![]() The neo-nazi rockband Skrewdriver have also recorded a version of the song where the ambiguous phrases are made overtly racist. However, regardless of the intent of the songwriters, many white supremacist groups have been known to use "Sweet Home Alabama" as a sort of anthem, apparently under the impression the song supports racism. Was a reference to the Selma to Montgomery civil rights march led by Martin Luther King. Also, in a recent radio interview surviving band members stated the last line The band's 1973 song "Things Goin' On" expressed concern about life in 'the ghetto' while Van Zant was an avowed fan of numerous African-American artists, he would later write the song Journey Through The Past in tribute to an African-American musician he had met growing up. Assertions by various band members that the lyrics do not endorse segregation are commonly accepted. Others disagree and claim that, taken in context, the line may mean the exact opposite, saying that they all did what they could do to keep Wallace out of office. Many use this reference to claim the song is meant in support of Wallace's policies. The governor being referenced is often claimed to be the state's former segregationist Governor, George Wallace, who remained in office when the song was written in 1974. In Birmingham they love the governor (boo hoo hoo) There is great debate about exactly what Ronnie Van Zant was trying to say when writing this song, with special emphasis on the second verse which goes as follows: I'm not advocating censorship - I would be satisfied to have people be conscious of what they are doing (and then I can figure out which list to put them on).Īlleged political meanings and counter-meanings Follow this with "In Birmingham they love the governor", and the song gives me the same sort of feeling that "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" from Cabaret did - except Cabaret was fiction, but Lynyrd Skynyrd reflected the feelings of a lot of real people (whether or not the song was intended the way it has been taken).ĭoes anyone else have this reaction (to this song or others)? I'm considering strategies on how to get the people who play songs publicly to think about the lyrics and the effects of those lyrics on the listeners. ![]() Part of that is because I lived in Montgomery, Alabama in 1958 (and in Albany, Georgia from 1959-1964) and knew to which "Southern Man" Neil Young was referring, so "Well, I hope Neil Young will remember/a southern man don't need him around anyhow" sounded like it was coming from the same sort. Regardless of the intent of the members of Lynyrd Skynyrd who wrote the song, it absolutely gives me the creeps. I'm sure that the white DJ's who put it on don't think there is anything offensive about it, and may not even get its references. ![]() The one exception is Lynyrd Skynyrd's song "Sweet Home Alabama". Most of the time, I find myself ignoring the words, especially if the song has a catch tune. There are a lot of songs that bother me because of misogyny, racism, and their promotion of cultural stereotypes and what I consider some pretty lousy values.
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