That's where, in 1964, five teenagers formed what would eventually become the … It's awesome I'm doing it for my school concert. "Sweet Home Alabama"is a song by the American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. For Merry Clayton, the song's meaning was crystal clear. 12 Most Patriotic Country Songs of All Time, A Timeline of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford\'s Feud, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Sweet Home Alabama kills you from the get go and knows when to stop. Not long after three of the members of Lynyrd Skynyrd tragically died in a plane crash in 1977, Young performed a medley of "Alabama" and "Sweet Home Alabama" as a tribute. Check the sweet home alabama forum on this site, band name "Lynyrd Skynyrd" in which I give a brilliant account of the song, if I do say so myself! Ronnie Van Zant and the band worked the ambiguity to great effect; they performed beneath the stars and bars but also called the eruption of Confederate paraphernalia among their fans "embarrassing." Ben & Erin Napier Talk 'Home Town' Season 5, 93 Best Easy Low-Carb Recipes With Tons of Flavor. ... and that so-called "feud" with Neil Young. It reached number 8 on the US chart in 1974 and was the band's second hit single. Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" meaning is often interpreted as being "racist" because of the the lyrics reference "In Birmingham [where a black church was bombed killing 4 young girls] they love the governor [George Wallace ]" who was a segregationist. It's fascinating that both Neil Young and George Wallace reportedly loved the song. "Sweet Home Alabama," the first song on the classic rock legends' 1974 album Second Helping, deserves a deeper look because, unlike Haggard's ramblings of a … "We wrote 'Sweet Home Alabama' as a joke," Van Zant clarified a few years following the release. "We had toured there, going all around playing clubs and National Guard armories. Everyone was real nice. In defense of Sweet Home Alabama point five: The whole Neil Young feud thing: There's absolutely zero doubt Sweet Home Alabama was a revenge song—a rebuttal to Neil Young's Southern Man. Young had expressed his disappointment with racism in the South in two songs, "Southern Man" and "Alabama". In Birmingham they love the governor (boo, boo, boo!) Young has said that he is a fan of both "Sweet Home Alabama" and Ronnie Van Zant, the lead vocalist for Lynyrd Skynyrd. The first track was a huge hit. According to Rolling Stone, he was even rumored to have been buried in it. Alabama Lyrics: Oh, Alabama / The devil fools / With the best laid plan / Swing low, Alabama / You got the spare change / You got to feel strange / And now, the moment / Is all that it meant Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet Home Alabama Lord, I'm coming home … The film does a wonderful job of showing the ups and downs of true love. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. }; All lyrics provided for educational purposes only. teacher Leonard Skinner who penalized guitarist Gary Rossington for his long hair because it was against the high school's policy. She remembers … var opts = { Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote their song "Sweet Home Alabama" in response to "Southern Man" and "Alabama" from Young's 1972 album Harvest. ", And for what it's worth, Young came to regret the song that started it all. In fact, if you listen carefully, you can hear someone beginning to sing the chorus of "Southern Man" faintly in the background of "Sweet Home Alabama." The song, written in response to songs by Neil Young critical of the American south and Alabama specifically, became one of their biggest hits and an anthem for both the state of Alabama and the American south. We Can't Stop Singing These Patsy Cline Songs, The Real Story Behind the Song "Moon River". Big wheels keep on turnin'! Get the SWEET HOME ALABAMA neck gaiter and mug. It wasn't cutting him down, it was cutting the song he wrote about the South down. Meaning to "Sweet Home Alabama" song lyrics (6 meanings) Unknown October 19, 2011-20:26. Neil Young, too, owned a Lynyrd Skynyrd Florida Whiskey shirt, and once said, "I'd rather play 'Sweet Home Alabama' than 'Southern Man' anytime. The Proposal adunit_id: 100001411, We love Neil Young. You guys should like the school concerts. Sweet Home Alabama Sweet home Alabama means loving to fuck your family , as an example of these people: Javier scalleta Sweet home Alabama can be used when you tell someone … We love his music. "Everyone thought it was about Neil Young, but it was more about Alabama," he said. Sweet home alabama was an answer song to both of these. Sweet home Alabama Lord, I'm coming home to you Here I come Alabama Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers And they've been known to pick a song or two Lord, they get me off so much They pick me up when I'm feeling blue Now how about you? "Don't forget what your good book said/ Southern change gonna come at last/ Now your crosses are burning fast.". Now we all did what we could do. "Well I heard Mister Young sing about her/ Well I heard old Neil put her down/ Well, I hope Neil Young will remember/ A Southern man don't need him around anyhow". THIS IS WERE ANNABIE AND MYDRIN HAPPEN. If you can write a song that makes people have emotions and show their feelings, that’s a powerful thing and a beautiful thing. It wasn't until five years after getting together that they finally settled on the name Lynyrd Skynyrd though, after their former P.E. Although Young had said many of the same things – concerning institutionalized racism in the south – far better with the song “Southern Man” a few years earlier on After the Goldrush - this state-titled protest song (of sorts) certainly touched a nerve with many southerners. Then there was Sweet Home Alabama, which contained Skynyrd’s most obvious hook and most ambiguous lyric. Taysha Murtaugh was the Lifestyle Editor at CountryLiving.com. "We're Southern rebels but, more than that, we know the difference between right and wrong." segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever. Called "Sweet Home Alabama," the single reached number eight on U.S. charts—its popularity due, at least in part, to a controversy hidden in the verses. In … The story of "Sweet Home Alabama" begins not in Alabama but in Jacksonville, Florida. Ronnie and Neil were good friends. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. The song is written by two people,neither of which are from Alabama.Lyrics,as always,are by Ronnie.The Neil Young song Southern Man was considered by Ronnie to be an insult to the south.The earliest Skynyrd recordings were made near Muscle Schoals, Alabama. Ronnie was fond of the treatment of the band by the people there.He used Alabama as the backdrop for the "anti" Neil Young, and anti southern stereotype song Sweet Home Alabama.It is rumoured that as a final inside joke,Ronnie was buried in a Neil Young T shirt,but I have never seen anything to back that up.As for the main guitar verse,it was written by Ed King,who came from … 0. Sweet Home Alabama Lord, I’m coming home to you. More about us. Freebird goes on too long. Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet Home Alabama Lord, I'm coming home to you Here I come Alabama Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers And they've been known to pick a song or two Lord they get me off so much They pick me up when I'm feeling blue Now how about you? We just laughed like hell and said, 'Ain't that funny.' ", Van Zant grew up listening to Young and regularly rocked a "Tonight's the Night" t-shirt—most notably, on the cover of the band's album Street Survivors. "We didn't even think about it. And so Ronnie just said, 'We need to show people how the real Alabama is. The portion of the song referring to Governor George Wallace in particular made some believe that Lynyrd Skynyrd disagreed with desegregation, seeing as how the governor stood for "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever". When Should You Take Your Christmas Tree Down? "Sweet home Alabama/ Where the skies are so blue/ Sweet home Alabama/ Lord, I'm coming home to you" The story of "Sweet Home Alabama" begins not in Alabama but in Jacksonville, Florida. Lynyrd Skynyrd directly name-dropped their supposed adversary, Neil Young, in the song. "Sweet Home Alabama" was allegedly a response to those words. Sweet Home Alabama is one of the most popular romcoms to ever feature on the silver screen. It reached number 8 on the US chart in 1974 and was the band's second hit single. But others interpreted the lyrics as a reminder to Young that not all Southerners are the same. The band was vocal about the origins of, and motivation for, the track. Because no matter where you're from, sweet home Alabama or sweet home Florida or sweet home Arkansas, you can relate.". The song was written in response to "Southern Man" and "Alabama" by Neil Young; Young is named in the song's lyrics. Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet home Alabama Lord, I'm coming home to you Sweet home Alabama, oh, sweet home, baby Where the skies are so blue and the governor's true Sweet home Alabama, Lordy Lord, I'm coming home to you, yeah yeah My, Montgomery's got the answer Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons! Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet Home Alabama Lord, I'm coming home to you Here I come Alabama Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers And they've been known to pick a song or two Lord they get me off so much They pick me up when I'm feeling blue Now how about you? According to Rolling Stone, he's never played "Alabama" again since. artist: "Lynyrd Skynyrd", But do you know the true meaning behind the Southern anthem's words? Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet Home Alabama Lord, I’m coming home to you Here I come Alabama Country Living participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. /* TFP - lyricinterpretations */ Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet Home Alabama Lord, I'm coming home to you Here I come Alabama Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers And they've been known to pick a song or two Lord they get me off so much They pick me up when I'm feeling blue Now how about you? By all accounts, there was no real "feud" between the artists. Is a 'Sweet Home Alabama' Sequel Happening? Now Watergate does not bother me Does your conscience bother you? "In Birmingham they love the Gov'nor, boo boo, boo/ Now we all did what we could do/ Now Watergate does not bother me/ Does your conscience bother you?/ Tell the truth". Neil Young had 'Southern Man,' and it was kind of cutting the South down. '", "No matter where you're from, sweet home Alabama or sweet home Florida or sweet home Arkansas, you can relate. About Sweet Home Alabama "Sweet Home Alabama" is a song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album, Second Helping. When Skynyrd answered Neil Young’s anti-Dixie screed Southern Man by singing, “Southern man don’t need him around, anyhow,” the band pretty much drove Young’s records off the radio in the South — though Young and Van Zant wound up being mutual admirers. And the meanies out there the concerts are not stupid. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Listen to Tim McGraw's New Song with Tyler Hubbard, Country Stars Pay Tribute to Charley Pride, Fans Are Awestruck By Tim McGraw's Christmas Tree, Carrie Underwood's New Christmas Album is Here, The Ultimate Country Christmas Song Playlist, Spread Joy With These Religious Christmas Songs, How to Watch the 'CMA Country Christmas' Special, Get a First Look at Gwen Stefani's Engagement Ring, Fans are Obsessed with Shania & Kelsea's New Duet. "Sweet Home Alabama"'s enduring popularity with conservatives (comprised primarily of the wealthy elite and poor whites in the rural south [SOURCE: bluntly framed as the quintessential redneck, NASCAR, Rush Limbaugh ditto-head stereotype]) is quite perplexing given the song's lyrics and meaning. "Southern man better keep your head," went the chorus of the former. The lyrics are probably burned in your brain, and we doubt you can resist the urge to dance when that main guitar riff starts up. Like any work of art, "Sweet Home Alabama" means what its listeners think it means. When we were out in the country driving all the time, we would listen to the radio. They are accusatory and condescending, not fully thought out, too easy to misconstrue.". Country Living editors select each product featured. We still love him today. They are awesome! "Sweet home Alabama/ Where the skies are so blue/ Sweet home Alabama/ Lord, I'm coming home to you". Lyrics to 'Sweet Home Alabama' by Lynyrd Skynyrd: 1 2 3 Turn it up Big wheels keep on turning Carry me home to see my kin Singing songs about the southland “Alabama” is a song off what is, perhaps, Neil Young’s best mostly-acoustic album, Harvest. Ronnie was fond of the treatment of the band by the people there.He used Alabama as the backdrop for the "anti" Neil Young, and anti southern stereotype song Sweet Home Alabama.It is rumoured that as a final inside joke,Ronnie was buried in a Neil Young T shirt,but I have never seen anything to back that up.As for the main guitar verse,it was written by Ed King,who came from California,and even used a seashell for a pick. Tell the truth. That's where, in 1964, five teenagers formed what would eventually become the iconic rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It doesn't matter where you come from: You know the song "Sweet Home Alabama." The words just came out that way. div_id: "cf_async_" + Math.floor((Math.random() * 999999999)) "I don't like my words when I listen to it today. “Sweet Home Alabama” is still played on the radio a lot, and when people hear the first little beat of it, their reaction is to sing. This content is imported from YouTube. "Sweet Home Alabama" was clearly intended as some kind of response—defiant, joking, or something in between—to Neil Young's "Southern Man." "They play like they mean it," Young said in 1976. "'Alabama' richly deserved the shot Lynyrd Skynyrd gave me with their great record," he wrote in his memoir, Waging Heavy Peace, in 2012. Towards the end of the set Young played the song “Alabama,” and worked in lyrics from “Sweet Home Alabama.” That night in Miami was one of the last times, if not the very last, that he played “Alabama,” a track that he says he’s no longer connected to. In 1972, the band, then comprised of lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, drummer Bob Burns, guitarists Allen Collins and Gary Rossington, bassist Leon Wilkeson, and keyboardist Billy Powell released their first self-titled album, followed by another, Second Helping, in 1974. All lyrics are property and copyright of their owners. "Sweet Home Alabama" is a song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album, Second Helping. ", "We loved Neil Young and all the music he's given the world. Song meanings ©2003-2021 lyricinterpretations.com, Creedence Clearwater Revival song meanings. Rossington, the sole remaining original band member, gave the last word on the matter in an interview with Garden & Gun in 2015. Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet Home Alabama Lord, I'm coming home to you … document.write('');var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(typeof window.cf !== 'undefined')c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="//srv.clickfuse.com/showads/showad.js";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)}; (function() { I mean really you guys have respect. song: "Sweet Home Alabama", Ronnie painted a picture everyone liked. (One, two, three) (Turn it up) Big wheels keep on turning Carry me home to see my kin Singing songs about the Southland I miss Alabamy once again and I think it's a sin, yes Well, I heard Mister Young sing about her (southern man) Well, I heard ol' Neil put her down Well, I hope Neil Young will remember A southern man don't need him around, anyhow Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet … She was an in-demand background vocalist who famously recorded with The Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker and Ray Charles. "We thought Neil was shooting all the ducks in order to kill one or two," Van Zant later said. In fact, those "boos" are thought to imply that the band disagreed with Wallace's politics—and that bit about Watergate seems to be a pointed remark about the hypocrisy of the North, which had its own problems, too. Well, maybe hidden isn't the right word. 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