Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams released a new track on Wednesday criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump’s August executive order that changed the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America.
Adams, best known for his successful party-rock anthems and love ballads, released the song titled “Lake Ontario” as part of his new album, How’s It Goin,’ which will be released on Nov. 6.
“The ‘lake of shining waters’ is what the Iroquois called her; It’s a First Nations name, not an executive order,” Adams sings in the new track.
“But things weren’t going his way in Iran; So like a baby tossing the toys from the pram,” the song continues, “But it feels like another distraction; While the Epstein files were getting traction; One day they’ll come out and we’ll say ‘there you go’; And then we’ll all dive into Lake Ontario.”
Trump’s name appears thousands of times in the Epstein files, but he has not been charged with any misconduct and has consistently denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s illegal activities.
The music video combines sweeping shots of Lake Ontario with clips of Adams singing from a rocky outcrop and rowing a boat on the water.
Trump signed an executive order changing the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” in U.S. government records and maps on Aug. 27, following a breakdown in trade negotiations with Canada .
Asked what message he was trying to send Canada with the executive order at the time, Trump said: “No message…Canada has been ripping us off for a long time on trade, very sadly.”
Politicians on both sides of the border condemned the name change , with Prime Minister Mark Carney writing on X : “We know that America is changing. Their trading relationships, their foreign policies, their national monuments, their hydronyms. Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario — then, now and always.”
Meanwhile, it’s not the first time Adams has used his music to express his frustration with the Trump administration.
On Canada Day, the singer-songwriter released a track called “51st State,” in which he both celebrated the shared history and friendship of Canada and the U.S., and vowed to fight for his country if need be.
“Maybe you’ve forgotten; Maybe you just don’t care; But we always stood beside you; For that liberty we share,” he 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.”
It also mentions tariffs: “So let me give you some advice, mister; You might have too much on your plate; Go and load us up with tariffs; But we’ll never be the 51st State.”
Both “51st State” and “Lake Ontario” are tracks on Adams’ new album.
“The idea was simply to make a record about Canada,” Adams said of the record in its description on his website . “It started with writing the song for the documentary Canada’s Wild Eastern Edge, and after doing so much research I was inspired to start writing more songs about Canada. Musically, it took me somewhere a little different too, which made the whole thing exciting.”
Other song titles among the album’s 12 tracks include “The Battle of Lundy’s Lane,” “The Ballad of Terry Fox,” and “When Canada Joined Newfoundland.”
“Lake Ontario” full lyrics:
From glacial erosion – to indigenous care
From European exploration – to industrial wear and tear
The “lake of shining waters” is what the Iroquois called her
It’s a First Nations name – not an executive order
But things weren’t going his way in Iran
So like a baby tossing the toys from the pram
He may have thought it best to throw a low blow
And create a real dog and pony show
But it feels like another distraction
While the Epstein files were getting traction
One day they’ll come out and we’ll say “there you go”
And then we’ll all dive into Lake Ontario
After centuries of trade and war
People settled down on the banks and shores
All rivalries and conflicts – had all but ceased
But it just took one dude to break that peace
But things weren’t going his way in Iran
So like a baby tossing the toys from the pram
He may have thought it best to throw a low blow
And create a real dog and pony show
But it feels like another distraction
While the Epstein files were getting traction
One day they’ll come out, and we’ll say “there you go”
And then we’ll all dive into Lake Ontario
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