Canadian rocker Bryan Adams releases ‘51st State’ protest song

Thousands gathered at Toronto's Fan Fest as Bryan Adams headlined a FIFA countdown concert, with events also held in Mexico and Los Angeles. CP24's Sijia Liu ha

Canadian rocker and singer-songwriter Bryan Adams is taking aim at U.S. President Donald Trump with a new protest song.

Released just ahead of Canada Day, the song “51st State” sees Adams singing straight from the heart with words that cut like a knife.

“So let me give you some advice mister, you might have too much on your plate,” Adams sings with his trademark rasp. “Go (and) load us up with tariffs, but we’ll never be the 51st State.”

While Adams doesn’t mention the American president by name, the song is clearly a response to Trump’s rhetoric and trade policies, which have upended Canada’s historically close relationship with the U.S.

“Maybe you’ve forgotten, maybe you just don’t care, but we always stood beside you, for that liberty we share,” Adams sings. “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.”

Born in Kingston, Ont., the 66-year-old is currently on a world tour in support of his new album “Roll with the Punches.” Adams is scheduled to play more than a dozen shows across Canada in August and September.

Fellow rocker and Trump critic Bruce Springsteen released his own protest song in January. Titled “Streets of Minneapolis,” Springsteen wrote the song after two American citizens were killed by federal agents during an immigration crackdown in the city.