Neil Young, Son of Famed Reporter, Records "Impeach the President" Song

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[slowhand520]

Neil Young, Son of Famed Reporter, Records "Impeach the President" Song

By E&P Staff

Published: April 14, 2006 11:40 AM ET

The 60's relics are so precious ain't they? Is this guy even American?

NEW YORK As an E&P "Pressing Issues" column recently noted, rock star Neil Young is the son of a famed Canadian journalist, so it should not surprise many that he recently recorded a song in California with a very reportorial -- or at least pundit -- feel to it.

It’s called “Impeach the President,” so there can be little question what it is about.

Apparently it was recorded with a 100-voice choir. Rumors have circulated the past few days on the Web, but E&P has tracked down the strongest confirmation in a blog kept by Sherman Oaks, Ca. musician/singer Alicia Morgan.

Previous reports quoted hints by Young and Jonathan Demme (who directed the new documentary “Heart of Gold”) that Neil was working on a hard-rocking political or “anti-Bush” CD.

Last Friday, Morgan wrote on her LastLeftB4Hooterville blog that she had been “summoned” to a local studio to sing on the new record with 99 others. “I'm not going to give the whole thing away, but the first line of one of the songs was ‘Let's impeach the President for lyin'!’ Turns out the whole thing is a classic beautiful protest record. The session was like being at a 12-hour peace rally. Every time new lyrics would come up on the screen, there were cheers, tears and applause. It was a spiritual experience. I can't believe my good fortune at being a part of this.

“We finished the session by singing an a capella version of 'America the Beautiful' and there was not a dry eye in the house.

“Neil said it should be out in 6 to 8 weeks."

Harp magazine reported on its Web site Thursday that Demme had confirmed in an e-mail, “Neil just finished writing and recording -- with no warning -- a new album called 'Living With War.' It all happened in three days… It is a brilliant electric assault, accompanied by a 100-voice choir, on Bush and the war in Iraq… Truly mind blowing. Will be in stores soon.”

The magazine continued: “Details are pretty scarce, but the featured track, titled ‘Impeach the President,’ features a rap with Bush’s voice set to the choir chanting ‘flip/flop’ and the like.”

Young has always been a maverick politically as well as musically. Although he has recorded a few songs with a "liberal" slant, he also drew criticism from the left for pro-Reagan comments many years ago. Most of his albums contain few if any political songs.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E&P Staff (letters@editorandpublisher.com)

[Clara Lou]

He strongly resembles the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Picture anybody?

[dmz]

LOL. One string? Try one note. Think Cinnamon Girl.

I still like and listen to his acoustic stuff, and After the Gold Rush is an absolute classic record.

[Disambiguator]

What a disturbing picture that is.

[GMMAC]

Way ahead of you, knew the history when I posted.

Wallace's later widespread appeal among authentic conservatives went well beyond his earlier alleged views on race which were actually largely founded upon strict & proper interpretation of the U.S. Constitution in the area of individual 'states' rights'.

Interestingly, note his proud Scots' surname (e.g. William Wallace: "Braveheart"), not unlike an entirely disproportionate number - to the South's then population base - of the Confederacy's principal Military leaders.
(lots of info & links with respect to same on my FR homepage)

[Fred Hayek]

It's also typical of the view that Minnesotans have of the South (especially Texas).

[jdm]

Very clever!

[jdm]

Crosby, Pills, Hash & Bong lost their sparkle many moons ago.

[philled]

There's a pretty good article from a couple years ago (on the American Prospect ) which I think sums up Mr. Young rather well: "It is the politics of the wet middle finger held in the air to gauge the breeze."

I don't know that he necessarily has become more conservative. He has seen the needle and the damage done but doesn't really want to escape the culture which enables it. He flirted with what have been derided as "reactionary politics" but I think his politics remain much more socialist than most. I applaud him for his chartible works and do wish that more performers would embrace causes and institutions that actually make a difference and aren't just ideological movements.

I've been a fan of his music through the good and bad (anyone remember "Sample and Hold" from Trans or the entire Time Fades Away thing). I guess I'm disappointed (especially since he was instructing Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam to lay off the on-stage Bush-bashing a couple years ago) but not too surprised. He was a grandfather figure to the grunge scene and since that bandwagon has mercifully been put to rest he is just pandering and struggling to remain relative to a new generation of "rebels". I guess I'm probably looking at the new record with the same sense of deflation that accompanied the last Steve Earle piece of crap. Too bad- there was a time when each put out some great music...

[GMMAC]

"I don't think I have ever heard of Neil Young referred to as the son of a famed reporter. Isn't that an odd headline? Was his father someone even more famous?

His father Scott was well-known (dunno about 'famous') as, initially a sports-writer & later a somewhat populist but mainly blowhard commentator, with the Toronto Globe and Mail from the late 50's until mid-80's.
He may still be living - must be near 90! - but is no longer writing.

[Bubba_Leroy]

I love Neil Young--(and Lynard Skynard!) I am surprised to hear he wrote a song like that--he actually wrote a song after 9-11 called "Let's Roll" as a tribute to the heroic man (name escapes me--senior moment) who tried to (along with others) overtake the hijackers by attempting to break down the cabin door to the cockpit to gain entry. Thought he was getting more conservative in his old age (as most of us who grew up in the '60s and '70s have.)

I thought so too. Let's Roll was one of the best songs about 9-11 I have ever heard.

"Let's Roll"

I know I said I love you,
I know you know it's true,
I've got to put the phone down,
and do what we got to do.

One's standing in the iselway,
Two more at the door,
We've got to get inside there,
Before they kill somemore.

Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.
Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.

No time for indecision,
We've got to make a move,
I hope that were foregiven,
For what we got to

How this all got started,
I'll never understand,
I hope someone can fly this thing,
And get us back to land.

Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.
Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.

No one has the answer,
But one thing is true,
You've got to turn on evil,
When it's coming after you,
You've gota face it down,
And when it tries to hide,
You've gota go in after it,
And never be denied,
Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.

Let's roll for freedom,
Let's roll for love,
We're going after satan,
On the wings of a dove,
Let's roll for justice,
Let's roll for truth,
Let's not let our children,
Grow up fearfull in there youth.

Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.
Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.
Time is runnin' out,
Let's roll.

[tessalu]

Is this "news"? I think not.

[fanfan]

a tribute to the heroic man (name escapes me--senior moment)

That was Todd Beamer, I believe.

[TommyDale]

Is this the guy who used to be in that group, "Crosby, Stills, Nash and Dope"?

[drjimmy]

If you go to the original article, it has a link to a recent E&P column about Neil's father, who died last year. It seems that, among other things, Scott Young was a war correspondent in WWII and a commentator for "Hockey Night in Canada" (probably one of Canada's most well-known television programs).

There's no question Neil is a crank, and for some, his voice and guitar are at best annoying. But "Decade" rotates through my CD player more than any other pair of discs. From the wistfulness of "Sugar Mountain" and "After the Goldrush" to the majesty of "Like a Hurricane" and "Cortez the Killer," the 35 tracks cover more fertile ground in 10 years (1966-1976) than any modern musical artist other than Dylan.

[Revolting cat!]

He's an old hippie and he don't know what to do
Should he hang on to the old 
Should he grab on to the new 
He's an old hippie...his new life is just a bust 
He ain't trying to change nobody 
He's just trying real hard to adjust 

(Bellamy Bros.)

[TheForceOfOne]

Old man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you were....

[Beckwith]

idiot yankees and others who like to stereotype ALL Southerners as racists, especially the movie and music industry.

They ain't yankees. They're Californians, much, much worse.

[Beckwith]

Re: post 53

What the hell is that, the gay boys choir?

[KevinDavis]

Let's get them girls!!!

[GMMAC]

The original article put me off enough not to bother following its links.

As for Scott Young being "... a commentator for "Hockey Night in Canada" (probably one of Canada's most well-known television programs).", while this is likely accurate, it's misleading:

He may well have appeared somewhat regularly as a guest in its 'Hot Stove' feature, as many other sports writers did & still do, but I can't recall him ever having any principal role on the program.