Photo: Bill Kelly

On Saturday, April 26, Light Up the Blues benefit concert returned for its seventh consecutive year to celebrate Autism Speaks’ 20th anniversary at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. During the event, politically active musician Neil Young used his platform to debut a new song, featuring sardonic references to Donald Trump’s “America First” policies and Elon Musk.

The aforementioned song emerged as the initial number in what would become a four-track set, featuring a broach of the American automotive industry, “Come on Ford, come on GM/ Come on Chrysler, let’s roll again.” He continues, “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.”

The new number included Young’s signature harmonica solo, before arriving at the root of his message: “If you’re a fascist, get a Tesla/ It’s electric, it doesn’t matter.” Adding, “If you’re a democrat, taste your freedom/ Get whatever you want, taste your freedom.”

The set’s starting point ushered in high-caliber references to the past through a series of bust-outs, including the first “Big Box” since 2015, and even more pertinent to the archive, the first “Ordinary People” in 36 years. The last time Young turned out the Chrome Dreams II inclusion was on April 18, 1989, during a tour stop in Australia. In total, Young has only played the previously mentioned song seven times, spanning from its Oct. 30, 1988, live release. 

Next, Young welcomed a fellow participant of the event, his old friend, Stephen Stills, for a commentary on humanity’s loss of connection to their natural environment on “Human Highway,” before giving the people what they came for with a rousing rendition of “Rockin’ in the Free World.” Notably, during Stills’ frame, he swapped sit-ins, welcoming Young on “For What It’s Worth.”

Scroll down to watch a fan-shot video of Young’s new song.