Neil Young calls for “new rules for policing” with live “Southern Man” video

Neil Young has shared video of a 2019 performance of his anti-racist classic "Southern Man," from 1970's After the Gold Rush with a message about the current state of America and the country-wide protests that have been held daily since the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police last week. "Here’s me as an old guy singin’ his 50-year-old song that was written after countless years of racism in the USA," Neil writes on his website. "And look at us today! This has been going on for way too long. It’s not just ‘Southern Man’ now. It’s everywhere across the USA. It’s time for real change, new laws, new rules for policing." You can watch "Southern Man" over at Neil Young Archives.

Neil also recently wrote on his site, "Make police forces represent the balance of color in the city they serve. We need more cops of color to maintain balance. White dominance has no place in the policing of America. When we elect a president who cares about the people, this must be the first thing that happens. ALL COLORS TOGETHER."

This version of "Southern Man" is from a full-length concert video, Polar Vortex, that Neil says is coming soon to the NY Archives.

Neil Young's "lost" '70s album Homegrown is finally getting an official release on June 19.