Meanspeed Review - SWEET HOME ALABAMA - "Watergate does not bother me/Does your conscience bother you?/Tell the truth!" - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Meanspeed Summary, supervised by James C.C. Manning
song=Sweet Home Alabama
performer=Lynyrd Skynyrd
mean speed/tempo=97.9 beats per minute.
mean emotion=comfort
average beat=1.63 beats per second.
average beat=613 milliseconds.
beating frequency=1.63 cycles per second.
corresponding pitch=416.853 Hertz, 6.5 cents above G#4/Ab4=466.164 Hertz, 93.5 cents below A4=440.000 Hertz.

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from songmeanings.net - their color coding and astrological sign assignment for every song is not included because that intellectual property is theirs. Similarly, the lyrics are not included here as they are on songmeanings.net because doing that is not legal.
“facts”
Lynyrd Skynyrd is from Jacksonville, Florida. They wrote this as a tribute to the studios at Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where they recorded in 1971. The studios gained fame during the '60s and '70s when it became the vogue thing for bands to record there. Artists like Bo Diddley, Aretha Franklin, and all the big Southern Rock groups recorded there. "The Swampers" were a group of studio musicians who worked there, acting as the backup band for the solo artists. That's where Skynyrd got the line: "Muscle Shoals has got The Swampers." (thanks, David - Charlotte, NC)
One of the verses is an attack on Neil Young: "I hope Neil Young will remember a southern man don't need him around anyhow." Young had written songs like "Southern Man" and "Alabama," which implied that people in the Southern US were racist and stuck in the past. Skynyrd responded with this, a song about Southern pride and all the good things in Alabama. The feud between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young was always good-natured fun; they were actually big fans of each other. Ronnie Van Zant often wore Neil Young T-shirts on stage and is wearing one on the cover of Street Survivors, the last Skynyrd album before his death.
Neil Young performed this once. He played it at a memorial to the 3 members of Lynyrd Skynyrd who died in a plane crash in 1977.
The guitar solo in the song is actually played in the wrong key. Producer Al Kooper noticed that Ed King played the solo in the key of G instead of D, the first chord in the progression. He was so vexed that he took to tune to California, and played it for his guitarist friend Michael Bloomfield. In fact, the song is in G, and King himself rips the exuberant, melodic blues lines in the E minor pentatonic Blues scale, which in the song functions as the G pentatonic scale. (from Guitar Edge magazine - July/August 2006)
This was the lead track on the album, and it became Skynyrd's first hit. The song was written during the sessions for the group's first album, Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd, but they decided to save it so they would have a big song to open Second Helping. (thanks, Saint - New Orleans, LA, for above 2)
At the beginning, when Ronnie Van Zant says, "Turn it up," it was not planned. He was telling an engineer to turn up the volume in his headset before recording his track. The comment sounded good, so they left it in the final mix.
If you listen carefully to the line, "Well, I heard Mr. Young sing about her," immediately following it, someone in the background sings, "Southern Man." Some people thought it was a recording of Neil Young, but it was their producer, Al Kooper, impersonating Young.
This was Skynyrd's first single to chart. They have never been a "singles" band, as their fans tend to buy the albums.
This was the first Skynyrd song to use female backup singers. The band never met the 3 women who sang on this, since they were recorded separately.
Guitarist Gary Rossington came up with the idea for this song. Ed King, another Skynyrd guitarist, wrote the intro, and Ronnie Van Zant wrote the lyrics. It came together quickly and easily.
The voice at the beginning that does the count-in is Ed King.
Country group Alabama did a rendition of this for a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute album.
George Wallace was the governor of Alabama when this was released. He loved this, especially the line, "In Birmingham they love the governor." He made the band honorary Lieutenant Colonels in the state militia.
In 2002, this was featured in 2 movies, one that used the song as the title. In Sweet Home Alabama, Reese Witherspoon stars as a girl who must decide between her ex-husband in Alabama or her fiance in New York. In 8 Mile, Eminem does a rap version of the song, making fun of his mother's bumpkin boyfriend and changing the chorus to "I live at home in a trailer." The version of Sweet Home Alabama on the soundtrack was recorded by Jewel. (thanks, shawn - loganville, GA)
This was featured in the video game NASCAR Thunder 2001. EA Sports, the developer of this game, sponsored their first NASCAR race at Talladega Superspeedway, a racetrack in Alabama. The song is normally played once during NASCAR races ran at Talladega Superspeedway, an Alabama Racetrack. (thanks, Joseph - Old Bridge, NJ)
An acoustic version sung by Johnny Van Zant is featured on Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1994 album Endangered Species. (thanks, Aaron - Twin Cities, MN)
This is featured in the 1997 movie Con Air. The escaped convicts listen to it during a party on the plane after getting away from an US Marshals raid. One of the characters, a serial killer played by Steve Buscemi, remarks: "Ironic, isn't it? Flying an airplane while listening to a song played by a band whose members got killed in a plane crash." (thanks, Maciej - Lublin, Poland)
This plays in the movie Forest Gump near the end of the film when Forest and Jenny are reunited.
comments
I don't care much for Southern Rock or Redneck Rock or whatever you want to call it. However, I do have a soft spot for this song. The instrumentation and melodies are lovely, and it does express a very common yearning: to go back to what one knows and loves, or at least the way one remembers those things. I was never crazy about Governor Wallace. However, I can understand why there's a reference to him: Many Alabamans see him as one of them, whatever his politics, and prefer his style to what they see as the sanctimonious smugness of Yankee intellectuals. Having said those things, I have to say that using the melody (if not the lyrics) of the song in a Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial makes as much sense as Jewel covering it. Who came up with those ideas?
- MusicMama, New York, NY
this song is old and is WAY overplayed on the radio
- nikki, sum where in tx, TX
kevin from dublin ireland is an idiot the song is about all the geat parts of the south and by the way ronnie's father did not beat his father, he cant be a hillbillie because there are no mountains in alabama and simple man is about his grandmother telling to live life to be fufilled rather than accumulate a lot of material things and how would neil young no about ronnie's mother when neil and ronnie never actually met 99.99999% of southerners never did the things neil young talks about a few idiots ruined an image for an entire region so kevin if you or neil ever actually came to the south instead just critising from your socialist hideouts of canada and ireland you might actually know something by the way this is the greatest song ever by the greatest band ever crank up the skynyrd
- jordan, Darlington, SC
i meant he did not beat ronnie's mother
- jordan, Darlington, SC
i meant he did not beat ronnie's mother
- jordan, Darlington, SC
Great Song!
- Shannan, Wilmington, DE
Great song and not very hard to play on guitar, it's a good exercise for mixing chords with riffs. You can find the tabs here: Sweet Home Alabama Guitar Chords.
- Dirk, Brasschaat, Belgium
Van Zant wrote the song to symbolize their want for the rise of the neo-confederacy
- Blake, Watertown, SD
I CANT STAND how KFC uses this song!!! it ruins it soo much. Am i right or just crazy? if anyone out there ones KFC ......STOP USING IT!
- Ben, Oakdale, CT
Govenor George Wallace wanted the song as Alabama's state song but wanted the boo boo boo part taken out, Ronnie said no,so Alabama got another state song.
- Steve, Hartselle, AL
This song is awesome NOT REALLY!
- Whitney, cuyahoga falls, OH
This song was written as a joke by Ronnie Van Zant.
- Mike, Quakertown, PA
This song totally rocks and Ed King's opening lick on the Strat is one of the most recognized in rock history.
- Moto, Pittsburgh, PA
Lots of great comments. Thanks all. I love the playful, all hell breaks loose feel I grab from the guitar work on this song. Where it rates I don't know, but it all just "works" for me.
- mark, worcester, MI
This song means a lot to me and every time i hear it i feel happy. it's a long sotry why, but to make it short it's one of my loved one's favorite bands. i think of him every time. and its wonderful. i can imagine the old men on the porches of old alabama homes drinking jack daniels and humming this song. 5 stars. *~peace~*
- jenna madsen, eureka!, CA
Great song, and yes, it's also featured in Forest Gump when Jenny is teaching Forest how to dance.
- Chrissy, Manchester, -
Lynyrd Skynyrd put the "Y"s in their name in reference to The Byrds.
- Josie, Funkytown, NC
Jewels version of this song makes me want to kill myself. It's horrible.
- Ferris, Ohio, OH
Great song! However, Jewel absolutely slaughtered it on the soundtrack. She should be ashamed...Skip
- skip, North Kingstown, RI
The Swampers were the nickname of the Muscle Shoals Rhythym Scection. Ronnie Van Zant saw a gold record at their studio signed by Leon Russell that thanked the "Swampers"
- Dan, Worcester, MA
Merry Clayton, who sings background, also sang background on the Rolling Stones "Gimmie Shelter". Dan, Worcester
- Dan, Worcester, MA
I think I read somewhere that this song is the song ( maybe apart from classical pieces) that is featured in the most movies.
- Petter, Ã?ngelholm, Sweden
When Neil Young did his tribute, did he sing the lines about himself??
- fyodor, Denver, CO
For the record, Ed King swears what Ronnie says at the end is "My Govenor's got the answer" - the "My My" thing you hear at the beginning is due to the fact that producer Al Kooper double tracked Ronnie's vocals, and shut it off at the end. So you're hearing the first part twice & somewhat out of synch. And it is true that both solo's in the song were dreamed note-for-note by Ed.
- Zap, Norwalk, CT
I'm surprised they brought up Neil Young..
- Nooxara, Albany, AK
I love the fact that there's a web site where thoughtful, articulate necks like Ash can express themselves.
- rob, vancouver, Canada
CCR is a bay area band...
- rob, vancouver, Canada
I believe the line used in conair is something more along the lines of, 'define irony, bunch of idiots dancing in a plane that was made famous by a group, that died in a plane crash" (i think that is correct... =) )
- Jon, Rochester, NY
Ed King has said this song was written at the Hell House on the first day he was on lead guitar. He was originally on bass. Ronnie replaced him on bass with Wilkeson.
- Norm, Austin, TX
"The Swampers" are David Hood, Jimmy Johnson, Barry Beckett, and Roger Hawkins a.k.a. The Muscle Shoals Rythym Section. I actually do some work at the original Muscle Shoals Sound where all the hits were recorded. These guys were the musicians responsible for the "Muscle Shoals Sound". Lots of others try to take credit for it but it was these guys who made it! Honky Soul at it's finest!! Contrary to popular belief this studio is open and operational and is near being deemed as a national landmark and will be a museum in the near future! This is the original studio @ 3614 Jackson Hwy. in Sheffield. The new owner, Noel, who by the way is one of the best people you could ever meet, has stuck with meticulous detail to restoring it to it's original condition..down to the point of going out and physically hunting down all of the original furniture and decor. Now you can stand in the studio and hold a picture of Skynrd doing an interview and look around...the studio is exactly the same... I've seen grown men, session players and songwriters from that era walk into the studio now and physically shed tears! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THING!!! Noel has done a great service to the city to preserve the studio and that place in Alabama's history!
- keith Hill, Decatur, AL
The unnofficial anthem for the south? Yeah, it's good, but if there's an "anthem" song for these states, I'd say "Proud Mary" (I know, a li¡l bit clichè, but even out of the US, the people relates more the CCR song with the south than "Sweet Home Alabama")
- Antonio, Monterrey, Mexico
Im an Alabamian, and I love this song just not much as "Free Bird". This song is played so many times it not funny. Also this song has become the unoffical anthem of the south, unoffical state song of alabama, and the unoffical fight song of the "Crimson Tide". Most people dont get the "Swampers" line...It refers to the early years mainly 1971 and 1972 where they record thier 1st album(unreleased though). All the band members have said that thats where the band learned how to play well. Gary Rossington that "Even though where from Jacksonville, Florida...but the "Swampers" taught us so much i think are whole sound it from Muscle Shoals, Alabama". thats that line the others are easy to understand..."Montgomery got the answer"- Ronniw thought thats where the answer lay in Montgomery...one more thing the famous line "Turn it Up"- Kooper smartly chose to keep it- Ronnie was requesting the volume to be turned up in the headphones....though now it used to turn the whole music up...ROLL TIDE, and "Fly on Free Bird"
- Darden, montgomery, AL
"We all did what we could do" seems to be saying that not everyone in Alabama supported Wallace's segregationist policies. Maybe a little bit of plausible deniability? I guess it depends what you think the song is trying to say. It really can be taken two ways, either you trust Southern life or you don't. That's why this song gets folks so fired up.
- Brian, Providence, RI
In the song Sweet home alabama, when the lyric, Boo, Boo, Boo, is sung, what is this in referance to, the lyric that follows is "we all did what we could do". how does this tie into governer Wallace?
- Thomas, Southgate, MI
I am a musician, and a Skynyrd fanatic. Over the years I have worked with or around most of the guys in the band, (after the crash). Allen Collins was a personal friend of mine, and taught me a heap of what I know on guitar. I really miss him. When I read some of the comments here I had to giggle. Opinions are like eyes, everyone has them. The facts are as follows: Ed King compossed ALL the music for this song, ( the band members even complained that the lead guitar part was in the wrong key). Why is beyond me. It seems to fit. Major and relative minors and all that, I guess. Ronnie wrote the lyrics as a satire while on the road from Muscle Shoals to his home in Jacksonville Fl. The reference to Neil Yong's "Southern Man" was a stick in the ribs, but it was done in fun. Allen said they laughed about it for years afterward. Although they never met, there was a mutual respect between these artists. I cannot comment on any of Young's songs or his reasons for them, but I do know that Ronnie liked his songs and respected his talents as a writter/performer. His reference to the Governor was "Boo, Boo, Boo". How can anyone relate that to promoting Wallace's actions or beliefs? Ronnie hated the stigma the Alabama Governor had created and intended for this song to relate that to the listener. Along with all the other excesses of the Americian Government. "Watergate does not bother me,"(because he didn't cause it or create it), "does YOUR conscience bother YOU?" He wants you to think about your personal feelings about your own actions, not those of someone you have no control over. The "Swampers" was, and still is a fantastic group of studio musicians deriving from the R&B days at "Fame" in the 60's. I know most of them. Great bunch of guys. The last recorded words of the song are hard to make out but Ronnie actually says, "Aw, Montgomery's got the answer". Even I didn't know that until I heard Leon tell it to a reporter in a radio interview sometime in 1998. The myth of the T'shirt is just that. A myth. Although I was not at the funeral I understand that he was burried in a suit, no tie. With his hat in his hands. And yes, I do know where he is currently burried. So it's not a secret. I went there with Judy, (his wife), Allen and Gary a few times back in the day. Just as an aside, not everyone in Alabama are rednecks but those of us that are, are very proud of it and do not really care what anyone else thinks about it. But just so you know, redneck doesn't mean stupid, ignorant or racist. It means that we have a heritige of hard work, family and GOD. Lynyrd Skynyrd was and is for the working man, the little guy. The backbone of this country. Please stop trying to make something out of nothing. I hope this clears up the confusion. Thanks for taking the time to read it. Sincerely, Mike, from Gulf Shores, Al.
- Mike, Gulf Shores, AL
Because nobody ever wrote a song about Kentucky... also, I love this song. I feel this song has always been underappreciated because it has been used in movies/commercials/movie commercials etc., but it is a great song with some good guitar and deep lyrics.
- Max, Laguna Niguel, CA
Can someone explain to me why KENTUCKY Fried Chicken uses Sweet Home ALABAMA for their theme music ?
- scutter, Harrisonburg, VA
neil young wrote southern man about southern hilly billys that raped blacks an beat them an burn them on crosses,also Ronnie van zant hated that song because his father was a hilly billy that beat his mother when they where kids,thats why Van zant rode the song about simple man because his mother never weanted him to end up like his father. years later neil young wrote the song walk away, read the lyric in it he says your mama was a nice one while your dada was a southern man
- kevin, dublin, Ireland
Am I wrong or Madonna used the initial chords of this song as a sample for her "What it feels like for a girl"?
- Joao, Lisbon, Portugal
This is #398 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest songs.
- Ross, Independence, MO
Ronnie was nto burried in a Neil Young Tee-Shirt. You guys need to watch Much More Music up in Canadia . As everyone knows teh 3 dead members graves were vandalised and after that moved to a location which was unannounced. The vandalising was an attempt to see if the rumor was true. His wife admitted he wasn'r burried in a Neil Young Tee-Shirt. I can't remember what she said he was burried in. Although I was I lived in the states. I do believe this song is a great American song.
- Mike, Winnipeg, Canada
Can you believe this band is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Talk about narrow minded and petty! Please go to Charlie Daniels' website and sign the petition to put Lynyrd Skynyrd in their rightful place, not just for fhis song, but for "Freebird", "Simple Man", "That Smell" and other songs too numerous to mention,. Incidently, Warren Zevon pays tribute to this song in "Play It All Night Long". There is no mention of any "feud" the band had with Zevon, so they must have accepted the humor of it.
- Jude, Thomasville, GA
Anyone else hear the rumor that Ronnie was buried in a Neil Young t-shirt?
- Matt, Millbrae, CA
Martin, The "Swampers" were a group of studio musicians, from a famous studioin Muscle Shoals, Alabama, who helped Skynyrd record their first albumn. Since Skynyrd at that time was basically a "honkey tonk" band meaning they played live music in small bars and venues. They needed alot of help by the "swampers" to teach them the ropes of recording in a studio.
- Martin, Santa Monica, CA
Since this this song takes a few swipes at Neil Young, I wonder if the line, "Watergate does not bother me" is a response to Neil Youngs anti-war and anti-Nixon songs? (Nixon's gone and we are finally on our own)
- Martin, Santa Monica, CA
ok, folks, i lived in the muscle shoals area during the time that lynard skinard was popular. i also met members of the band. swampers was a night club in muscle shoals, on 2nd street. actually, it was in sheffield, not muscle shoals. that was the reference made in the song. i even went there.
- melonie, florence, AL
"Sweet Home" was actually written completely as a joke. The band was from Florida, and from what Rossington said in a Guitar World interview a few years back, they wrote the tune on the road while they were travelling through Alabama...The song started out poking fun at Alabama, which explains the George Wallace references. Complete sarcasm. - Steve, Louisville, KY Steve, please the facts before you say crap like that. Ronnie Van Zant actually liked george wallaces ideas not on racial stuff but on others matters. He song was actually about the muscle studios. no they didn't live there but it was like their second home. yes alabama is beatiful
- John, Mobile, AL
I am 100% Alabamian. I am not a red neck. everyone thinks that everyone from Alabama is a hick. but thats not true. ALOt people think that lynyrd skynyrd is raceist because of the rebel flag but there not so dont say they Are!
- John, Mobile, AL
This song is pretty good but they have way better songs like Simple kind of man and freebird but everyone to their own opinion, overall Lynyrd Skynrd rock my jocks and it was a tragedy that 3 died in that horrible plane crash, that was a bad day in history...
- Sarah, Colac, Australia
To answer an earlier question, by 1974 George Wallace had changed his ways and was by then a proponent of racial harmony. He apologized for earlier segregationist stands, appointed many black people to prominent state positions and even started to win the black vote when he ran for re-election. That, and the 1972 assassanation attempt which left him in a wheelchair, made Wallace a sympathetic figure in Alabama.
- Ken, Louisville, KY
The Swampers produce the music. I like this song and yes it's(to me) our Southern National Anthem... But my favorite song by them is "Comin' Home".
- Megan, Ozark, AL
i heard about that rumor also matt.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC
Theres a rumor that Ronnie Van Zant was buried in his Neil Young t-shirt
- Matt, Millbrae, CA
I think that this song is a good song. This is very good it is very original.
- Jordan, Allegan, MI
dave. I think a'Alabama" was written before "Sweet Home Alabama" was released. 'aAlabamaa' was on Neil young's album "Harvest' which was released in 1972, while the album that "Sweet Home Alabama" was on was released in 1973. How would Neil Young have written "Alabama' in response to "Sweet Home Alabam". I think you got it backwards. "swett Home Alabama" was partially written as a response to "Alabama", but for the most part, it was a response to "Southern Man".
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC
O by the way, on the cover of the "street survivors" album there is apparently a pictore on Ronnie VanSant wearing a Neil Young t-shirt. Go figure on that one, huh.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC
By the way, "Simple Man" is my favorite Skynyrd song. A lot of those songs are played on the radio to much though.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC
To answer Barbara, he is saying (as an adlib) "MawwwwntGOM-UH-REE's got the answer!" (Montgomery's got the answer). Classic song, but not their best. A satire on Alabama, a dedication to Muscle Shoals, a song about traveling home (to Florida) -- it's one of those songs that just is and people read too much into it... sorta like an inside joke, but thanks to the band for letting us in on secrets.
- Jesse, Atlanta, GA
To Ryan, Mobile, AL Sorry Ryan - I'm a native Alabamian and I believe "My Home's In Alabama" (by the country group ALABAMA) has probably replaced "Sweet Home" as the preferred state song. I've also heard Jeff Cook (of the group ALABAMA) play "Sweet Home", live, with his new group, the Allstar Goodtime Band. Very nice. Very nice.
- Ginger, Madison, AL
I was born in Yankee-ville from immigrant Italian parents. When I was 18, I left home and have lived below the Mason/Dixon line ever since. I know that L.S. has better songs, but I always considered Sweet Home Alabama to be one of the offical southern national anthems of rock (along with 'Freebird', The Band's 'The Night They Drove Dixie Down', Molly Hatchet's 'Gator Country' and 'Green Grass and High Tides' by the Outlaws.)
- Anthony, Clearwater, FL
in response to billy ,from pa you must remember that the entire persona of the nation has changed since the 1970's and remember that mr. wallace also did some very good thing for the state of alabama and its residents the song is not praising him for the particular act you mentioned but for the good that he did
- jim, baileyton, AK
Ed King claims he dreamt the entire solo, note for note. Sounds far fetched. Was a killer song before radio killed it. Skynyrd will always be #1 in my book.
- Brian, Phoenix, AZ
Does anyone know the piano notes for the very last part? I'd love to the learn it.
- John, Flanders, NJ
In response to Nader from NC, I bleed crimson. Sweet Home, as we often call it, is not my favorite Skynyrd song (that would be Simple Man) but it is probably the state of Alabama's favorite song. I think it should be made the official state song :-) but some other song that says "aye" a lot is already official state song. Some person slaughtered the song on American Idol. I hope he never sets foot on Alabama soil. Something bad might happen.
- Ryan, Mobile, AL
Sweet Home Alabama is 1 of my favorite songs in the world. I think everyone likes it. Its a good song. I hope you keep writing songs like that. I LOVE YOU
- Farryn, Bonners Ferry, ID
in reference to billy from pa...what were they thinking when they said "they love the governor"..if you listen closely or read the lyrics they sing Boo Boo Boo afterwards...im sure that quote was a sarcastic remark...
- Laurie, Farmington, NY
Roll Tide =) Great song
- Nader, Durham, NC
I could be wrong...but wasn't Governor George Wallace the racist idiot who called in the National Guard to stop Martin Luther King, Jr.'s historic March on Selma? It helped to raise awareness about voting rights for African-Americans and eventually led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. LBJ actually had to have the army go in and oust the National Guard. What was Skynyrd thinking putting him in their song?
- Billy, Pittsburgh, PA
SOme people mention 'Freebird' as a better song than SHA. Freebird goes on too long. Sweet Home Alabama kills you from the get go and knows when to stop. Big wheels keep on turnin'! And anyway, Neil Young blows these guys away.....
- Peter, Toronto, Canada
"My dad was in the Coast Guard when the plane crashed. His cutter was one of the first on the scene of the crash"... Dustin, you may want to check with your Dad again and make sure he was on "One" of the "Cutters" that were on the scene of the crash. The reason being, is that there aren't any Coast Guard Cutter navigable waters within 150 miles of the crash site(8 miles South of the McComb,MS airport). There was however, a Coast Guard helicopter on the scene during the search and rescue phase. Lynn
- Lynn, Brookhaven,MS
This song is featured in the Forrest Gump soundtrack, among other famous songs.
- Antonio, Orlando, FL
well, in my humble opinion, this is the most overrated and overplayed song in rock history
- Reed, Hagerstown, IN
i'm with reed. *rolls eyes* i live in south georgia and i hear this song approximately fifteen times each day.
- jackson, waycross, GA
If you look up the 500 Greatest Classic Rock songs on the About.com network, this song is listed as number 284, which does not serve justice in my opinion.
- Cody, new york city, NY
Oddly enough, the Lynyrd Skynyrd version was never used in the movie-there were two or three other versions, but never Skynyrd's.
- Brady, Fort Stockton, TX
I have the CD "Freebird: The Movie (Selections from the Original Soundtrack)." The version on that album was recorded at the Knebworth Fair in England. At Knebworth, I think Ronnie said "Mr. Carter got the answer!" instead of the usual Montgomery line. Sweet Home Alabama is a good song, but Lynyrd Skynyrd is unjustly known for it. Many people only know this song and they believe Lynyrd Skynyrd is a good ole boy redneck band. They need to hear more Skynyrd classics.
- Jon, Sunnyvale, CA
This song is ok, but not as good as some of their others. Also, it is featured in the new version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre when 4 teenagers are on their way to a L.S concert, they are listening to this song...its kinda spooky
- Shana, Pembroke, Canada
"Sweet Home" was actually written completely as a joke. The band was from Florida, and from what Rossington said in a Guitar World interview a few years back, they wrote the tune on the road while they were travelling through Alabama...The song started out poking fun at Alabama, which explains the George Wallace references. Complete sarcasm.
- Steve, Louisville, KY
I made a record, myself, at Fame Recording Studio in 1977. I was trying to bring back Neil Young's "Heart Of Gold". It didn't get popular, though. On the flip side was a religous song called "One Day At A Time". I recorded this song for my grandmother because it was her favorite. She died in 1980 and I'm really glad I did this! Anyway, the record wasn't played very much on the radio because it didn't have a BMI number on it, which was something I didn't know anything about at the time. It was a great experience, though, and Fame is a great studio! By the way, my name is "Kathy Jones" and I'm from Jasper, Alabama, which is about an hour and a half drive from Muscle Shoals. I've often wondered what Neil Young would think if he heard me singing his song and he knew I was from Alabama (ha!ha!)!
- Kathy, Jasper, AL
This song will always be tied to Neil Young's "Southern Man" and Neil Young will always be tied to California culture, although he originally came from Canada. During the sixties, as we in California watched the Civil Rights demonstrations; we were shocked and ashamed at what white people were doing. So many things happened so fast. In those days, most of us didn't know that even in California,as recently as 1911, the state was paying $5 a head for dead Indians. We thought we were blameless. The LA police and the Zoot suit riots weren't in the news... Here, the racial thing was more low key and the war was the issue...I'm sure Neil has learned it's a human thing and not a southern thing since then and it's about hating the sin and not the sinner...
- Mike, Berkeley, CA
Neil Young did later wrote a reply of his own (entitled "Alabama") - not quite as scathing as "Southern Man", but it does suggest that he wanted the last word in the war of words between himself and Lynyrd Skynyrd, so perhaps there was some degree of hostility in their 'feud' "Sweet Home Alabama" was their biggest hit chartwise around the world, but, in the UK, the band were in fact better remembered for the fabulous "Freebird".
- Dave, Cardiff, Wales
My dad was in the Coast Guard when the plane crashed. His cutter was one of the first on the scene of the crash
- Dustin, Tampa, FL
"The Swampers" are actually better known as The Muscle Shoals Rythm Section. As correctly stated they did play on numerous soul and later rock recordings here in Muscle Shoals. They started at Fame, then later opened their own studio. "The Swampers" name came from Leon Russell. They were backing him up at a show, and he introduced them as the "Swampers". The name stuck with Ronnie Van Zandt.
- Tracy, Muscle Shoals, AL
Quote from the 1997 film Con Air a character Garland Greene played by actor Steve Buscemi make the the statement - "Define irony: a bunch of idiots dancing around on a plane to a song made famous by a band that died in a plane crash." while this song (SHA) is playing. The plane that crashed (Oct. 20, 1977 was the model Convair 240.
- Mike, Mountlake Terrace, WA
The fued between Neil Young and Lynyrd Skynyrd wasn't always good natured. A few years after Ronnie Van Zant died, Neil Young fanatics vandalized his grave.
- Derek, Raleigh, NC
My uncle was very close with Ronnie, and he relayed a sad tidbit of LS info to me; Some fans took the LS/Neil Young beef very seriously, and actually ransacked his grave in an attempt to prove or disprove a rumor that Ronnie had been buried in a Neil Young T-shirt, which was of course, not true. (his mother would never allow him to be buried in a T-shirt, cmon) Incidently, they never caught the grave robbers.
- Jennie, Jacksonville, FL
Yes, Muscle Shoals does have the Swampers. "The Swampers" is a nickname given to the group of studio musicans that played on many recordings at different studios in Muscle Shoals. They were often requested because they played so well as a group. I was raised there, about a half mile from Fame Recording Studio where the band recorded. My dad's business was on Avalon Avenue, the same street as Fame Recording Studio. Most every day I rode past it to the post office. We always looked to see who's bus was out front so we'd know who was recording.
- Susan, Muscle Shoals, AL
Sad that this song is their most famous, and is deinetly not their best. Sorry, it's an ok song, but pales in comparison to "Freebird", "Tuesday's Gone", and "Gimme Three Steps"
- Brian, Paoli, IN
My name is Jennifer and im one true, 100% Alabamian. I am not a red neck. everyone thinks that everyone from Alabama is a hick but hey, Sweet Home Alabama proves that there is actually normal people here and that it is the most beautiful state in the Union. ITS CALLED "ALABAMA THE BEAUTIFUL" for a dam reason
- Jennifer, Dothan, AL
The last line in the song is an ad-lib by Van Zant that is rarely understood. He says, "Montgomery got the answer". Some of the original band members revealed this in a radio interview a few years back.
- John, Charlotte, NC
Jewel did a cover of the song and it was featured in the movie Sweet Home Alabama and is on the soundtrack. Her version of it ROCKS!!!!!
- shawn, loganville, GA
There is a line in the song that can't be made out very well, saying something like "My daddy told me so......." and I can't make out the rest, if that is even what he is saying!! Can anyone help me out?? I would really appreciate it!!
- Barbara, Washington, DC
Who (or what) are the Swampers, mentioned in the lyric? "now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers"
- Martin, Lodz, Poland





Hunter Newman
October 7, 2007