This post by Josh Marshall reminded me of a recent conversation with the wife about Skynard dissing Canadian song thrush and former Rick James bandmate Neil Young in "Sweet Home Alabama," in response to one or two of his songs. Apparently, I'm not the only one interested in the contretemps. Below, for reference, are the lyrics to the songs in question.
Southern Man by Neil Young
Southern man
better keep your head
Don't forget
what your good book said
Southern change
gonna come at last
Now your crosses
are burning fast
Southern man
I saw cotton
and I saw black
Tall white mansions
and little shacks.
Southern man
when will you
pay them back?
I heard screamin'
and bullwhips cracking
How long? How long?
Southern man
better keep your head
Don't forget
what your good book said
Southern change
gonna come at last
Now your crosses
are burning fast
Southern man
Lily Belle,
your hair is golden brown
I've seen your black man
comin' round
Swear by God
I'm gonna cut him down!
I heard screamin'
and bullwhips cracking
How long? How long?
Alabama by Neil Young
Oh Alabama
The devil fools
with the best laid plan.
Swing low Alabama
You got spare change
You got to feel strange
And now the moment
is all that it meant.
Alabama, you got
the weight on your shoulders
That's breaking your back.
Your Cadillac
has got a wheel in the ditch
And a wheel on the track
Oh Alabama
Banjos playing
through the broken glass
Windows down in Alabama.
See the old folks
tied in white ropes
Hear the banjo.
Don't it take you down home
Alabama, you got
the weight on your shoulders
That's breaking your back.
Your Cadillac
has got a wheel in the ditch
And a wheel on the track
Oh Alabama.
Can I see you
and shake your hand.
Make friends down in Alabama.
I'm from a new land
I come to you
and see all this ruin
What are you doing Alabama
You got the rest of the union
to help you along
What's going wrong
Sweet Home Alabama by Lynard Skynard
Big wheels keep on turning,
carry me home to see my kin
singing songs about the southland.
I miss ole bamy once again and I think it's a sin. Yes.
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.
Sweet home Alabama where the skies are so blue.
Sweet home Alabama, Lord, I'm coming home to you.
In Birmingham they love the Gov'nor. Oooh hoo hoo.
Now we all did what we could do.
Now Watergate does not bother me.
Does your conscience bother you, tell the truth.
Sweet home Alabama where the skies are so blue.
Sweet home Alabama, Lord, I'm coming home to you.
Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
and they've been known to pick a song or two.
Lord, they get me off so much,
they pick me up when I'm feeling blue, now how about you.
Sweet home Alabama where the skies are so blue.
Sweet home Alabama, Lord, I'm coming home to you.
Sweet home Alabama where the skies are so blue.
Sweet home Alabama, Lord, I'm coming home to you.
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