Canadian rock legend Neil Young has rushed out to radio stations a new song inspired by the passengers on board one of the hijacked flights of Sept. 11.

Warner Music Canada said the song, "Let's Roll," is being sent out to media and Canadian radio stations this week.

The song was written and recorded two weeks ago just before the American Thanksgiving weekend, backed by Memphis soul legends Booker T & The MGs and Crazy Horse guitarist Frank "Pancho" Sampedro, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Young's manager, Elliot Roberts, told The Times that the singer was inspired by a newspaper article on Todd Beamer, one of the passengers who led a revolt against the hijackers onboard one of the planes. It's uncertain where the flight was being redirected to, but it ultimately crash-landed in a Pennsylvania field. It has been suggested that the plane may have been targeted at a government building in Washington.

Beamer and his fellow passengers have been posthumously hailed as heroes for averting a third deadly attack on a building. Beamer called his wife from the flight, and reportedly his last words before joining the attack on the hijackers was: "Let's roll!"

The song, which has already been posted on fansites around the 'Net, is a slow-burning R&B-flavoured rocker, with Young breaking into his trademark falsetto on the bridge and intoning lyrics that starkly portray the scene aboard the Flight 93.

The song premiered on Los Angeles radio station KLOS before anyone at Young's label, Reprise Records, had managed to hear it. The label enlisted a team of secretaries to burn 400 copies of the song last Thursday so it could get to radio quickly.

The discs were stuffed into envelopes with a simple label carrying Young's name and the song's title, without a cover letter. They began arriving at radio stations Monday, The Times reported.

Roberts told The Times that the song will be included on Young's next album, due in February or March, but the track will not be released as a commercial single.

Young is about to embark on yet another CSNY reunion tour in February. During his tenure with the 70s hitmakers, Young pulled off a similar quick-turnaround record inspired by real events. Shortly after the National Guard shot and killed four anti-war demonstrators at Kent State, Young wrote and recorded the song "Ohio" and quickly released the song.

Here are the complete lyrics to "Let's Roll":
(Sound of cell phone ringing)
I know I said I love you
I know you know it's true
I've got to put the phone down
And do what we gotta do
One's standing in the aisle way
Two more at the door
We've got to get inside there
Before they kill some more
Time is running out
Let's roll
Time is running out
Let's roll
No time for indecision
We've got to make a move
I hope that we're forgiven
For what we gotta do
How this all got started
I will never understand
I hope someone can fly this thing
And get us back to land
Time is running out...
No one has the answer
But one thing is true
You've gotta turn on evil
When it's coming after you
You gotta face it down
And when it tries to hide
You gotta go in after it
And never be denied
Time is running out...
Let's roll for freedom
Let's roll for love
Goin' after Satan
On the wings of a dove
Let's roll for justice
Let's roll for truth
Let's not let our children grow up
>Fearful in their youth
Time is running out...