- 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.
The lyrics "Got a man of the people, says keep hope alive" refer to the Reverand Jesse Jackson's signature phrase to "Keep hope alive." Young contrasts President Bush's rhetoric and Rev. Jackson's as solutions to society's ills, when in actuality, they are nothing more than "feel good" slogans with little results to show.
On June 9, 1989, Chinese authorities confronted student protesters in Tiananmen Square, which led to the deaths of an untold number. From this event, the picture of a student standing before a line of tanks became the image that was broadcast around the world.
Neil Young, upon seeing this photo and video, began commenting before performing "Rockin' In The Free World" that the song was going out to that "Chinese boy in Tiananmen Square who stopped the tanks."
Similar to Young's '70's political protest anthem "Ohio", the song has become associated with peaceful, non-violent protest.
On Saturday Night Live in September '89, Neil served notice that he was back with a vengeance with his legendary performance of 'Rockin'. Considered to be one of the most intense live television studio performances ever, Young seemed possessed as he throttled his Les Paul guitar and shredded its strings before the audience. Wearing a Elvis Presley T-shirt, Young seemed to be bridging his 1970's classic "Hey, Hey, My, My" with the lyrics "The King [Elvis] is gone but not forgotten, this is the story of Johnny Rotten" with the end of the 1980's and the impending advent of the grunge-alternative music explosion.
In October, 1989, the album Freedom was released to considerable critical acclaim. A review on Pagewise declared: "If 'Freedom' is the first true alternative album, 'Rockin' in the Free World' is the first true alternative song."
The album Freedom contains two versions of 'Rockin' in the Free World' - acoustic and electric, similar to Rust Never Sleeps and Tonight's The Night.
Little did critics and fans realize that the album's signature song soon would be heard around the world.
On November 9, 1989 The Berlin Wall fell and Young's song lyrics "Keep on Rockin' In The Free World" could be heard over newscasts of the historic occasion. The song has since been established as a beacon of hope for repressed people throughout the world and a soundtrack for freedom - in it's every manifestation.
Article comments
1 - mike
Excellent piece! Young's written a lot of crap, but on this one song he redeemed himself forever. Michael Moore's use of it as the close of f911 is a master stroke.
2 - Eric Olsen
excellent job Thrasher, thanks and welcome!
3 - Thrasher
Eric,
Thanks! It just seemed that on this July 4th weekend, it seemed like a good day to reflect on the meaning of freedom. And Neil's "Freedom" - even though released in '89 -- seems more relevant than ever. Sad but true.
Thrasher
4 - Al Barger
It's interesting that you took Young's reference to Jesse Jackson as a criticism. I'd always took it for just more cheesy liberal sucking up - but your way of interpreting it makes at least as much sense.
5 - Sue B
I had no idea so many layers could be applied to this song. You don't seem to have added more than the song can support. Looks like college theses could be about Neil lyrics.
6 - Expecting2fly
Great analysis, Thrasher. I think your interpretations of this important song from Neil Young's catalog was spot on. The version in MM's movie is somewhat re-edited, but it is indeed amazing how well the themes transfer to the 21st century and to the movie Fahrenheit 9/11.
Expecting2fly
7 - CJ
"a courageous patriot"....Young is a Canadian, so perhaps an outsiders view of what is wrong with American society