Gator Country

Album: Molly Hatchet (1978)
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Songfacts®:

  • "Gator Country" is Florida, where Molly Hatchet formed (in Jacksonville). Alligators are everywhere there; they're even the mascot of the University Of Florida.

    The song explains why Florida is preferable to other nearby states, alligators and all.
  • The lyrics namecheck various Southern rockers in this travelogue of rejected states. Mentioned in the song are:

    Lynyrd Skynyrd and "Sweet Home Alabama"
    Charlie Daniels Band, who recorded in Nashville, Tennessee
    Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers Band, from Macon, Georgia
    Elvin Bishop of Glendale, California
    The Marshall Tucker Band from Spartanburg, South Carolina
    The Outlaws of "Green Grass and High Tides" fame, from Tampa, Florida

    Note that Lynyrd Skynyrd, like Molly Hatchet, is from Jacksonville, despite "Sweet Home Alabama." Their lead singer, Ronnie Van Zant, was going to produce Molly Hatchet's album, but he died in a plane crash before he got the opportunity.
  • Molly Hatchet bass player Banner Thomas and guitarist Dave Hlubek and Steve Holland wrote this song, with Thomas writing the lyric. Their lead singer Danny Joe Brown explained in an interview with the radio station WMDM: "Banner was not a real drinker, but one night he got together with ol' Jack Daniel's. He came out of his rack on the bus the next morning and he had written all the lyrics to 'Gator Country.' He pretty much said what was on his mind that night. I think Banner should've got drunk a little more often."
  • The song runs 6:17, with the last half all guitar solos. The band had three guitarists - Steve Holland, Duane Roland and Dave Hlubek - and they each get a turn on this track.
  • "Gator Country" is one of the most popular songs from Molly Hatchet's self-titled debut album. It got them off to a great start but kept them on tour at a furious pace. Their next album was Flirtin' With Disaster, with a title track that's a snapshot of the path to destruction they were headed down, fueled by drugs and alcohol. Many bands lived fast, but few died young to this degree. Of the six members in the band at this time, none lived past 66.
  • Tom Werman was the band's producer for this album. The same year, he produced Cheap Trick's Heaven Tonight album. According to Werman, the band was very talented but it could be challenging trying keep all three guitarists involved. Werman told Songfacts that Duane Roland was their best player, but he had to keep Steve Holland and Dave Hlubek involved as well.
  • Molly Hatchet took their name from a Southern prostitute of legend who beheaded her clients. Before they got famous, this caused some confusion because some folks thought there would be a woman fronting the band.
  • Molly Hatchet went though a bunch of lineup changes over the years and by the mid-'90s there were no members from this configuration left in the band. In 2005, a few former members of the band, including original lead singer Jimmy Farrar, formed a group called Gator Country, named after this song.
  • If you're looking for the album in a used record shop, you might get thrown off by the cover. The band used magical fantasy drawings on their covers, and the Molly Hatchet album shows what appears to be a dark knight looking over a battle.

Comments: 15

  • Jack from The Great State Of ConfusionSome people can't take a joke. The lyrics are just expressing his love for his home State and taking some tongue-in-cheek jabs at fellow Southern artists. All in good fun. Who hasn't trash talked their buddies?
  • Educat from North CarolinaAs much as I enjoy the music, I never have understood why putting down other southern states makes any sense. Say all of the great things you want about Florida, but hating on others doesn’t elevate you. The other southern states are pretty awesome.
  • Susant from Covington GaBy mention in LS ( Neil Young); Molly Hatchet’s loyalty to Florida is a witty nod to regional talent - Penned hastily or only referring to the other artist’s lyrics opposed to the own origins as Lynyrd Skynyrd and Dickey Betts were were Floridians.
  • Mitch from 62249I really love Molly Hatchet so Im not knocking them. But it is ironic that they actually give a jab to the Allman Brothers via Dickey, given the fact that the ABB bacically invented souther rock. Without them there may not have been MH...
  • J.j. from Mobile, AlabamaACTUALLY. The Allmans were born in Tennessee and moved to Florida after their father passed when they were really young. The Allman first got together in Jacksonville, Florida, BUT the first pieces of the band were put together in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Duane chased bassist Barry Oakley to convince him to join. That's when the rest of his band, First of February, joined which contained Dickey and Butch Trucks. Then the Allman Bros stationed uo in Macon, Georgia because that's where Jerry Wexler and Capricorn Records were located. So, the band is really from all over the South. Perfect. Greatest damn band in the land!
  • Mark from Bradenton, FloridaSorry to inform you but Dickey Betts was born and raised in Oneco, Florida just saying.......
  • Bob from Tennessee Actually Duane and Gregg was born in Nashville.
  • Tony from San DiegoJust a great effin song. Gotta love those various guitar player solos at the end. Southern Fried Metal!!!
  • Dave from Fernandina Beach, FlThe Allman Brothers were originally from Jacksonville, FL which is just over the state line from Georgia. What people that live down here learn is that in Florida, the farther north you go, the farther South you get. North Florida is just about as close as you can get to the proverbial Heart of Dixie.
  • Jimmy from Knox, TnHey Ed the Allman Brothers were from Georgia just like Dwayne Allman says Eat A Georgia Peach the two legged kind.
  • Ed from Lake City, Flall the allman brothers were from florida. they just named dicky for the song ramblin man. they should listin to sail away, it's about watching a florida sunset.
  • Larry from Jacksonville, FlTo add to Mick from Las Vegas' post - .38 Special is also from Jacksonville.
  • Chris from Merritt Island, FlThey should make this the Florida State song.
  • Doug from Kansas City, MoYes...in those days Southern Rock ruled..helped get rid of Disco!!!
  • Mick from Las Vegas, NvMolly Hatchett, along with Lynard Skynard, were from Jacksonville, Florida.
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