In a set packed with surprises, Young debuted a new song titled “Let’s Roll Again” and performed the 18-minute deep cut “Ordinary People” for the first time in 36 years. Originally recorded during the sessions for 1989’s Freedom album, “Ordinary People” was left off the final tracklist and remained unreleased until its inclusion on Chrome Dreams II in 2007.
Young’s appearance comes as he gears up for a major world tour with Chrome Hearts, his recently formed band. While further details of the group’s debut project remain under wraps, “Let’s Roll Again” marks the first new material to surface from the sessions.
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During Saturday’s concert, Young also reunited with longtime collaborator Stephen Stills. The duo performed Buffalo Springfield’s era-defining protest anthem “For What It’s Worth,” as well as “Human Highway” and “Rockin’ in the Free World.” Stills was joined by Nathaniel Rateliff for a performance of “Colorado,” originally released by Stills’ band Manassas in 1972.
The return of “Ordinary People” follows Young’s recent habit of dusting off rare material during live appearances. Earlier this month, Young, Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers shared the stage at a Bernie Sanders’ Fighting Oligarchy rally, delivering a performance of Young’s protest anthem “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
The moment took place on Saturday (April 12) at the political rally hosted by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at Los Angeles’ Grand Park. The event, which centered on anti-corporate messaging and grassroots political reform, also featured solo sets from all three artists. Young, who closed out the rally, began his brief performance with “Rainbow of Colors,” a song from his 2019 album Colorado, before launching into “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
Midway through the song, Baez and Rogers walked onstage to join him, taking turns on vocals and leading chants of “Power to the people” and “Take America back” between verses.
Neil Young rips Elon Musk in new song: “If you’re a fascist, get a Tesla.”
Neil Young performed a new song at the Light Up the Blues benefit concert at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles over the weekend, taking a notable jab at Elon Musk and Tesla in the lyrics. Assumedly titled “Let’s Roll Again,” the track also satirically references Trump’s “America First” economic policies.
“Come on Ford, come on GM, come on Chrysler, let’s roll again,” goes the opening line, with Young then singing, “Build something special that people need/ Build us a safe way for us to live/ Build us something that won’t kill our kids/ Build us something that runs real clean/ Come on, America, let’s get in the race. China’s way ahead; they’re making clean cars.”
After a rippin’ harmonica solo, he lands the line, “If you’re a fascist, get a Tesla. It’s electric; it doesn’t matter.” The track concludes with Young warning, “If you’re a Democrat, taste your freedom/Get whatever you want, taste your freedom.” Watch a fan-captured video of the new song below.
Elsewhere during the concert, Young dusted off the sprawling old B-side “Ordinary People” for the first time since 1989; the 18-minute track was originally intended for Young’s 1988 album Freedom, but was shelved for years until it appeared on his 2007 release Chrome Dreams II. He concluded his five-song set with renditions of “Human Highway” and “Rockin’ in the Free World” with his CSNY bandmate Stephen Stills. Watch clips of the performance below.
