Neil Young Channels Political Frustration into Anti-Trump Anthem “Big Crime,” Debuts New Song in Chicago
Photo: Freedom LP Cover Art [1988]
Last night, Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts arrived in Chicago for their latest appearance on the Love Earth Tour. The midweek concert, held at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, saw the five-piece band boldly express their political frustration through “Big Crime,” a new song that took the 13th slot in the set, positioned after Young’s Crazy Horse co-release and environmental activist prod, “Sun Green.” The band’s boisterous stance against the Trump administration was a commanding moment, emphasized by the lyrics, “There’s big crime in DC at THE White House.”
“Big Crime” is the latest protest song to enter Young’s bank of material, following the arrival of modern protest anthems like 2025’s Talking To The Trees cuts, “Big Change,” and “Let’s Roll Again.” Young’s activism spans more than 50 years, going back to the 1970s, and was elicited via anti-Vietnam anthem and response piece to the Kent State Massacre, “Ohio,” anti-discrimination and regional commentary on “Southern Man,” among other songs that have bolstered his perspective and willingness to express concern and frustrations for the current system.
Last night’s debut saw Young sing in direct response to Trump’s decision to deploy troops from the National Guard in the Nation’s capital.
No more great again
No – no more great again
There’s big crime in DC at THE White House
Don’t need no fascist rules
Don’t want no fascist schools
Don’t want soldiers on our streets
There’s big crime in DC at THE White House
There’s big crime in DC at THE White House
Got to get the fascists out
got to Clean the white house out
Don’t want soldiers on our streets
There’s big crime in DC at THE White House
There’s big crime in DC at THE White House
No more great again
No – no more great again
There’s big crime in DC at THE White House
There’s big crime in DC at THE White House
No more money to the fascists
the billionaire fascists
TIME TO BLACKOUT THE SYSTEM
no more great again
No – no more great again
TIME TO BLACKOUT THE SYSTEM
There’s big crime in DC at THE White House
There’s big crime in DC at THE White House
NO MORE GREAT AGAIN
No NO MORE GREAT AGAIN
There’s big crime in DC at THE White House
There’s big crime in DC at THE White House
NO MORE GREAT AGAIN
NO NO MORE GREAT AGAIN
Young’s choice to deliver a new number represented the latest in a series of tired and true first-time plays and tour debuts, which have revived material such as “One of These Days,” “New Mama,” “I’m The Ocean,” “Looking Forward,” and more. Following the climax of Young and The Chrome Hearts’ Windy City stand, they provided live treatments of “Like A Hurricane,” “Name Of Love,” and “Old Man,” before positioning “Hey Hey, My My” in the encore slot.
After last night’s performance, the band will perform in Milwaukee, Wis., tomorrow, August 29. Tickets remain on sale.
Neil Young
Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island – Chicago
August 27, 2025
Set: Ambulance Blues, Cowgirl In The Sand, Be The Rain, Southern Man, Ohio, Silver Eagle, Looking Forward, One Of These Days, Harvest Moon, Singer Without A Song, Mr. Soul, Sun Green, Big Crime+, Like A Hurricane, Name Of Love, Old Man
Enc.: Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)
Notes:
+ Song debut
Setlist and notes via sugarmtn.org.
