Music icon Van Morrison is once again blasting mandatory coronavirus closures, noting that politicians “haven’t missed a paycheck” since the forced shutdowns began.
“Remember, those who are shutting down our economy haven’t missed a paycheck since lockdown began. We are not in this together,” he wrote on Twitter.
In another tweet, Van Morrison also pointed out that the Northern Ireland Executive has not been able to scientifically justify lockdowns. “10 months on and the @niexecutive still hasn’t presented the science for the Northern Ireland lockdown,” he said.
10 months on and the @niexecutive still hasn't presented the science for the Northern Ireland lockdown.
— Van Morrison (@vanmorrison) December 21, 2020
Remember, those who are shutting down our economy haven't missed a paycheck since lockdown began. We are not in this together.
— Van Morrison (@vanmorrison) December 21, 2020
Van Morrison’s comments come after he released the song “Stand and Deliver” performed by Eric Clapton that also skewered the lockdowns.
“Do you wanna’ be a free man or do you wanna be a slave?” Clapton sings. “Do you wanna’ wear these chains until you’re lying in the grave?”
Other lyrics include: “Magna Carta, Bill of Rights/ The constitution, what’s it worth?/ You know they’re gonna’ grind us down, ah/ Until it really hurts/ Is this a sovereign nation/ Or just a police state?/ You better look out, people/ Before it gets too late.”
Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann criticized the song as playing into the hands of conspiracy theorists.
“It’s actually a smear on all those involved in the public health response to a virus that has taken lives on a massive scale,” Swann told Rolling Stone. “His words will give great comfort to the conspiracy theorists – the tin foil hat brigade who crusade against masks and vaccines and think this is all a huge global plot to remove freedoms.”
Speaking with Variety, both Clapton and Van Morrison said that the lockdowns grip on the live music industry has been “deeply upsetting.”
“There are many of us who support Van and his endeavors to save live music; he is an inspiration,” Clapton said. “We must stand up and be counted because we need to find a way out of this mess. The alternative is not worth thinking about. Live music might never recover.”
“Eric’s recording is fantastic and will clearly resonate with the many who share our frustrations,” said Morrison. “It is heart-breaking to see so many talented musicians lack any meaningful support from the government, but we want to reassure them that we are working hard every day to lobby for the return of live music, and to save our industry.”
Here are the full lyrics:
Stand and deliver
You let them put the fear on you
Stand and deliver
But not a word you heard was true
But if there’s nothing you can say
There may be nothing you can do
Do you wanna be a free man
Or do you wanna be a slave?
Do you wanna be a free man
Or do you wanna be a slave?
Do you wanna wear these chains
Until you’re lying in the grave?
I don’t wanna be a pauper
And I don’t wanna be a prince
I don’t wanna be a pauper
And I don’t wanna be a prince
I just wanna do my job
Playing the blues for friends
Magna Carta, Bill of Rights
The constitution, what’s it worth?
You know they’re gonna grind us down, ah
Until it really hurts
Is this a sovereign nation
Or just a police state?
You better look out, people
Before it gets too late
You wanna be your own driver
Or keep on flogging a dead horse?
You wanna be your own driver
Or keep on flogging a dead horse?
Do you wanna make it better
Or do you wanna make it worse?
Stand and deliver
You let them put the fear on you
Slow down the river
But not a word of it was true
If there’s nothing you can say
There may be nothing you can do
Stand and deliver
Stand and deliver
Dick Turpin wore a mask too
Related: ‘The Constitution, What’s It Worth?’ Eric Clapton, Van Morrison Release Anti-Lockdown Song