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Lynyrd Skynyrd’s signature hit “Sweet Home Alabama” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons.

“Sweet Home Alabama” was the opening song on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s second album, “Second Helping,” released in April 1974. It was then released on single in June 24, 1974, backed with “Take Your Time”.

“Sweet Home Alabama” is one of the greatest southern rock classics, featuring an irresistible guitar riff, great singalong chorus, killer guitar breaks, and a brilliant piano outro. It’s also a song that has been the subject of differing interpretations, and even unfounded accusations of racism. This confusion derives partly from the verse directed at songwriter Neil Young:

Well I heard mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don’t need him around anyhow

The band were referencing Neil Young’s criticism of the racist social conventions of the south, as described in his song “Southern Men”. Some have taken Lynyrd Skynyrd’s answer to be a defence of the attitudes that Young was attacking, but Lynyrd Skynyrd’s frontman, Ronnie Van Zant, has made it clear that the verse was in fact intended to highlight that not all southern people subscribe to such racist views.

The idea that there was a feud between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young has been overblown though, as the band admired Young’s work and Young actually appreciated their song. In an interview with Rolling Stone (Oct 24, 1974 issue), Van Zant clarified why he referenced Young in the song, and also shared his feelings about the star:

“We thought Neil was shooting all the ducks in order to kill one or two… Neil is amazing, wonderful… a superstar. I showed the verse to Ed King and asked him what Neil might think. Ed said he’d dig it; he’d be laughing at it.”

Young would go on to pitch three songs for Lynyrd Skynyrd, namely “Powderfinger,” “Sedan Delivery,” and “Captain Kennedy”. It’s said that Van Zant was keen on recording “Powderfinger,” but sadly died before this happened. He did wear a Neil Young t-shirt on the cover of the album “Street Survivors”.

The third verse has also proved controversial due to the perceived support of Governor George Wallace and dismissal of Watergate:

In Birmingham they love the Gov’nor
Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
Tell the truth

It’s not clear what Van Zant had in mind here, but it would be presumptuous to assume that the comments should be taken at face value. The fact that the “In Birmingham they love the Gov’nor” line is followed by the dismissive backing vocals “Boo, boo, boo” is perhaps a hint at the band’s feelings about the Governor’s popularity.

The final verse moves into less controversial territory with a celebration of the music produced at the Muscle Shoals studios and specifically the talent of the house band, the Swampers (“They pick me up when I’m feeling blue/Now how bout you?”).

Rolling Stone placed “Sweet Home Alabama” at 398 on its list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

“Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Here’s a live version of the song from the band’s appearance on BBC Television’s “Old Grey Whistle Test” in 1975.

“Sweet Home Alabama” (Live) – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Authorship

“Sweet Home Alabama” was written by Ed King, Gary Rossington, and Ronnie Van Zant.

King has said that he went to sleep after hearing Gary Rossington playing a guitar riff, and the chords and guitar solos came to him in a dream. Ronnie Van Zant wrote the lyrics.

Recording date/location

“Sweet Home Alabama” was recorded in June 1973 at Studio One in Doraville, Georgia.

Musicians

The following musicians appeared on “Sweet Home Alabama”:

• Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals
• Ed King – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Leon Wilkeson – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Bob Burns – drums
• Billy Powell – piano
• Allen Collins – rhythm guitar
• Gary Rossington – rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar.

Additional backing vocals were provided by Al Kooper, Clydie King, Merry Clayton and Sherlie Matthews.

Chart performance

“Sweet Home Alabama” peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in the week ending October 26, 1974.

Other notable versions

“All Summer Long” – Kid Rock

Kid Rock sampled “Sweet Home Alabama” and Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London” for his 2008 hit song “All Summer Long”, and also referenced the Lynyrd Skynyrd song repeatedly with the line “Singin’ Sweet Home Alabama all summer long”. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s pianist, Bobby Powell, featured on the track.

This was a successful mash-up which gave Kid Rock his first international hit.

“Sweet Home Alabama” – The King

Jim Brown (aka “The King”) covered “Sweet Home Alabama” on his 1998 album “Gravelands,” the idea of which was to sing songs of deceased artists in the style of Elvis Presley. It was a novel concept and a popular album.

“Sweet Home Alabama” – Jewel

Jewel’s cover of “Sweet Home Alabama” was recorded for the soundtrack of the 2002 movie of the same name, which also featured a version by the band Cornbread. This cover grows on you with repeat listens. The main elements of the original are retained, and it’s a strong, sultry vocal from Jewel. There’s also an added spoken section which reinforces the southern pride angle – “You don’t gotta be from down here to get along just fine/Being southern is a state of mind”.

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” is available on “Second Helping” and several compilations, including “Lynyrd Skynyrd – All Time Greatest Hits”.

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