Sweet Home Alabama

About this song

Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote the song as a reply to Neil Young's "Southern Man" from his 1970 album After the Gold Rush. It was meant to show rock fans that the South was not the racist place that many Canadians believed it to be. The song is a staple of Classic Rock and AOR radio and has become something of an anthem for Alabama and its sports teams, even appearing on a recent Alabama license plate design.

What it's about

The song presents the South as a place to be proud of, answering Young's criticism of racism in the region with a defense of Southern life.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 12 other songs, like “Gangster of Love (Gangster Boogie!!) by Geto Boys”.
• Covered 12 times, including “Sweet Home Buenos Aires by Charly García (Ft. Javier Calamaro)”.
• Written by Ronnie Van Zant, Ed King and Gary Rossington.
• Produced by Al Kooper.
• Recorded at Studio One.