Neil Young doesn't do "quiet." Whether he's pulling his entire catalog off Spotify or suing a sitting president, the guy operates on a frequency that most people find exhausting. But his latest move, a track titled Let's Roll Again, is something different. It’s a sequel—not to a hit, but to one of the most polarizing moments of his fifty-year career.
If you remember 2001, you remember the original "Let's Roll." It was written in a fever dream after 9/11, honoring Todd Beamer and the passengers of Flight 93. It was raw, it was pro-action, and it confused the hell out of his hippie fan base. Fast forward to 2025, and Neil is back at the Greek Theatre in LA, standing with a guitar and a new grudge.
The Elon Musk Factor: "If You're a Fascist, Get a Tesla"
Neil Young premiered Let's Roll Again on April 26, 2025, at the Light Up The Blues benefit. He wasn't alone; he had his new band, The Chrome Hearts, behind him. This group—Micah Nelson, Anthony LoGerfo, Corey McCormick, and the legendary Spooner Oldham—provides a sludge-heavy, garage-rock backbone that feels like a more grounded version of Crazy Horse.
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But nobody was talking about the band. They were talking about the lyrics.
"If you’re a fascist, get a Tesla. It’s electric. It doesn’t matter."
That’s a hell of a line. Neil has spent the last two decades being the "Electric Car Guy." He spent millions converting a 1959 Lincoln Continental into the "LincVolt" hybrid. He wrote an entire album, Fork in the Road, about how we needed to stop relying on oil. Now, he’s basically telling people that the tech is great, but the man behind the curtain is the problem.
Honestly, it’s a weird spot to be in. He's effectively attacking the most successful electric vehicle company in history because he disagrees with Elon Musk’s politics. During the performance, he even threw in a shout-out to China’s EV market, claiming they’re "way ahead" because they’re making clean cars while the U.S. "Big Three" (Ford, GM, Chrysler) are lagging.
A Borrowed Melody with a New Mission
Musically, Let's Roll Again is a bit of a Frankenstein’s monster. It’s built on the skeleton of Woody Guthrie’s "This Land Is Your Land." Neil’s done this before—he covered the song on his Americana album back in 2012—but here, it feels more like a protest anthem than a folk tribute.
The song isn't just a diss track for tech billionaires. It’s a plea to the old-school American auto industry. He literally calls them out by name:
- "Come on Ford, come on GM"
- "Come on Chrysler, let’s roll again"
He wants them to "build something special that people need" and "build us a safe way for us to meet." It’s classic Neil: clunky, heavy-handed, and 100% sincere. He isn't trying to be poetic; he’s trying to be a megaphone.
The Backlash: "Bitter Old Liberal" or Prophet?
Predictably, the internet exploded. By May 2025, Newsweek and other outlets were reporting a massive "MAGA backlash." Critics on X (formerly Twitter) were calling him a "bitter old liberal" who "never grew up."
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There's a certain irony to it. In 2001, Neil was being called a "conservative" because he supported the use of force after the terrorist attacks. Now, he’s the "liberal" enemy because he’s attacking Musk and Trump. But if you look at his history, Neil hasn't actually changed. He’s always been an individualist. He hates big power, whether it’s a government, a record label, or a tech mogul.
The song is set to appear on his upcoming album, Talkin' To The Trees, which is scheduled for release on June 13, 2025. Produced by the legendary Lou Adler and Neil himself, the record was tracked at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu. If the single is any indication, the album is going to be a loud, messy, and deeply political affair.
Why "Let's Roll Again" Matters Right Now
You might think, who cares what an 80-year-old rock star thinks about car manufacturing? Well, Neil still moves the needle. When he pulled his music from Spotify over Joe Rogan, it started a global conversation about platform responsibility. When he writes a song like Let's Roll Again, he’s tapping into a very real anxiety about the intersection of technology and authoritarianism.
Is the song good? That’s debatable. Some fans on Reddit called it "heavy-handed" and "boring." Others loved the "brutal" honesty. But Neil Young doesn't care if you think it's good. He’s already moved on to the next thing.
What you should do next:
- Listen to the live version: If you want to hear the raw energy, look for fan-captured footage from the Greek Theatre on April 26, 2025. It’s much grittier than the studio cut.
- Check the lyrics: Compare the 2001 "Let's Roll" with the 2025 "Let's Roll Again." The shift from "defending the country" to "defending the climate" tells the whole story of Neil’s evolution.
- Pre-order the album: Talkin' To The Trees drops June 13 on Reprise Records. If you’re a fan of the sludge-rock sound he’s been chasing lately, this one is a mandatory listen.
Neil Young is still rolling. Whether he’s rolling in the right direction depends entirely on where you’re standing.
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Actionable Takeaway
If you're following the environmental movement or the intersection of tech and politics, keep an eye on the release of Talkin' To The Trees. This album represents a pivot in protest music, focusing on the infrastructure of the future rather than just the grievances of the past. Keep a lookout for the official music video for Let's Roll Again, which features controversial imagery that sparked a lot of the initial 2025 debate.