U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken played Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” on the electric guitar during a visit to Kyiv, Ukraine to show solidarity and boost morale in the country. He performed with The 1999 band at a local nightspot. Blinken expressed support for Ukraine and then played the song.
The performance was reminiscent of Secretary of State John Kerry serenading Parisians with James Taylor after a terrorist attack in 2015.
“Rockin’ in the Free World” is a song by Canadian musician Neil Young, released on his 1989 album “Freedom.” The song gained significant attention for its powerful lyrics and evocative sound, becoming one of Young’s most iconic tracks.
Lyrically, “Rockin’ in the Free World” addresses various social and political issues prevalent at the time of its release. Young criticizes the state of American society, highlighting problems such as homelessness, poverty, and drug addiction. The chorus, with its refrain of “Keep on rockin’ in the free world,” has been interpreted as a call to persevere despite these challenges.
