Van Morrison has condemned scientists for spreading “crooked facts” about coronavirus in a series of new anti-lockdown songs.
The musician has released three songs targeting lockdown restrictions, bearing the titles “No More Lockdown”, “Born to Be Free” and “As I Walked Out”.
“I’m not telling people what to do or think, the government is doing a great job of that already,” Morrison said in a statement. “It’s about freedom of choice. I believe people should have the right to think for themselves.”
In “No More Lockdown”, Morrison rallies against science.
“No more lockdown,” he sings. “No more threats/No more Imperial College scientists making up crooked facts.”
The track also compares lockdown to slavery.
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 previously suggested that the coronavirus pandemic was driven by “pseudo-science”, and urged fellow musicians to reject lockdown and continue touring.
“I call on my fellow singers, musicians, writers, producers, promoters and others in the industry to fight with me on this,” he wrote on his website. “Come forward, stand up, fight the pseudoscience and speak up."
Morrison’s three new singles will be released at two-week intervals beginning on 25 September.
