Five Questions with Musician Nils Lofgren

The Protest Anthem You've Been Waiting For!

Nils Lofgren is a talented musician. You’re probably familiar with his work. In addition to being a solo artist, he is part of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band—the guitarist. He is also a member of Crazy Horse and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

But Nils is our guest tonight in his capacity as a songwriter. He and his wife, Amy, have written a song for our times, “No Kings, No Hate, No Fear.” It has stayed with me ever since I first heard it, a little coil of inner strength that I can call on when I need it.

Nils’ wife, Amy, is a force of nature. Her uncompromising anti-Trump stance from the start of his first administration shone a light where it was needed most. As a couple, they’ve quietly provided support to others who oppose authoritarianism when most needed. And now Nils has written this anthem, just in time for us to sing and march to at the next No Kings rally on March 28. You can find more of his work and a link to the song here. If you want to learn the song, [Edited to add: Nils has been nice enough to send along the lead sheet, which is included at the bottom

Mary Trump had this to say about the song when we talked about it: “In addition to being the greatest guitarist on the planet, Nils Lofgren is also one of the kindest people I know. He approaches his life and work with compassion and empathy, both of which resonate in ‘No Kings No Hate No Fear.’ It’s propulsive and elemental, a street anthem to unite us all.”

“Five Questions” is a periodic feature for paid subscribers, my way of thanking those who are able to support this work so that I can devote the necessary time and resources to it. Whether you’re a paid subscriber or not, I’m happy to have you here. I appreciate everyone who reads the newsletter and works to stay informed in this pivotal moment. Free subscriptions, with access to all of the other nightly posts, will always be available, so please sign up.

Author’s note: Nils is far too kind to credit me for even an ounce of the inspiration behind his powerful song! It’s true that we discussed the importance of music to political movements before he wrote it. But the song is all him and Amy.

Joyce: I know it’s a mistake to ask people to describe their art, but I’m wondering if I can get away with it just this once? You wrote this incredible song. It’s beautiful and haunting, but it’s also a classic protest song (we’re both old enough to remember the 60s…). What was the moment or experience that inspired “No Kings, No Hate, No Fear,” and how quickly did it take shape after that?

Nils: Along with the rest of the country and my fierce, freedom fighter wife Amy, I’ve been watching this treasonous regime running our troubled, beautiful country and its democracy into the ground, on purpose and with evil intent.

When you suggested we need an anthem for the resistance, I challenged myself to write a song that did that idea justice. I knew it needed to be simple, primitive and visceral. Over a couple of days, while walking our two dogs Rose and Earl around the yard, I kept experimenting with phrases I could chant that described the angst and trauma of the current moment. Once I started chanting No Kings, No Hate, No Fear, it held the emotion needed for me. I tried to top it and couldn’t.

I felt now I had the seed of the song. I played it for Amy who liked it and helped me improve the lyrics. As I worked on the right melody and chords, I felt emotional and excited about its potential.

Watching the magnificent people of Minneapolis, Minnesota, stand up day after day in the brutal cold with such fierce courage and intent, honoring what freedom in our country was meant to be, was a daily inspiration for writing this song.

I called my friend, the great engineer Jamie Weddle, to come over and get the recording done as soon as possible. Immediately, I had my wife Amy and dear friend Mary Trump, and you listen to it. When you all agreed the emotion and intent was there, I knew the song was done!

Joyce: I believe, and I suspect you do too, that culture is upstream of politics and that a good book, movie, or song can influence how people view current events. Has that been your experience? How do you think music can influence our current situation?

Nils: I have always believed that music is our planet’s Sacred Weapon. Every day, billions of people turn to music for healing, uniting, inspiration and hope. All art at its best serves this purpose, for all people. Using gifts we didn’t ask for, people create art that magically calls us all to a higher place of understanding, compassion, inspiration and community.

Joyce: What kind of emotional impact do you hope this song will have on listeners? How would you describe the song?

Nils: Of course, the song I wrote, hopefully, will touch and inspire listeners. It is a street anthem for freedom’s gladiators. As I worked on the song from the title, “No Kings, No Hate, No Fear,” I saw the next phrase, “our freedom beating here,” symbolic of a giant, relentless heartbeat of millions of everyday, salt of the earth Americans, collectively pushing as one for what the dream and promise of a true democracy must mean to us all, if our country is to endure. “A mighty people here,” speaks to the realization that it is truly and solely up to us now, the citizenry, to rise up and demand and create the country we want, and believe, can and should be. Our government is no longer here to help or save us. It is “for the people, by the people” and it’s only the people that can raise our democracy back to what it needs to be, for all. The tribal beat (the tribe being all humanity) and repetitive phrases are a hopeful trance and inspiration to keep us moving towards that.

Joyce: Later this year, you’re set to tour with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band on the 2026 “Land of Hope and Dreams” U.S. tour. It’s 19 shows (I’m sad there isn’t one in Birmingham), starting with Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon. Obviously, those two cities take on an oversized significance right now, between the occupation of one by ICE and the deployment of the National Guard in the other. Americans have notoriously short attention spans. Can music help keep us focused on what we’ve been through, heading into the midterms? What role do you think the tour will play?

Nils: I spent last summer in Europe standing next to Bruce S. on stage, burning with pride, as he eloquently called out the treasonous regime damaging our beloved country. To head out to 20 U.S. cities and have him speak the brutal truth to this corrupted regime as we play powerful, healing music is a great honor, and I believe it will inspire millions of people to raise their voices, too.

Joyce: If you close your eyes and think about this song, which you’ve now put out into the world, where do you imagine it being sung and by whom? Where do you think it belongs?

Nils: I’d love to see groups of patriots resisting this destruction of democracy, singing it loud and clear in streets and towns all over America, in overwhelming numbers!

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I hope you’ll do Nils and me a favor. We’d love to hear about your own experience of the song. Drop a note in the chat, and tell us what it means to you. Plan on singing it as you march at your next protest? Let us know about that, too. No Kings. No Hate. No Fear.

We’re in this together,

Joyce