Van Morrison says politicians ‘haven’t missed a paycheck' since Covid-19 lockdown: 'We're not in this together'
Rock icon Van Morrison has lashed out at government lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that politicians "haven't missed a paycheck" since the closures began earlier this year. “Remember, those who are shutting down our economy haven’t missed a paycheck since lockdown began. We are not in this together,” the singer-songwriter legend wrote in a tweet Monday, attacking the political class for their apparent hypocrisy.
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
Morrison also blasted the Northern Ireland Executive for failing to explain the "science" behind lockdowns. “10 months on and the @niexecutive still hasn’t presented the science for the Northern Ireland lockdown,” he wrote in a separate tweet, Breitbart News reported.
10 months on and the @niexecutive still hasn't presented the science for the Northern Ireland lockdown.
— Van Morrison (@vanmorrison) December 21, 2020
The "Brown Eyed Girl" hitmaker's comments come as the UK is entering stringent 'Tier 4' lockdowns, which would result in even more business to shutter down and throw millions out of their jobs. Morrison released three new singles earlier this year -- accusing governments of "taking our freedom" and stressing that "the new normal, is not normal."
“No More Lockdown” features lyrics that touch upon government overreach. “No more lockdown / No more government overreach,” goes the chorus. “No more fascist bullies / Disturbing our peace.”
Van Morrison recently collaborated with Eric Clapton to make "Stand and Deliver" -- another song that ridicules COVID-19 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?"
The 'Tears in Heaven' hitmaker noted that he just wants to do his job as a musician, "playin’ the blues for my friends."
"Magna Carta, Bill of Rights / The constitution, what’s it worth? / You know they’re gonna grind us down / Until it really hurts," he continues. "Is this a sovereign nation / Or just a police state? / You better look out, people / Before it gets too late."
Clapton ends the tune with "Dick Turpin wore a mask too," referring to a notorious English highwayman who committed a series of crimes in the 18th century and was known to wear a mask. This is barely the first time the 75-year-old guitar legend has clarified his stance regarding the pandemic. "We must stand up and be counted because we need to find a way out of this mess," Clapton previously said in a statement. "The alternative is not worth thinking about. Live music might never recover."
That said, the collaboration with Clapton is part of Morrison's "Save Live Music" campaign. Proceeds from its sales will reportedly go to a musician-focused Lockdown Hardship Fund. Morrison also released three other anti-closure songs earlier this year, titled "Born to Be Free," "As I Walked Out" and "No More Lockdown."
Health officials in the UK have publicly denounced Morrison's stance on lockdowns. "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," Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann wrote in an op-ed for the Rolling Stone. "His words will give great comfort to the conspiracy theorists – the tinfoil hat brigade who crusade against masks and vaccines and think this is all a huge global plot to remove freedoms."