Bryan Adams releases a new album that doubles as a political takedown of Donald Trump: ‘Lake Ontario is forever’
Making a statement.
Bryan Adams just dropped a new musical project that is stirring up quite a bit of noise. The veteran rocker has released a track titled Lake Ontario, which seems to be a pointed critique of the current political environment. According to The Guardian, the song is part of his upcoming album, How’s It Goin’, arriving on November 6. Adams describes the record as a love letter to his home country of Canada.
The project started after he received an invitation to write music about the Maritimes provinces. He eventually decided to expand the scope of the work into a full album.
The title track specifically addresses the decision by President Donald Trump to rename Lake Ontario. Trump signed an executive order in August that declared the body of water should be called Lake America. This action follows a previous move by the president to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Adams uses his lyrics to push back against this executive order. He highlights the history of the lake and its original name.
The song addresses a number of political issues
The lyrics state, “The ‘lake of shining waters’ is what the Iroquois called her. It’s a First Nations name – not an executive order.” Adams seems to be pointing out that names often carry cultural weight that cannot be simply overridden by official paperwork. He also uses the song to comment on other political issues facing the president. He explicitly mentions the situation in Iran and the scrutiny surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files.
The lyrics in the song are quite direct regarding these events. The lyrics state: “But things weren’t going his way in Iran. So like a baby tossing the toys from the pram. But it feels like another distraction. While the Epstein files were getting traction.”
According to PEOPLE, the president has defended his approach to Canada during recent public remarks. “As you know Canada has been ripping us off for a long time on trade,” the president told reporters in the Oval Office after signing the executive order.
Trump added that the United States defends Canada without receiving payment for the service. He claimed that officials in the neighboring country want to be treated like a state, even though they are not. These comments illustrate the tension that has been building between the two countries.
Adams appears to be aware of the controversy his music could generate
The singer told the press that the song is not meant to be aggressive. “It’s not angry. It’s stating the facts,” Adams said. He mentioned that he is simply commenting on current affairs and checking the temperature in the room. He remains firm in his stance regarding the lake itself.
“Empires and regimes, dictators and kings, they all come and go. Lake Ontario is forever,” the musician said in a press release about the song. He views the track as a message for sane people living on both shores who believe the current madness will pass.
This is not the only song on the new album that addresses the current administration. Adams also included a track called 51st State, which was released on July 1, also known as Canada Day. That song functions as a rejection of the president’s efforts to annex Canada. The lyrics suggest a firm boundary between the two nations. “You can push us to the brink. But where the open road divides. You’ll find a wall of maple. With us on the other side.”
The singer was worried about the reception
Adams shared that he was initially concerned about how American audiences would react to his music. He performed the song live in the United States and was surprised by the response. “We weren’t sure how people were going to respond to it,” he said. “But we got a standing ovation every night for it. It made me think: perhaps, finally, the tide’s turning.”
The album includes other tracks that celebrate Canadian identity, like The Battle of Terry Fox. This song honors the athlete who ran across the country for charity after losing a leg to cancer. By including these tracks, Adams is building a narrative that honors his heritage while simultaneously critiquing political moves he dislikes.
The renaming of the lake remains a symbolic gesture of influence, as international organizations and the Canadian government have not adopted the new name. Adams seems determined to ensure the original identity of the lake remains in the public consciousness.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
Follow The Mary Sue:
