TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Van Morrison rails against virus restrictions in new songs
Music legend Van Morrison said he has recorded three "protest songs" against the UK government's coronavirus lockdown measures, in which he reportedly accuses scientists of "making up crooked facts".
Change Size
Northern Irish musician Van Morrison performs in Sondika, near Bilbao, northern Spain, on June 2, 2017. (REUTERS/Vincent West)
M
usic legend Van Morrison said on Friday he has recorded three "protest songs" against the UK government's coronavirus lockdown measures, in which he reportedly accuses scientists of "making up crooked facts".
The Northern Irish singer-songwriter will release the new tracks -- named "Born To Be Free", "As I Walked Out", and "No More Lockdown" -- at two-week intervals from September 25.
"Morrison makes it clear in his new songs how unhappy he is with the way the government has taken away personal freedoms," a statement said on his website announcing the releases.
In one of the trio of records, the musician sings: "No more government overreach/No more fascist bullies/Disturbing our peace".
In another, he sings: "No more taking of our freedom/And our God given rights/Pretending it's for our safety/When it's really to enslave".
Morrison also claims scientists are "making up crooked facts" to justify the restrictions, the BBC reported.
Morrison said in a statement that he was "not telling people what to do or think".
Read also: 'Rave on': Irish president helps celebrate Van Morrison's 75th birthday
"The government is doing a great job of that already.
"It's about freedom of choice, I believe people should have the right to think for themselves."
The "Brown Eyed Girl" singer had already stirred controversy last month when reportedly urging people to "fight the pseudoscience" around COVID-19, before he staged several socially distanced performances in England.
"It's not economically viable to do socially distanced gigs," he said, urging the music industry "to fight with me on this".
Britain has been the worst-hit country in Europe by the coronavirus pandemic, and is currently seeing a resurgence in cases after a months-long lockdown earlier this year.
Morrison said he will debut his new songs later this month in shows at the London Palladium theater, and make them available for download and streaming.
