Rockin' in the Free World

Rockin 'in the Free World is a rock song by Neil Young. He was released in November 1989 as a single from his album Freedom. The Rolling Stone magazine placed him at number 216 of its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Because of the text in the chorus of the song is often mistakenly ' called Keep On Rockin' in the Free World.

Background

Similar to Hey Hey, My My, there is the song in two versions, with acoustic and electric guitar. The piece was first performed on 21 February 1989 in Seattle live. It played Young's band The Restless.

The text criticizes the administration of George HW Bush. So the remark " thousand points of light" is directly quoted directly from his inaugural address, just the promise of a campaign speech in 1988 that the U.S. would a "kinder, gentler nation" are.

Cover versions

In addition to the well-known version of Pearl Jam, who also play the song live regularly, there is also a by Gerhard ivy with German text and the title All or none from the year 1991. Jeff Walker and The Flüffers who covered the song on their 2006 album Welcome to Carcass Cuntry, here with the false or altered title Keep On Rocking in the Free World. Walkers band Carcass had already the first piece on her album Swansong (1996 ) in reference to Young's song Keep On Rotting called in the Free World.