The Real Story Behind 2nd Verse Of 'Sweet Home Alabama'

[JerseyGirl]

The following is an article from 105.7 The Hawk...

The song’s lyrics proved controversial. Overt references to Alabama’s then-governor George Wallace, a noted segregationist, as well as the Watergate scandal fueled some political fire.

But perhaps most notably, Ronnie Van Zant’s lyrics ignited a supposed feud between Skynyrd and Canadian singer/songwriter Neil Young, which has grown into a sort of rock and roll folk tale.

“Sweet Home Alabama” was written in direct response to Young’s “Southern Man” and “Alabama,” songs critical of the southern United States in general and the state of Alabama specifically.

The lyrics of the song’s second verse are as follows:


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


If you listen closely, the voice of Studio One producer Al Kooper can be heard impersonating Young and singing the words “southern man.” Kooper suggested that the band also include the words “better keep your head,” but Van Zant declined, not wanting to plagiarize Young.

Remainder of the story in the link.

LINK: Southern Rock Opera – Ronnie Van Zant, Neil Young and “Sweet Home Alabama” | 105.7 The Hawk

 

[LG]

^^One of the better "disputes" between artists over the years.

I love Skynyrd and Neil is a Legend as well although the subject matter going back and forth was very serious. I will take Neil in this one, he had the moral high ground no matter how good Ronnie's rebuttal was.

Also after Sweet Home Alabama was released, Neil recorded "Walk On"...which was Perfect and I don't think anything followed after that.

 

[JerseyGirl]

^^^ Did you finish the article in the link? It goes into more detail and talks about a couple of other things as well.

 

[LG]

No I didn't JG...I am just going off memory of the events. I don't recall if there was a permanent feud or they put it behind them later, or when the tragedy struck...

I'll read it later, I am on my way out to shovel some more snow.

 

[JerseyGirl]

No I didn't JG...I am just going off memory of the events. I don't recall if there was a permanent feud or they put it behind them later, or when the tragedy struck...

I'll read it later, I am on my way out to shovel some more snow.

I'm surprised you're not a snowman already.

 

[AboutAGirl]

Although I'll take Neil's songs over Sweet Home Alabama, you gotta admit Neil was being pretty damn ignorant with those tracks so you can't blame anybody for wanting to have a second word on it. It just would have been great if they could have gotten together and recorded. But alas, many things ended too soon for Skynyrd.

The reference to George Wallace and Watergate I do find disconcerting. There's different ways you can interpret it, I choose to believe their message was a good one, but either way they were pretty much just goofing around with that whole song and we all know Ronnie's heart was in the right place. He seems like he was a pretty progressive guy.

 

[Mr. Bob Dobolina]

Ronnie and Neil always treated this with good humor. Ronnie wore a "Tonight's the Night" t-shirt (said it was his favorite) and Neil was known to do a version of "Sweet Home Alabama" during concerts of that period.

 

[LG]

^^That's something I didn't know Bob D...

AAG...Neil was right on target, Alabama was basically an Apartheid state not so long ago. And considering as Bob pointed out Ronnie and Neil had mutual respect for each other puts this whole sequence of exchanges in a different light for me anyway.

 

[JerseyGirl]

^^That's something I didn't know Bob D...

AAG...Neil was right on target, Alabama was basically an Apartheid state not so long ago. And considering as Bob pointed out Ronnie and Neil had mutual respect for each other puts this whole sequence of exchanges in a different light for me anyway.

That's why I told you to read the link Frosty.

 

[Mr. Bob Dobolina]

Found a couple of pics.