I wonder what pro-segregation songs will be used in commercials next. You can find the lyrics here, if you're unfamiliar. The governor they refer to is Wallace.

I know CMOM may pipe in to remind me that the song's lyrics needn't affect my enjoyment of the song. But, they just do.

I'll take Neil Young over these guys anyway. But, I know he's not selling his songs for commercials. Not last I checked anyway.

The fact that someone mentions a segregationist in a song (or anywhere else) does not make them a segregationist.

A stronger argument is that the song is actually about the way arrogant people often assume they know what others believe, purely becuase of where they are from.

Even National Review cites the song as one of the "top conservative rock songs" for this very reason -- not because of any political angle, and stating very clearly that it "is absolutely not a boast about the racist Southern past, though that is where most rock critics prefer to begin and end."

And then you've got the fact that the band
members themselves said from the time the song came out that it is not pro-segregation. But why let that spoil your assumptions?

They say, "In Birmingham, they love the governor." Birmingham is in their "Sweet Home Alabama." So, I think it's fair to interpret that that as a positive sentiment. That's not an assumption, but a fair reading of their song.

Further, they go on to say, "The governor's true." While not exactly grammatical, I think it's fair to interpret that as an agreement with Governor Wallace's policies. Again, not an assumption, but a fair reading.

You are totally free to disagree with me, and the band members are free to claim that they meant whatever they want. But please don't call me arrogant or accuse me of making assumptions because you disagree with me.

Also, I'll point out that I didn't call the band members segregationists. I called the song pro-segregation, and I stand by that as a very fair interpretation.

I guess you didn't read the Wikipedia page I linked to. So here you go:

In 1975, Van Zant said: "The lyrics about the governor of Alabama were misunderstood. The general public didn't notice the words 'Boo! Boo! Boo!' after that particular line, and the media picked up only on the reference to the people loving the governor"

Of course, you're free to interpret the song any way you like, and my apologies if it seemed I was calling you arrogant. I still disagree with you, though, and I hope you one day feel free to enjoy the song - and the rest of Lynrd Skynrd's oeuvre - with a clear conscience. Free Bird!

Below are the lyrics from the National Review site: they actually mention the Gov three times (and no mention of Boo, Boo, Boo) in a positive way. They also were not bothered by Watergate, which I just find odd. I mean, they don't like people coming in and telling them how to run their state, but they are OK with the President (Head of the Federal Government) bugging the headquarters of his rivals!? What's up with that?

Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the Southland
I miss Alabamy once again
And I think its a sin, yes

Well I heard Mr. 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 governor
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
Here I come Alabama

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
Oh sweet home baby
Where the skies are so blue
And the governor’s true
Sweet Home Alabama
Lordy
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Yea, yea—my governor’s got the answer

In Birmingham they love the governor
Now we all did what we could do

You'd really say that comes across as being supportive of the governor?

And as for Watergate - is it the crime they have no problem with, or the aftermath of the coverup? This song came out in '74, the year Nixon resigned.

While we're parsing lyrics, why don't you go read the lyrics from Neil Young's songs about how awful Alabama is. And then some from the Drive By Truckers about this very question, while you're at it.

I've always understood the song as being about the fact that we all have flaws. Southerners know their past was awful -- but people from other places have black marks against them, too. Southerners continue working to change things and make amends. Promoting the misconception that "Sweet Home Alabama" is in favor of segregation does not help matters.

kdot,

Thanks for the apologies.

If it makes you feel better, I grew up in the South. And I happen to know patrick did, too, for that matter.

I agree we all, no matter where we're from, need to face up to our flaws and work on changing things for the better. But I also think that song perpetuates divisions, rather than bringing people together.

For the record, I don't own any Lenny Skynnard or Neil Young (that I can recall), mostly because neither struck my fancy. By my Ipod (Xmas gift) is full of what some might call racist stuff (Civil War Songs, bluegrass, Irish Revolution Ballads, Johnny Cashes lamentations on the South). Of course I go other things as well: Christmas Carrols, the International, English war songs from their Imperialist age, an more Lefty podcasts than I can listen to. Any one of them could be correctly or incorrectly interpreted to mean anything. But I have them because I like them.
Which is a long way of saying, Alex, I don't think most people who watch these commercials connect Sweet Home Alabama to segregation (and I am sure the ad firms have focus group data to back this up. Blacks make up a large percentage of fast food clients). Most Americans know much less than you about most things. They probably connect it to Reese Witherspoon and Matthew McConoughy, who are universally loved.
BTW, I hear Neil Young is a grade A p**ck in person. Not that that should matter where his music is concern

Bluegrass is racist?

Sure, especially a lot of the older stuff. Songs about the Rebel Army, cotton picking, "darkies". This is the music of the mountain folk of the south. While I am sure some of them were wonderful people, many were/are, how can I say this politely (oh yeah, I can't) "crackers". That doesn't mean they don't pull a mean bow accross the fiddle.
BTW, another example: "Jesse James", whose song calls him a Robin Hood, who stole fromthe rich and gave to the poor, was in reality a an ex-rebel guerilla fighter who stole from the rich carpetbaggers and gave to the poor or rich southerners who funneled money to Klan or to corrupt southern politicians who protected him.

While I don't interpret the song as specifically pro-segregation, I do take it a bit as an encoded endorsement of same. IOW, to me the main thrust of the song is "Leave us alone." But that's just a facade the way states' rights has always been a facade. Nobody wants to be left alone when there's a natural disaster or other threat of economic ruin. They only want to be left alone when they're being told to do something they don't want to do. In the early 70s, this was desegregating.

The song doesn't do it for me because I've never particularly felt proud of Alabama. I spent much of my youth in North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland; my mom was from Memphis; and a bunch of family has roots in Yazoo, Mississippi. Somewhere along the line I became of the opinion that 'Bama was just bass-ackwards.

And anyway, I don't find it terribly odd that the commercials are using the song. My guess is most people don't go too deep into their fried chicken purveyors' musical tastes, and SHA conjures up good feelings of picnics and NASCAR for many.

Hey I just noticed the Alabama quarter. Can anybody guess what's on it (without checking their own pockets of course)? What do you think 'Bama is most of?
http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/50sq_program/states/index.cfm?flash=yes&state=AL

You'd have to be blind, deaf and dumb not to know that one.