Two brand new songs from the legendary Rolling Stones frontman have been released, each with a political message. Jagger, in an interview with Rolling Stone said that he penned the tracks in response to “anxiety [and] unknowability of the changing political situation. We obviously have a lot of problems. So am I politically optimistic?…No.”

“Gotta Get a Grip” boasts a dance rock tune led by classic, gritty Jagger vocals, a strong guitar lead and a drum beat that just makes you want to strut. With lyrics like, “everybody’s stuffing their pockets, everybody’s on the take. The news is all fake,” he’s transparent with his views.

The video, staring Girls star Jemima Kirke, is set in a lavish nightclub filled with young club-goers enjoying the high life and all of its extravagance. But as Jagger jeers “you gotta get a grip” they realize how trapped they are, and chaos ensues as they try to escape.

Jagger has reportedly said of the song that, “the message I suppose is – despite all those things that are happening, you gotta get on with your own life, be yourself and attempt to create your own destiny.”

His second song, “England Lost,” exudes a bluesy, uptempo rock where Jagger recounts the story of a disappointing soccer match that serves as an analogy for political unrest and vulnerability. He says:

It’s about the unknowability about where you are and the feeling of insecurity. That’s how I was feeling when I was writing.

The noir video shows a spooked businessman who realizes he’s being followed after leaving work. He runs throughout the city to the countryside but is hit by a bike and a car, doubling down of the sentiment of distrust and uneasiness exuded in the song.

Jagger reportedly chose to release these 2 songs as standalone tracks, as opposed to putting the tracks as part of a full album. Jagger says, “I feel a slight throwback to a time when you could be a bit more free and easy by recording on the hoof and putting it out there immediately. I didn’t want to wait until next year when these two tracks might lose any impact and mean nothing.”