Check out his lighter accoustic stuff like Harvest Moon and Unknown Legend from MTV unplugged concert. He ll move your soul

[@Giangio781]

Neil Young is like a god with two faces, the acoustic one and the electric one. I think you should check one of his greatest album, "Rust never sleeps" with The Crazy Horse and you'll understand what I'm talking about. Please react to "Powderfinger", you won't regret it! An incredible song with beautiful story telling. Cheers and keep up the good work.

[@67goleafsgo]

When Pearl Jam comes to Toronto they play this song and Neil joins them on stage. there is a video on You Tube and it's EPIC!!!!

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

But Crazy Horse does way way better

[@darinmetzger9346]

Neil’s a Genius with a Heart Of Gold

[@happymethehappyone8300]

Saturday The 27th Is The 32nd Anniversary Of The Passing Of Stevie Ray Vaughan...R.I.P. Stevie...Thanks For ALL You Gave Us..Gone But Definitely Not Forgotten.🙏❤

[@TrianglesAndCircles]

The free world has its sullen side. It"s a happy sounding melody with lyrical undertones of hope and suffering. Every man for himself.

[@elainemarsh3477]

I love the anger and angst in this song. The emotion in this song brings a tear to my eye.

[@dieo57]

Saw Tesla today in Clevland great show.

[@kimheffernan5511]

Neil is and was political! Love him

[@paulstirn1910]

Pay attention to the sarcasm. It is a song about hypocrisy. We are rocking in the free world, but ignoring the social issues.

[@amosglitterz2649]

'Crosby, Stills, Nash' (Suite Judy Blue Eyes) became 'Crosby Stills, Nash and Young'

[@shem269]

One of my favorite lines: "There's one more kid that'll never go to school, never get to fall in love, never get to be cool"

[@charlesdean3544]

Incredible guitar twang in this song. You will really appreciate R.O.C.K. in the USA by John Mellencamp!! In that song he goes through all these names of Motown artists and other cool people from the 60s.

[@jeanstrickland2445]

Neil Young has some very deep lyrics in most of his songs. 💕

[@giuliogrifi7739]

Come on, KZbinrs.....MORE Neil Young......please !!!

[@JhonnyHawk-bu7zp]

Gotta love the drums on this.

[@diogenesagogo]

There's a fantastic live version with Pearl Jam performing, Eddie Vedder really kills it ... then this old man with a guitar shuffles on from the back of the stage & everybody goes wild ...

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

No its awful need Crazy Horse not wimp boy

[@scapito]

😜

[@doriwiljt]

You should watch him do this live, btw this is Neil being sarcastic. Love him since Harvest came out

[@princeofpcos9804]

Pearl Jam almost always plays this song live.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Yeah and they mess it up.. Need Crazy Hotrse

[@bobdelp2023]

THAT'SSSS A NEIL YOUNG SOUND YOU GUYS, INSANE!!! :)

[@RichG70]

Guys, it’s sarcasm. He’s pointing out all the issues and how we ignore them as a people. It’s sarcasm. It’s a mess, but keep In rockin’ in the “free” world. Sheesh.

[@micheleclark59]

You areBoth correct, Neil plays hard rock with some bands and he can Play! Then he’ll turn around and you’ll hear his lovely voice and acoustic guitar and harmonica

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

But too many wimpy reactors only ask for his accoustic crap which is a shame cause they only listen to top 40 garbage radio and never hear the good stuff

[@kengunter6903]

That was a great Taste of Neil Rocken. He has his own guitar sound for sure.

[@jasonremy1627]

Watching a Neil Young guitar solo is something else. It always looks like he's in a fight to the death with his guitar... And losing.

[@kengunter6903]

@@jasonremy1627 perfect analysis.

[@LindaEll]

Last time I saw him, couple years ago, he finished his show this song. totally rocked it!

[@quincee3376]

Incredible tune!

[@rhwinner]

This song anticipated grunge by about 3 years....

[@mrnobody9104]

the Genius of Neil Young! you can always tell Neil's guitar work to me the greatest gift a player can have.

[@C_mao]

I think y'all are the only reactors who have reviewed this song. I think more people should hear it.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

It's because all the other requesters want just the wimpy acoustic garbage

[@LaStarza61]

Yes, it's nice that they reacted to this song... but they got it completely wrong. The meaning of the song went right over their heads.

[@irenelopez7555]

“Down By The River” live❤️

[@charliecochran3035]

It's a lot easier to recognize and understand this song if you were old enough to remember the late 80s and early 90s. He's really taking shots at George Bush and just the general state of the union. All of the cheerleading anthem charm is pure sarcasm. A couple other electric gems on the Freedom album are No More and Eldorado. I'd say Don't Cry too but it's a little too weird to recommend for new Neil fans.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Finally the real song with his electric instead of the wimpy accoustic

[@robertstoner8244]

The words of the song explain what's going on in America

[@CadillacJak]

A real anthem

[@scottshaffer9246]

Also listen to a band called blind melon. They have a song called “ change” that you will like

[@CalixYukon]

They did a reaction to Change, if you search their channel you can find it

[@PaulJoeTX]

💯 Yes!

[@barnacles62]

The song is a social statement. Many thoroughbred Americans from in the 60s and 70s didn`t care for Young because he was Canadian, come to America because he could make more money, but was very outspoken about American life and culture. The song is a sarcastic opinion of how Americans live. Red, white and blue flags being proudly displayed, people shuffling to work, yet others sleeping in their shoes on the streets. People thinking, we would be better off dead, meaning much of the world does NOT like us. The next verse may be a little hard to understand if you don't remember the crack epidemic, this song come out in 89. Women were selling their bodies for it, and would have kids they didn't want, many times were aborted by them or even had the child, either way they were found in trash dumpsters. A few were still alive. The third verse is covering American mentality and culture. Thousand points of light, meaning how much electric we waste and burn for our convenience and safety, yet people are homeless and on the streets. The rest is basically self-absorbed things we have here, and we still have people telling us not to give up hope, as if we have it so bad. A kinder gentler machine gun hand means guns that will do excessive damage but are easy on the shooter, which is well trained to kill with it. Young did two songs about the south, Alabama, and Southern Man which the band Lynyrd Skynyrd replied back to him on in Sweet Home Alabama. when he says Heard Mr. Young sing about her. Heard Ole Niel put her down, Hope Neil Young will remember, a southern man don't need him around anyhow. I heard Van Zant say once in an interview, why he did it. He replied, isn't Neil from Canada? Why is it any of his business? His song Ohio, about the police killing students at a protest at Kent State back in 70. Many Americans loved him, mostly liberal hippies. But a lot of people didn't care much for his opinions even though he was musically very good, and talented at performing and writing. But I agree with not coming to another country to reap the benefits then down its way of life. Thats like going to Japan and raise hell about Sumu wrestling. Jim Carey is another Canadian that's become rich here but hates anything that's not liberal America. Why am I against it? Either one has done much to help all these people the supposedly are so concerned about, unless they can write it off.....

[@patriceschmitz521]

Powderfinger is a highly charged song that is the bomb

[@mattjohn4731]

Yeah! More NY? Captain Kennedy, On The Beach, Vampire Blues, Expecting To Fly, Old King, Natural Anthem, Natural Beauty, Prisoners, Inca Queen, Cortez The Killer, Tonight's The Night, When You Dance I Can Really Love ....

[@johnathanHannaford]

IF you REALLY wanna rock try Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl" !

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

The live with the chick's dancing

[@johnathanHannaford]

@@DENVEROUTDOORMAN YES ! The live 1991 version is awesome.

[@setdrift]

great guitar work

[@lyndonblosserblosser4370]

Hi guys. Love the videos , love you guys.

[@gregj1295]

Must have been the short version. In concert it goes on forever.

[@andreas3761]

powerful song, like it a lot

[@aaronherbison7316]

It's a sarcastic title.... The point is those people he was singing about are anything but free....

[@pmcclaren1]

Check this out! NEEDLE AND THE DAMAGE DONE! and incredible song--so relevant to my BOOMER generation & in today's world even more! Breath-Taking, will Blow you Away!

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Nope time to do his harder edge rock

[@Lexwell_Lavers]

Try Neil's songs Down By The River (man murders his lover to be with his mistress), Cowgirl In The Sand (unrequited love). Both songs have some of the best guitar work ever played, listen to the album tracks not the edited for radio recordings.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Yup too many wimpy requesters only want his wimpy acoustic

[@Kimberrann]

This man is a great musician, songwriter & storyteller.

[@atomicdaz7817]

EPIC SONG

[@aWhimTested]

Also right around time of Germany’s wall falling and dissolution of the USSR

[@NoahLavineASP]

Listen to his song, "after Berlin"

[@kimberlyjenkins725]

Love Neil. I love him at The Last Waltz. "They got it Robbie".

[@davidbosworth4751]

its about the same kid from the movie 'losing isaih' with haley berry!

[@chr8mon]

It’s a Rock Anthem!

[@terfred]

Great Canadian Rock!

[@Eowyn187]

Freedom, imo, is the most precious commodity in life. Maybe that's just my little hippy heart. 😏

[@bobschenkel7921]

I like to call Neil Young THE MAN. He will take on any subject or topic, no matter what the cost to his career. "Ohio", "Cortez The Killer", "Powderfinger", "Needle And The Damage Done", "Sedan Delivery", "Welfare Mothers", and even "Rockin' In The Free World". But you need to see a performance video of THE MAN, his facial expressions, the way he stomps around the stage and his energy are captivating and intense. i always recommend his concert film "Rust Never Sleeps" from 1978. Peak Neil Young. And he's still Rockin' In This Free World.

[@bartstarr100]

Neil Young played every genre. For the Turnstiles is just a banjo and guitar and it's about the end of the world. It's simple and sublime.

[@Smittay-Sr.]

Need to do Neil Young, and Crazy Horse, live. "Down by the River!" 🎸

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Exactly they need to stop wimpy accoustic and do album version of Down By The River....about time we heard some good rock

[@CarlosGarcia-vo9th]

Asia got it. Neil was being sarcastic about the myth we`re living under. If you listen to the lyrics between the verse you can hear what he`s really describing. There`s no free world when you`re homeless and just had a baby you can`t feed as you stand next to the garbage can you`re about to dump you`re baby in. The whole point of the song is that we don`t live in the free world. You heard but didn`t listen BJ.

[@grant1739]

Well a woman throwing her baby in a trash can to do drugs doesn't exactly deserve a "free world"

[@CarlosGarcia-vo9th]

@@grant1739 What free world? You believe in the red white and blue bs?

[@garyscharf9232]

You've got to check out his song Southern Man, about slavery's effect in the south. The 1971 live version with CSNY is epic.

[@pmcclaren1]

Nope! 'Southern Man' only continues the lies about Dixie's Land, my SOUTHLAND. Ronne vanZant set him straight on this! Other than this song, Young is one of the LORD'S gifts from our BOOMER generation to the world. He has incredible talent.

[@chrissawyer4060]

@@pmcclaren1 Ronnie and Neil were actually good friends and Neil wrote Powderfinger for him to record. Now tell me if you didn't know that wtf do you know about the civil war? Not a damn thing. Furthermore the southland is not YOURS. My great grandfather fought against the CSA and his own brothers for true freedom and he beat your family and your army and sent the ones who could still walk packing so go back to square one with that bs.

[@pmcclaren1]

@@chrissawyer4060 I will ask you a question? What for & why did your great grandfather fight?

[@jonahprophet4483]

You sort of had to have been there to really understand. The song is simultaneously extremely topical and connected to the time it was released in, yet prophetic in ways that were completely predictable to anyone paying attention. The meaning of the song is kind of laid out in the first couple of lines about people "shuffling their feet" and "sleeping in their shoes." Neil was talking about the decadence and arrogance of our society, and our willful blindness to it. He was talking about how the rot had begun to set in and most people could smell it but were just ignoring the things that were happening all around us and continuing to bop along "rocking in the free world" This was released a couple of years before the Soviet Union suddenly evaporated overnight. It was a time when we saw everything about ourselves in comparison to the Soviet Union and the Warsaw pact countries as well as China and their sphere of influence in Southeast Asia. But that wasn't the only barometer of our world. Things were not going right here in the United States. We had largely just disengaged with the Middle East and put it out of our minds after the Iran hostage crisis. But the middle-east hadn't forgotten about us. The shadows of 9/11 (only twelve years down the road) were all around us but we weren't paying any attention. Much of our country was still preoccupied with the greed and consumerism that so typified the 1980s. But all around us crack was devouring entire communities. The Styrofoam boxes being produced by the millions for our convenience food was literally destroying our only protection from being scorched off the face of the Earth by the Sun. Whereas before, homelessness had been mainly confined to people with serious substance-abuse (primarily alcohol) now there were more and more people homeless because the social safety-net had been stripped in order to give free money to the wealthiest amongst us. We had George Bush the first running for office talking meaningless nonsense about "a thousand points of light" whilst at the same time "a man of the people" (Jesse Jackson) was encouraging us to "keep hope alive." This song was Neil Young screaming at the top of his voice two words to America: "WAKE UP!!!" This song was very topical and tied to its time but it was screaming accurate prophecies at a deafening volume... And we still haven't listened!!!