Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Album: Second Helping (1974)

Charted: 21 8

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Songfacts®:

Lynyrd Skynyrd are from Jacksonville, Florida. They wrote this song about their impressions of Alabama and as a tribute to the studio musicians at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, where they recorded from 1970-1972. 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 many big Southern rock groups recorded there.

"The Swampers" was a name Leon Russell's producer Denny Cordell came up with for the musicians, and when Russell earned a Gold Record for his 1971 album Leon Russell and the Shelter People (recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios), he gave one to the guys that said, "Presented to The Swampers." (These commemorative gold records were often given to folks who helped create or market the album, and they often went to record executives or radio stations). Lynyrd Skynyrd saw the record, and when they included the line, "Muscle Shoals has got The Swampers" in this song, they popularized the nickname and brought a lot of attention to these Alabama players who worked behind the scenes on many famous recordings. To find out how the nickname originated in the first place, Songfacts asked a Swamper - bass player David Hood - who explained: "We had been working with Leon, we had been working with Denny Cordell, who was his producer. I think Denny came up with the name. We did an album called The Shelter People. And on the album there were musicians on some tracks from Tulsa - Carl Radle and some of the guys from out there - and tracks by us. And to differentiate, he wrote down 'The Muscle Shoals Swampers' on the ones we did, and the Tulsa one, I don't know what he called them, but the Tulsa people on the others. And that just kind of took."

As for Skynyrd's Muscle Shoals output, they recorded a full album there in 1972 that wasn't released until nine of the tracks were included on their 1978 album Skynyrd's First and... Last, released after their tragic plane crash. According to David Hood, the tape from the sessions, which included their song "Free Bird," got kinked at some point after it left the studio, and when the band's manager would play it for record companies, it was flipped and sounded terrible. The band wasn't happy with the Muscle Shoals crew at the time, but put aside any hard feelings when they found out the recordings were fine if played correctly. These early Skynyrd recordings were produced by Muscle Shoals house musician Jimmy Johnson; the band's first release was produced by Al Kooper.
Some of the lyrics are a jab at 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 American South were racist and stuck in the past. Skynyrd responded with "Sweet Home Alabama," 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 mutual fans. Skynyrd lead singer Ronnie Van Zant often wore Neil Young T-shirts onstage and is wearing one on the cover of Street Survivors, the last Skynyrd album released before his death.

When Songfacts spoke with Rickey Medlocke, a member of the band in their early years who returned to the fold in 1996, he said that Van Zant "loved Neil Young." Added Medlocke, "I know there has been a lot of controversy about Neil Young and Ronnie having some kind of tiff, but they really didn't."
Neil Young performed this song once: He played it at a memorial to the three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd who died in a plane crash in 1977.
The guitar solo in "Sweet Home Alabama" 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.
George Wallace, who fought for segregation, was the governor of Alabama when this was released. He loved the song, especially the line, "In Birmingham they love the governor," and he made the band honorary Lieutenant Colonels in the state militia.

Wallace may not have listened very carefully, however, as Ronnie Van Zant explained: "The lyrics about the governor of Alabama were misunderstood. The general public didn't notice the words 'Boo! Boo! Boo!' after that particular line, and the media picked up only on the reference to the people loving the governor." Van Zant added, "We're not into politics, we don't have no education, and Wallace don't know anything about rock and roll." >>>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France
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.
"Sweet Home Alabama" was Skynyrd's first single to chart, rising to #8 in the US. They were never a "singles" band, as their fans just bought the albums.
"Sweet Home Alabama" was the first Lynyrd Skynyrd song to use female backup singers. The three singers were Clydie King (who was rumored to be secretly married to Bob Dylan), Merry Clayton and Sherlie Matthews, all Black women. Clayton, who you can also hear blowing the doors off their hinges in "Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones, wasn't keen to sing on a song called "Sweet Home Alabama" by a white group. When King asked her to join the session, she replied, "I'm not singing nothing about nobody's sweet home Alabama!"

She told the story in an AV Club interview. Her husband convinced her to take the gig, and she was glad she did. "The guys were great, we sang 'Sweet Home Alabama,' and the rest is history," she said.

The band never met the three women, who were recorded at a separate session.

The backup singers gave the song some juice, and in 1976 Skynyrd added a trio of singers called The Honkettes to their live lineup, and used them on some studio recordings, including "That Smell." The Honkettes were Cassie Gaines, JoJo Billingsley and Leslie Hawkins. Cassie was the sister of Steve Gaines, who joined the band on guitar in 1976. Both he and Cassie were killed in the 1977 plane crash.
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.
Yes, the country group Alabama did cover "Sweet Home Alabama." Their version is on the 1994 Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute album Skynyrd Frynds.
In 2002, this was featured in two 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 fiancé 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. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Shawn - Loganville, GA
This was featured in the video game NASCAR Thunder 2001. EA Sports, the developer of the 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. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Joseph - Old Bridge, NJ
An acoustic version sung by Johnny Van Zant is featured on Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1994 album Endangered Species. Johnny (Ronnie's brother) took over as lead singer in the band when they re-formed in 1987.
"Sweet Home Alabama" 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." >>>
Suggestion credit:
Maciej - Lublin, Poland
This plays in the movie Forrest Gump near the end of the film when Forest and Jenny are reunited. It also appears in these films:

Rio 2 (2014)
Despicable Me (2010)
Sahara (2005)
The Girl Next Door (2004)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Joe Dirt (2001)
Crimson Tide (1995)
Mask (1985)

And these TV series:

Dark Matter ("Isn't That a Paradox?" - 2017)
Rick and Morty ("Meeseeks and Destroy" - 2014)
The Simpsons ("Judge Me Tender" - 2010, "Marge's Son Poisoning" - 2005)
How I Met Your Mother ("Woooo!" - 2008)
Malcolm in the Middle ("Lois vs. Evil" - 2000)
That '70s Show ("Battle of the Sexists" - 1998)
Knight Rider ("Short Notice" - 1983)
In 2007 the sweet sounds of this song returned to the airwaves when Kid Rock interpolated it for his hit "All Summer Long," which also uses portions of Warren Zevon's "Werewolves Of London." Kid Rock is a huge Skynyrd fan and inducted them when they went into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

In the UK, "All Summer Long" revived interest in "Sweet Home Alabama," which returned to the Singles Chart at #44.
Al Kooper confirmed with Songfacts that near the end of the song, Ronnie Van Zant says, "Montgomery's got the answer," a reference to the Alabama state capitol. It's hard to make out what he's saying, and Q magazine, perhaps to mess with people, printed in their August 2008 issue a story that Ronnie Van Zant treated himself to a box of doughnuts before the session, which were eaten by his bandmates, prompting him to say, very angrily, "My doughnuts! Goddamn!"
In 2009 the state of Alabama began printing the words "Sweet Home Alabama" as an official slogan on its motor vehicle license plates. The state's previous plate featured another song, the jazz standard, "Stars Fell On Alabama."
Warren Zevon alluded to this song in the chorus of his 1980 track "Play It All Night Long," where he sang:

Sweet Home Alabama
Play that dead band's songs
Turn those speakers up full blast
Play it all night long
The National Review placed this song at #4 on their list of the 50 Greatest Conservative Rock Songs of All Time. They wrote: "A tribute to the region of America that liberals love to loathe, taking a shot at Neil Young's Canadian arrogance along the way: 'A Southern man don't need him around anyhow.'"
"Sweet Home Alabama" returned to the Billboard Hot 100 at #31 on the July 18, 2026 chart. While the track originally peaked at #8 in 1974, this sudden comeback was fueled by a massive surge in streams over the Fourth of July weekend. The holiday marked the United States' 250th anniversary, a milestone celebration that gave a major boost to patriotic playlists and summer parties nationwide.

Comments: 134

Mike from Conroe,texasPlease bear in mind, in the '72 Democratic presidential primary, Gov. Wallace had dropped segregation from his platform and had asked the Alabama Black churches for forgiveness for his racist past. He received forgiveness generally and did well with Black voters after '72.

"In Birmingham they love the governor, boo hoo hoo" (sympathy tears because Wallace was shot 5 times and lost the '72 Democratic primary)
"Now we all did what we could do" (Skynyrd, like working class whites in Alabama, supported Wallace in '72.)
"Now Watergate does not bother me" (Skynyrd and their likes didn't vote for Nixon in '72)
"Does your conscience bother you?" (Those of y'all that voted Nixon '72, how y'all feel about it now after Watergate?)

You kinda hafta know that political history and very helpful to have been alive and politically aware back in those days.
Seattleguy from Seattle"Al Kooper confirmed with Songfacts that near the end of the song, Ronnie Van Zant says, "Montgomery's got the answer," a reference to the Alabama state capitol. It's hard to make out what he's saying,"

I just now read the above. Thank you, Songfacts, for posting this and for its provenance. I had always thought the singer was taking the Lord's name in vain so I have hated that part of this great song for all of these decades. No more do I have to do that.
Bob Simpleton from Athens Greecepeople dont get the birmingham line. i missed it till recently because way before i was born. it was something in the news back then according to my dad who passed away in december at age 78. the police and counter protesters attacked a bunch of black people in a very uncivilized way during a protest against the alabama governor by turning firehoses and with brutal attack dogs. so when it says "in birmingham they love the governa" followed by .. boo boo boo..(not boo hoo hoo or eww boo hoo) its saying that they did NOT stand with the people who attacked the protesters or stood by the gov. the racist iow in any way. basically saying there are things about bama and the south that suck but neil young isnt wanted really with his judgmental attitude. young said he didnt mean to be so much that way just that when he was writing the album he wanted the songs to be really two things that were opposite converging.. like hank williams singing opera or vice versa. people kind of missed the point because the redneck tone of the music contrasting the lyrics went past them.
At from GeorgiaRonnie sang MY Governor has got the answer. In reference to ga gov Jimmy Carter! They were discovered in ga and they helped Carter win his president election. Listen to knebworth fair version as he plainly says Mr Carters got the answer.
Clemencedane from Phoenix, ArizonaIs it "boo hoo hoo" as stated here or "boo boo boo"? It makes a big difference.
Rebecca Lafayette from Belton, Texas Lynard Skinner and his Band where neighbors of mine in Jacksonville, Florida. Before they were famous. Me, my sister and brothers would go listen to them play in their home after school. They were 10-12 years older as well as my brothers. Ironic. The band Lynard Skinner would have big parties in their home. Life was simpler, free, long hair,getting stoned, music, concerts back stage hanging out. Just having FUN enjoying life. Just imagine how you would be. Undesirable. Ohhhhh and bonfires. Ordinary people. Bless them all. Their with God and looking down at this world of war,hate and no faith in themselves and life is short. Where all here for a moment and then we're all through. Pray have faith and hope forgiveness, love,smile love who you are. God BLESSED us all the world is God's. Live, love everyone. Thank everyone who is reading this. R.L.
Phil from Wakefield, UkCheck out an earlier song by Traffic - "Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave". Sounds similar?
Greg from Oregon I know Ed King was one of the guitarists on Free Bird, but on an old YouTube video of Freebird, it is clear that Allen Collins played the lead. Maybe they took turns?
Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm {10-14-2015}
Garry Rossington, original guitarist with Lynyrd Skynyrd, suffered a serious heart attack Thursday (October 8th, 2015) Doctors cleared two stents from a previous operation and added a third. The 63 year-old underwent a quadruple heart bypass in 2003 and was hospitalized earlier this year with an abdominal infection. The band has postponed two upcoming shows to next year.
May God bless him with a speedy recovery.
Jerry from Phoenix, AzYes, Joshua. It's called "All Summer Long" by Kid Rock. Apparently, he saw the same thing you did. Works pretty well.
"Warren Zevon must have had quite the fixation on this song. Not only did he quote the title in "Play It All Night Long" as mentioned in another comment, but his best-known song, "Werewolves of London" uses the same chord progression. In fact they also have pretty much the same tempo as well. I wonder if anyone's tried making a mash-up of the two songs?
Joshua - La Crosse, Wi"
Stephen from Glastonbury CtThis song is not racist and there are a lot of negative comments here and let me just add there is racism everywhere in America and not everyone knows it but it is just the people who are around it. Like there are a lot of racists in my high school. I don't like what they say about certain groups, but I go along with it because I do not want to make fun of and it is also a lot of older people who are raised into what they believe in. This band is not racist.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm
Bob Burns, founding drummer with Lynyrd Skynyrd, died Friday, April 3rd, 2015 in a single-car accident in Cartersville, Georgia. He was 64. His playing can be heard on such tunes as "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps" and "Free Bird." He left the group in 1975 due to bipolar disorder and thus was not a part of its ill-fated plane crash two years later. Bob and Lynyrd Skynyrd were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2006...
May he R.I.P.
Beth from Georgetown, InReading these comments is so fun... first, wanna point out: there are LOTSA songs written about Kentucky... (I'm a Louisville native); don't know why KFC picked this song as part of an ad campaign, but I don't understand ALOT of things KFC does, and has done. second, this song is just very tight, very bluesy, and the perfect expression of Southern pride. the guitar licks are unforgettable, and the lyrics as a whole really do articulate Southern sentiment at the time of Watergate., aand there is very much a Southern self-consciousness re: how folks not from the South, view us, and this self-consciousness still very much exists. Different parts of the South display this self-consciousness, differently: Atlanta is likely the most welcoming of all Southern cities, of folks from other cultures than Southern; Atlanta likely is the Southern locale most comfortable in her own skin. Louisville, in my opinion (and I am a native, so... that and $4.00 gets me a fancy coffee at Starbucks, right?) ishas a weirdness and identity crisis all her own; very into the arts and being part of the 'in'crowd, when all is said and done, she's a NYC wannabe. But oh, wow, she still has this thing about clutching her Southernness to her chest like i an Oscar statue. Nashville, very statuesque and educated, yet the epi-center for Old Country and New. New Orleans...... WOW, she's another planet, entirely. Little Rock, sprawling and rough around the edges and defensive as only Country-Come-to-Town can be; Birmingham, genteel, proud and a Steel Magnolia- Alabama has her own code of behavior (think cotillion), talk (quite smooth, indirect, sorta clubby). Memphis has it own distinct flavor, as do Dallas, Houston, Savannah, Hattiesburg, Decatur, Tampa, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Lexington, KY, Charlotte. The South is a fantastic place. Come see, what you experience may completely surprise you! We're all God's children...
Jed from Fond Du Lac, WiI have noticed a couple of comments on here about people from the South being racists.....some of you have a lot to learn....I am originally from the South....born and raised there. I have lived in 20 different states, from the north to the west and even on the east coast. From all my travels, do you know where I found the most racists people??.....Hold on to your hat.....it is the East Coast.....NO COMPETITION.......horrible horrible racists.....there are bigoted people everywhere you go. So to automatically assume the South is the most racists is just being judgmental.....you don't know what you are talking about, get out and travel around the country, and I guarantee you will know just what I am talking about...............
Jacka-1@hotmail.com from Jacka-1@hotmail.com, AlOH Please, The south isn't STILL VERY prejudice? Neil Young was RIGHT ON. Lenard did his song for publicity and money. The song has a life of it's own now and it shows the truth about the real prejudices that still exist in the South. I was born in the south, but left at 2 yrs old. My dad was civil service. Spent 16 years around military bases in the Canal Zone. Totally unsegregated. But anybody from there knew of the US CIVIL government's official segregated Cities, even in the 1970's, with"Rainbow City", where the blacks lived, and the white town's, like Los Rios, where I lived. I returned to Southern Alabama (Dothan area)and got a job doing remodeling. That put me in the homes of thousands of Southerners. After we got past the, "You aint from here, is you?" statement, I told them my story about being born in the south and leaving and returning. That got their trust, even without the southern accent. I OFTEN heard their stories, including deep seated hatred for the blacks. They would ask me if there were any "darkies" (or the "N" word) on my remodeling crews, because they preferred I didn't send them to "case their house". On several occasions, they would take me to their garage and show me a "shrine" to Robert E. Lee, along with some Confederate money and guns. They still believe the South will rise again. In Cottonwood, there's a natural hot spring spa that was vacated by a Doctor who lost his license. A group of African Americans from Atlanta bought the place as a getaway. What they didn't know, was that Cottonwood was a secret hotbed for the KKK. In fact, it was in Cottonwood that I saw several of those "Garage Shrines". The Spa mysteriously burned down. Hmmm. In Dothan, they had a marble stone marker in the middle of highway 231 with the statement "George Wallace Whiteway" Around 1990, it was moved to a less conspicuous place on the west side of the circle, but it's still there. Shameful. The truth is, I met a lot of nice people in the south. I had 3 partners, all all of them "died in the wool Southerners". In public, you would hear their political correct talk of helping out the African American population, but in private, I got to hear their true feelings. Same goes for a group of attorneys, a judge I knew and the town Mayor. That's the strange duality found there. Nice people, wrong thinking. Mostly due to parents influences I think. But there's no Northerners, no laws that will ever change that. I see one thing that IS changing that, though. And Southerners may not see it themselves, so there is hope. The younger generation is far more mobile then the older one and they are living in other areas, then retuning. They bring back a more tolerant way of thinking. Also, many people are moving in from other States. When I used to go out to give estimates, maybe 90% were Southerners, 10% from other areas. Now its closer to 65% Southerns, 35% from other areas. Things are achangin'. Northerners, be patient. Southerners, keep your pride in your heritage, but do something to clean up the poor black areas that still exists. They are hotbeds of discontent that someday will explode and you will live to regret it. (By the way, I did remodeling on the Black's homes, too. And they opened up to me about their feelings. They know of the Southerners secret prejudices and they won't be held back forever.)
Dawna from Birmingham, AlI was in Rome last year; coming down the Spanish steps by the Trevi Fountain when I heard a guy playing "Sweet Home Alabama" on the guitar! I live in Birmingham, AL, so I was doubly amused...
The above reference to "In Birmingham they love the governor" is correct. Jefferson County, where Birmingham is located, would not support George Wallace in gubernatorial elections; resulting in the withholding of highway funding for Interstate 65 through the county. The interstate was not completed until about 1987. Until that time, if you wanted to drive south to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, or other beach destinations, you had to exit the interstate at Jefferson county and drive on US 31; with all its traffic and stoplights .Ye gods! Political payback is a bite in the buns.
Rodger from Stevenage, United KingdomThe solos is NOT in the "wrong" key
the song is written in G and the chord progression is V, IV, I therefore although the first chord is D it resolves to tonic via the IV chord
It's obvious to anyone that cares to listen properly to it
If he played it so that it resolved to D as the root it would sound completely silly
Ed King himself states that the band backed him in his argument with Al Kooper and that';s why the solo stayed as he wrote it
Mark from Lunenburg, MaI'm a New England Yankee that never allowed myself to like this song (even with the killer riffs), because I wasn't crazy about the lyrical content. I jsut recently looked into it a little more, discovered the mutual admiration between Young and Van Zandt, and read all the postings in Songfacts. Happy to say I've come away with a different point of view. (BTW-had a boarding house roomate in the 70's from Alabama; cool guy). But everyone who says that radio is killing this song is right. Even the Boston oldies and classic rock stations poung it every day.
Megan from Stevenson, AlEverybody in Alabama knows this song as soon as they're born! It's second nature! lol This makes me proud to be from Sweet Home Alabama! xD
Cory from Nashville, TnAt the end when he says "My, Montgomery's got the answer" I always thought he said "Ma, Pa, don't worry Scott danced" hahaha
Paul from Montgomery , AlI noticed a lot of these comments are from people from other countries. Most people know that Americans have the nickname Yankees. But if you come to the
Southeast U.S. and refer to a southerner as a Yankee you will be corrected immediately.
Even a lot of people in the northern states don't realize that southerners still considers themselves as rebels, and only northerners as Yankees. Just like during our Civil War. There's still a subtle separation here.
I'm making this point because in this song Wallace represents a southern hold over from a racist past, and Watergate represents the problems with the north. When someone from the north tries to make our conscious feel blame about our past or how we are slow to progress, we get defensive. In the song "in Birmingham they love the Governor…boo hoo hoo" this sounds sarcastic like isn't that to bad, and don't worry about it! "We all did what we could do". This line could mean we're doing the best we can, we'll deal with our own problems, mind your own business.
Watergate or northern problems don't bother us down here so don't worry about our problems up there. The line "does you conscious bother you", do you personally fell responsible for all that's corrupt in the north like Watergate? I don't think so! …. Now tell the truth!

It's curious that all comments that are defensive about the song are listed by people from the south.
Valentin from Beijing, China>>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.

does anybody have a recording?? would be great if somebody posted a link to it...
Paul from Montgomery , AlThe last thing said in the song is hard to understand. But to me it sounds like
"My Mont-gomerys got me!". Thats "Montgomery" pronounced with a southern accent of course.
Bob from San Francisco, CaI am a 60 year old, New York, Jewish, ex-recording
studio engineer now doctor. I think this song has the best arrangement of any rock or country song ever produced. The integration of the background vocals with the dual leads, keyboards, rhythm is complex, subtle, beautiful. Try listening to just one track such as the background vocals or the leads, see how beautifully it is all put together.
Tom from Jacksonville, FlI was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL, and my older brother used to jam with Molly Hatchet prior to them making it big. He would take me over to visit and with both MH and LS from time to time, and I can remember the discussions about what I am about to say.
--- The references to Neil Young were a good natured poke, and they did respect his artistic ability, however it was also a 'redneck' statement to the nation. They were mirroring the general opinion that they were tired of being told by the rest of the nation how we should act (as everyone else in the South at the time was). As someone before me said, it was basically, 'yeah, we have problems, but so do you, and we don't need you telling us how to live.'
--- The primary reason the song was delayed was due the band's honest belief that the public would be upset by the anti-Young lyrics because of his popularity. The band wanted a vote to see if they would stick by their beliefs and publish or if they should change the words. They voted unanimously to stick to their beliefs and release it as it was.
--- Birmingham-Governor-Watergate, is of course a reference to then Gov. George Wallace. History/Geography 101 folks: Birmingham did not 'love' Gov Wallace. In fact Birmingham traditionally voted against him. Wallace in turn stopped the interstate highway construction at the Jefferson County (Birmingham) county line.
Also note that the nearby city of Tuskaloosa is home of the University of Alabama where the memoriable Stand In the Schoolhouse Door took place (see Forrest Gump if you don't want to look it up). The line is a satirical reference to Alabama politics and the 'good ole boy system' -- Wallace was continually being elected on his other platforms even by people who disagreed with his racist stands (even his wife was elected when he couldn't run).
--- The "Montgomery's... got the answer" is mostly just another nod to Alabama, and has nothing to do with Wallace or the Montgomery Bus Boycott as otherwise stated.
Overall the song was a humbled salute to the South in a manner of 'Yes, we have problems, but we don't need you (sorry, 'Y'all') coming down here casting your stones.'
--- Please note the progression of the words:
Alabama is a nice place; I miss it.
Piss off Neil Young.
We have some problems (racism).
But we have good things (Muscle Shoals).
So basically, stop hassling us and calling us stupid rednecks.

LASTLY, Let it be said:
Yes, I consider myself a redneck. I also happen to have three bachelor's, two master's degrees, and am a practicing Physician Assistant. I am also six months away from a doctorate degree in religious anthropology. I am in an interracial marriage (fifteen years). Redneck does not mean stupid, racist, backwards, or inbread. Sorry, but if that is your definition then YOU are the racist bastard and you can KMA.
Jason from Rochester, NyActually the line "I hope Neil Young will remember a southern man don't need him around anyhow." reminds me that when Skynyrd opened for Young and Young was boo'd off the stage for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Neil Young at the time was on top.
Spanky from Charleston, ScDavid Hood is the bass player for the Swampers.His son is the amazing Patterson Hood, one of the founding members of Drive-By Truckers.They wrote song called The Three Great Alabama Icons that will tell you all you need to know about Skynyrd, George Wallace, and Bama in general.Furthermore, Ronnie and Neil were extremely admirable about each others talent and body of work. In Neils biogrophy "Shakey", it is stated that he was an honorary pall bearer at Ronnie's funeral.The Truckers also have a wonderful song called "Ronnie and Neil" that covers their relationship.Skynyrd,The Swampers, and The Truckers.May they all live forever.
Garrett from Phenix City, AlFirst off, actually there was a song written about Kentucky in the 1930's. It was written by Bill Monroe, a pioneer bluegrass singer and mandolin player from the state. Anyway, Sweet Home Alabama is a great song. However Jewel did not do a great job on it. There have been some good covers, such as the Charlie Daniels band's 2004 recording from the album "Southern Rock Country Style" and Alabama's 1994 recording on the album "Skynyrd Frynds." However, the Skynyrd version remains the all time definitive version. In the end of the song, Ronnie Van Zant says, "My Montgomery's Got it's answer." My Uncle told me that years back, a radio station in Columus, Georgia, just across the river from where we live, there was a trivia question on one of the radio station that went on for five days asking what Van Zant was saying. People were saying things like "Kiss My A**" and G**D***. Nobody knew it was Montgomery's got it's answer. I do think the myth about Ronnie saying, My Donuts was kind of funny. Timeless song.
Jim from Long Beach, CaI like the fact that Ed King co-wrote this song. He was from Glendale,Califoria(LA)and use to be in The Strawberry Alarm Clock. Also, he was my cousin's neighbor in Glendale..A true Southern athem from a dud from southern California, how ironic...
Pat from St. Paul, MnJust checked around the 'Net and the "Sweet Home Alabama" license plates *are* the official state plates as of January 2009 and will be issued for at least the next five years.
Pat from St. Paul, MnOn my last trip to Alabama a few weeks ago, I noticed that many cars and trucks sport official license plates that say "Sweet Home" at the top and "Alabama" on the bottom. I don't think it's the standard issue plate. I wonder if the band gets royalties from the state. There's also another version of the plate that says "Stars Fell On Alabama," after the jazz standard song.
Steve from Coldwater, Alto put it simple Lynyrd Skynyrd was saying to Neil Young yes there is racism in Alabama and always will be from both sides and we know how to live with it and dont need a yankee telling us how.
Robert from Atlanta, GaThe ultaminte Southern boy song!
Bill from Waco, Txthe teachers name was lenard skinerd(not sure of spelling)...the y's are a reference to the byrds
Brad from Long Island, NyOne of the backup vocalist on this song was Merry Clayton. She backed Mick Jagger on "Gimme Shelter" (unbeleivable vocals on that one)and even sang some backup vocals for Neil Young. She is also a TV and movie actress. And Dustin, your Dad must have had a tough time getting his cutter through the woods to the crash site, considering thats where the plane crashed.
Jeremy from V-town, GaHas anyone ever heard the 2 song RECORd by Lynyrd Skynyrd called Shade Tree? I think that is what it is called! Where can you buy it and are you able to get it on a cd?
Jeremy from V-town, GaHas anyone ever heard the 2 song RECORd by Lynyrd Skynyrd called Shade Tree? I think that is what it is called! Where can you buy it and are you able to get it on a cd?
Joshua from La Crosse, WiWarren Zevon must have had quite the fixation on this song. Not only did he quote the title in "Play It All Night Long" as mentioned in another comment, but his best-known song, "Werewolves of London" uses the same chord progression. In fact they also have pretty much the same tempo as well. I wonder if anyone's tried making a mash-up of the two songs?
Michelle from Maplewood, MnBret micheals from poision said that the first album he had ever bought from sears was sweet home alabama and it was on his play list
Tyler from Tomball, TxIf you listen toward the end of the song it sounds like he says "My donuts gabby"
Paul from London, United KingdomThought I'd throw something new into the ring. In the comedian Rich Hall's Otis Lee Crenshaw book "I Blame Society" which is admittedly a fictional account of his character's life, Otis Lee Crenshaw's first and only album is called "Godamn, My Donuts". The reason given is that this is the mumbled phrase you hear at the end of the song, as Ronnie noticed his Krispy Kremes being polished off in the sound booth! I'm probably wrong, but I like the idea anyway!
Nova from Paisley, United Kingdomone of the best songs ever timeless
P.a. from Paris, FranceThis song rocks, love the guitar, the piano...

What Sweet Home Alabama became is a symbol of traditional American values.
That's why it's so often used in pick up and barbecue commercials...
The whole misunderstanding about the meaning makes me think about Springsteen's Born in the USA. Same thing happened.

I read about the argument over the key used in the solos, the producer Al Kooper wanted them in D but it was played in G (which is the song's tone anyway).
Pete from Nowra, Australiaat the start i've listened to it many times it doesn't sound like "turn it up " to me
Musicmama from New York, NyI 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?
Nikki from Sum Where In Tx, Txthis song is old and is WAY overplayed on the radio
Jordan from Darlington, Sckevin 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 mother, 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
Dirk from Brasschaat, BelgiumGreat song and not very hard to play on guitar, it's a good exercise for mixing chords with riffs.
Blake from Watertown, SdVan Zant wrote the song to symbolize their want for the rise of the neo-confederacy
Ben from Oakdale, CtI 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!
Steve from Hartselle, AlGovenor 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.
Whitney from Cuyahoga Falls, OhThis song is awesome
NOT REALLY!
Mike from Quakertown, PaThis song was written as a joke by Ronnie Van Zant.
Moto from Pittsburgh, PaThis song totally rocks and Ed King's opening lick on the Strat is one of the most recognized in rock history.
Mark from Worcester, MiLots 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.
Jenna Madsen from Eureka!, CaThis 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~*
Chrissy from ManchesterGreat song, and yes, it's also featured in Forest Gump when Jenny is teaching Forest how to dance.
Josie from Funkytown, NcLynyrd Skynyrd put the "Y"s in their name in reference to The Byrds.
Ferris from Ohio, OhJewels version of this song makes me want to kill myself. It's horrible.
Skip from North Kingstown, RiGreat song! However, Jewel absolutely slaughtered it on the soundtrack. She should be ashamed...Skip
Dan from Worcester, MaMerry Clayton, who sings background, also sang background on the Rolling Stones "Gimmie Shelter".
Dan, Worcester
Dan from Worcester, MaThe 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"
Petter from Ã?ngelholm, SwedenI think I read somewhere that this song is the song ( maybe apart from classical pieces) that is featured in the most movies.
Fyodor from Denver, CoWhen Neil Young did his tribute, did he sing the lines about himself??
Nooxara from Albany, AkI'm surprised they brought up Neil Young..
Zap from Norwalk, CtFor 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.
Rob from Vancouver, CanadaCCR is a bay area band...
Rob from Vancouver, CanadaI love the fact that there's a web site where thoughtful, articulate necks like Ash can express themselves.
Jon from Rochester, NyI 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... =) )
Norm from Austin, TxEd 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.
Keith Hill from Decatur, Al"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!
Antonio from Monterrey, MexicoThe 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 cliché, but even out of the US, the people relates more the CCR song with the south than "Sweet Home Alabama")
Darden from Montgomery, AlIm 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"
Brian from Providence, Ri"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.
Thomas from Southgate, MiIn 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?
Mike from Gulf Shores, Al 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.
Max from Laguna Niguel, CaBecause 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.
Scutter from Harrisonburg, VaCan someone explain to me why KENTUCKY Fried Chicken uses Sweet Home ALABAMA for their theme music ?
Kevin from Dublin, Irelandneil 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
Joao from Lisbon, PortugalAm I wrong or Madonna used the initial chords of this song as a sample for her "What it feels like for a girl"?
Ross from Independence, MoThis is #398 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest songs.
Jude from Thomasville, GaCan 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.
Mike from Winnipeg, CanadaRonnie 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.
Matt from Millbrae, CaAnyone else hear the rumor that Ronnie was buried in a Neil Young t-shirt?
Martin from Santa Monica, CaSince 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 from Santa Monica, CaMartin, 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.
Melonie from Florence, Alok, 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.
John from Mobile, 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 from Mobile, AlI 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!
Sarah from Colac, AustraliaThis 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...
Ken from Louisville, KyTo 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.
Megan from Ozark, AlThe 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".
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, Sci heard about that rumor also matt.
Matt from Millbrae, CaTheres a rumor that Ronnie Van Zant was buried in his Neil Young t-shirt
Jordan from Allegan, MiI think that this song is a good song. This is very good it is very original.
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScBy the way, "Simple Man" is my favorite Skynyrd song. A lot of those songs are played on the radio to much though.
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScO 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 from Rock Hill, Scdave. 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".
Jesse from Atlanta, GaTo 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.
Ginger from Madison, AlTo 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.
Anthony from Clearwater, FlI 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.)
Jim from Baileyton, Akin 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
Brian from Phoenix, AzEd 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.
John from Flanders, NjDoes anyone know the piano notes for the very last part? I'd love to the learn it.
Ryan from Mobile, AlIn 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.
Farryn from Bonners Ferry, IdSweet 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
Nader from Durham, NcRoll Tide =) Great song
Laurie from Farmington, Nyin 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...
Peter from Toronto, CanadaSOme 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.....
Billy from Pittsburgh, PaI 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?
Lynn from Brookhaven,ms"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
Antonio from Orlando, FlThis song is featured in the Forrest Gump soundtrack, among other famous songs.
Jackson from Waycross, Gai'm with reed. *rolls eyes* i live in south georgia and i hear this song approximately fifteen times each day.
Reed from Hagerstown, Inwell, in my humble opinion, this is the most overrated and overplayed song in rock history
Cody from New York City, NyIf 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.
Brady from Fort Stockton, TxOddly enough, the Lynyrd Skynyrd version was never used in the movie-there were two or three other versions, but never Skynyrd's.
Jon from Sunnyvale, CaI 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.
Shana from Pembroke, CanadaThis 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
Steve from Louisville, Ky"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.
Kathy from Jasper, Al 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!)!
Mike from Berkeley, CaThis 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...
Dave from Cardiff, WalesNeil 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".
Dustin from Tampa, FlMy dad was in the Coast Guard when the plane crashed. His cutter was one of the first on the scene of the crash
Tracy from Muscle Shoals, Al"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.
Mike from Mountlake Terrace, WaQuote 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.
Derek from Raleigh, NcThe 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.
Jennie from Jacksonville, FlMy 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.
Susan from Muscle Shoals, AlYes, 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.
Brian from Paoli, InSad 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"
Jennifer from Dothan, AlMy 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
John from Charlotte, NcThe 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.
Shawn from Loganville, GaJewel 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!!!!!
Barbara from Washington, DcThere 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!!
Martin from Lodz, PolandWho (or what) are the Swampers, mentioned
in the lyric? "now Muscle Shoals has got the
Swampers"

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