Neil Young Debuts Big Crime Protest Song Targeting Trump in Chicago

Neil Young debuted a new protest song targeting President Donald Trump on Wednesday night, performing "Big Crime" with his band the Chrome Hearts at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago. The 79 year old rocker also posted audio of a soundcheck performance and full lyrics on his Neil Young Archives site as his North American Love Earth tour continues.

"Big Crime" explicitly condemns what Young describes as a federal takeover of Washington, D.C., and criticizes the presence of National Guard troops and other federal agents on city streets. "Don't need no fascist rules, don't want no fascist schools, don't want soldiers on our streets," Young sings in the refrain. The song calls to "get the fascists out" and "clean the White House out," language that extends themes from earlier protest tracks in his set including "Southern Man" and "Ohio."

Young's new release comes after President Trump announced earlier this month that federal forces, including National Guard members and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, would be deployed in Washington to help local authorities address crime. Reporting by The Hill said nearly 1,200 people have since been arrested...