Musical protest icon Neil Young once again used his powerful voice to challenge injustice, reigniting his long-standing tradition of using music as a form of political expression. At his Los Angeles benefit concert, Young debuted his bold new track, “Let’s Roll Again,” a searing critique aimed squarely at Donald Trump and Elon Musk, delivering a fierce message through his signature sound.
The song delivers sharp critiques while advocating for ethical industrial practices and genuine political integrity. Since the 1960s, Neil Young has remained unwavering in his fearless approach to social and political issues, using his performances to deliver powerful messages with passionate vocals and purposeful, thought-provoking lyrics.
In “Let’s Roll Again,” Neil Young calls on Ford, GM, and Chrysler to reclaim their roles as pioneers of innovation and responsibility. With the lyrics, “Come on Ford, come on GM,” he challenges Chrysler to rise above the industry’s greed and corruption, which he believes has compromised their integrity.
Young also takes aim at certain Tesla owners, delivering a scathing critique with the line, “If you’re a fascist, then get a Tesla,” pointing to what he sees as a troubling trend in the brand’s following. Additionally, he urges Democrats to embrace true personal freedom, encouraging them to experience it without restraint or compromise.
The statement takes aim squarely at Elon Musk, highlighting his growing political influence, which Young argues is amplified by his actions at Tesla and X (formerly Twitter). Musk’s combination of political statements, union restrictions, and sweeping employee cuts has drawn significant criticism, with Young using his lyrics to call out the negative impact these decisions have on workers and society.
These lyrics take direct aim at Tesla during its reported 70% profit reduction, a blow that reverberated throughout the company and sparked waves of criticism from both industry insiders and social commentators. Within the broader musical community, rock and punk artists have long used their platforms to challenge figures like Trump and Musk, releasing track after track that takes a stand against their influence.
Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day made his position clear at Coachella, declaring, “I am not with the MAGA agenda,” while adapting the lyrics of his iconic song “American Idiot” to deliver a strong anti-MAGA message. Similarly, Jack White used a concert performance to rework the lyrics of his song “Corporation,” replacing them with the provocative line, “I was thinking about becoming an oligarch, who’s with me?”—a sharp critique of the corporate elite and their unchecked power.
Through numerous public statements, Neil Young has repeatedly called Donald Trump a national disgrace to the United States. As a Canadian dual citizen who deeply supports American democratic values, Young made his home in the U.S. after many years, underscoring his commitment to the country’s ideals while openly criticizing what he views as a betrayal of those principles by Trump.
In his recent activism, Neil Young took to the streets of California, proudly holding a “Hands Off Canada” sign in solidarity with his home country. He also lent his support to progressive political campaigns, performing at rallies for Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, all while rallying under the banner of “Fighting Oligarchy.” His efforts continue to reflect his unwavering commitment to challenging political and corporate power structures.
“Let’s Roll Again” gains an added layer of potency, not only through its poetic delivery but also because of Neil Young’s influential position in the music world. His protest songs, from the iconic “Ohio” to the defiant “Rockin’ in the Free World,” have long served as battle cries against war, corruption, and injustice. This latest track continues in that tradition, critiquing the intertwining of political decline and corporate power. While it’s unlikely that Trump or Musk will directly respond to the song, the powerful message in Young’s music remains unmistakably clear and resonates deeply within the ongoing conversation about accountability and change.
The musical work “Let’s Roll Again” functions as a statement of opposition to current billionaire-controlled politics and misinformation propaganda and environmental ruin in the United States.
