When Tim Walz officially accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for vice president on Wednesday, he took the stage to a song that would have annoyed Donald Trump, had he been watching: “Rockin’ in the Free World” by Neil Young.

The song is one of the Minnesota governor’s personal favorites, and he reached out to the rock icon to ask for permission to use it before his speech at the DNC. And yes, Young personally granted the request, CNN reported Wednesday night.

But surprise: “Rockin’ in the Free World” is also one of many popular songs that Donald Trump has used over the years without the permission and usually despite the explicit objections of the artists who created them.

Trump began using the song after he announced his first presidential candidacy in 2015, which Young vigorously protested at the time. Four years later, Trump used it at two different campaign events – including the mask-free rally on June 20 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that likely led to Herman Cain’s death from COVID-19 just 10 days later.

Young sued Trump for copyright infringement. A complaint stated, in part: “This lawsuit is not intended to disregard the rights and opinions of American citizens who are free to support the candidate of their choice. However, Plaintiff cannot in good conscience allow his music to be used as the ‘theme song’ for a divisive, un-American campaign of ignorance and hate.”

Young withdrew the lawsuit in December 2020, 4 months after it was filed. The case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it could not be refiled; it is unknown why he withdrew it or if any sort of settlement was reached.

In any case, Neil Young is just one of countless artists who have allowed Democratic politicians to use their songs. Most notably, Beyoncé gave Kamala Harris permission to use “Freedom” for her campaign – a song that Trump also tried to use without permission.