Diamond new song benefiting Boston victims

AT THE OLD BALLGAME: Neil Diamond has written, recorded and produced a new song inspired by the Boston Marathon bombings. “Freedom Song (They’ll Never Take Us Down)” will be released on the Hall of Famer’s longtime label Columbia next Tuesday, with 100% of the purchase price equally benefiting One Fund Boston and the Wounded Warrior Project. He’ll perform it live for the first time on the Fourth of July at a Washington Nationals game. Diamond, Columbia, Sony/ATV, MLB, the Nats, iTunes and Amazon MP3 have all donated their time, expenses and support to the “Freedom Song” project. “This song is written for everybody in this country and it essentially says take heart: our spirit and our country are whole and that they will carry us through difficult times,” Diamond tells Rolling Stone. “Difficult times being threats to our own freedom, which has to be protected, defended at all times. It's all about maintaining our spirit and our love for the country and doing what we have to do to protect it.” In the interview, Diamond also said he’s writing new material for his next Columbia album, which he hopes to have out next year. (6/28a)