The Killers Release ‘Land Of The Free’ About America’s Current Social And Political Climate

Their latest single comments on the tradies affecting America.

Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 12:02

The Killers have never been a band ashamed to use their platform to speak out for those who can’t.

In their latest single, which got its first spin on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 show, the boys do just that. Talking about America’s issues that many *cough* Trump *cough* don’t attend to, the band discusses America’s dangerous gun laws, migrant families that are stuck at the border, and the country's problem with systematic racism.

The Killers

To bring the song to life (and really make us bawl), the band invited director Spike Lee to help turn the song into a short film.

Watch The Killers ‘Land Of The Free’ short film below:

View the lyrics

Can't wipe the wind-blown smile from across my face
It's just the old man in me
Washing his truck at the Sinclair station
In the land of the free
His mother Adeline's family came on a ship
Cut coal and planted a seed
Down in them drift mines of Pennsylvania
In the land of the free

Land of the free, land of the free
In the land of the free
Land of the free, land of the free
Land of the free, land of the free
In the land of the free
(I'm standing crying)

When I go out in my car, I don't think twice
But if you're the wrong color skin
(I'm standing crying)
You grow up looking over both your shoulders
In the land of the free
We got more people locked up than the rest of the world
Right here in red, white and blue
(I'm standing crying)
Incarceration's become big business
It's harvest time out on the avenue

Land of the free, land of the free
In the land of the free
Land of the free, land of the free
Move on there's nothing to see
Land of the free, land of the free
In the land of the free

I'm standing crying
I'm standing crying

So how many daughters, tell me how many sons
Do we have to put in the ground
Before we just break down and face it
We got a problem with guns
In the land of the free
Down at the border, they're gonna put up a wall
Concrete and rebar steel beams (I'm standing crying)
High enough to keep all those filthy hands off
Of our hopes and our dreams (I'm standing crying)
People who just want the same things we do
In the land of the free

Land of the free, land of the free
In the land of the free
Land of the free, land of the free
Land of the free, land of the free
In the land of the free
Land of the free, land of the free
Land of the free, land of the free
Land of the free, land of the free
In the land of the free
(I'm standing crying)

Writer(s): Mahalia Jackson, Brandon Flowers Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

Frontman Brandon Flowers shared a message about the inspiration behind ‘Land of The Free’ on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/p/Bsn4zAIBOoQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

With lyrics like: ‘Down at the border / They’re gonna put up a wall / With concrete and rebar steel beams / High enough to keep all those filthy hands off of our hopes and our dreams / People who just want the same thing we do / In the land of the free,’ the band touch on the current decision from President Trump to build a border in order to keep Mexican families from entering the States.

In the short film, we see the destruction and horrors that America attempts to bury with silence on the topics, which is why it’s so admirable to see The Killers drawing attention to the national tragedies. With little justice being done for so many, raising awareness and promoting discussions around the topic is a great way to trigger a change in the way we respond and help stop current tragic events unfolding in America.

Giving Spike Lee full creative reign, he traveled to the U.S/Mexico Border to film the migrant families as they tried to make their way through to ‘the land of the free’ near the end of 2018. The footage he obtained is heartbreaking but brings to light just how much needs to be done for these families, and the change that needs to take place in America.