The new week brings more previews from Neil Young & Crazy Horse’s reunion record, Americana, this time jumping ahead in the tracklist to the closing cut, “God Save the Queen.” Seemingly culled from the same loose jam session that brought us “Oh Susannah,” “Clementine,” and “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain,” we’ve got yet another unhinged interpretation of a traditional tune as only the Godfather of Grunge could conjure. There’s an official video featuring vintage footage once more, as well. Here’s Neil himself with a description of the 300-year-old tune’s origins:
Written in the 18th century with possible melodic roots in the 17th century, this anthem has been sung throughout the British Commonwealth and may have been sung in North America before the American Revolution and Declaration of Independence in 1776, which rejected British sovereignty. The Americana arrangement draws from the original melody and changes some melody and lyrics in the folk process, also adding lyrics of the same melody taken from “My Country ’Tis Of Thee”, in recognition of the war of Independence and America’s transition to freedom.
Without further ado, rock out to a multi-national show of patriotism below: