The band was founded by Randy Owen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and his cousin Teddy Gentry (bass, backing vocals). They were soon joined by another cousin, Jeff Cook (lead guitar, fiddle, and keyboards). First operating under the name Wild Country, the group toured the Southeast bar circuit in the early 1970s, and began writing original songs. They changed their name to Alabama in 1977 and following the chart success of two singles, were approached by RCA Nashville for a record deal.
Alabama's biggest success came in the 1980s, where the band had over 27 #1 hits, seven multi-platinum albums and received numerous awards. Alabama's first single on RCA Records, "Tennessee River", began a streak of 21 #1 singles, including "Love in the First Degree" (1981), "Mountain Music" (1982), "Dixieland Delight" (1983), "If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)" (1984) and "Song of the South" (1988). The band's popularity waned slightly in the 1990s although they continued to produce hit singles and multi-platinum album sales. Alabama disbanded in 2004 following a farewell tour and two albums of inspirational music but reunited in 2010 and have continued to record and tour worldwide.
Owen was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010, but he was later given a clean bill of health, which led to the band's reunion, without Herndon. Following a series of tornadoes destroying homes and businesses throughout their state in 2011, Alabama assembled a benefit concert in Birmingham, called Bama Rising. Featuring the band's first set since 2004, alongside Luke Bryan, Sheryl Crow and Brad Paisley, the concert raised $2.1 million. "I guess we realized that maybe we missed the playing ... and five or six years had gone by and we were like, 'Maybe that wasn't as bad as we remember it being,'" said Gentry. In celebration of the group's 40th anniversary, Alabama resumed touring in 2013 for the Back to the Bowery tour, referencing the Myrtle Beach club where they first became professional musicians. They also undertook a short cruise, The Alabama & Friends Festival at Sea, which left for the Bahamas on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Pearl ship. In addition, the band released Alabama & Friends, a tribute album encompassing covers from newer artists such as Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line, in addition to two new tracks by Alabama.
The band released their first new studio album in 14 years, Southern Drawl, on September 18, 2015, via BMG Chrysalis. In 2016, Alabama was selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "Forever Country", a mash-up track of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "On the Road Again", and "I Will Always Love You" that celebrates 50 years of the CMA Awards.
In April 2017, guitarist Jeff Cook announced in a video that he would reduce the number of shows for which he would be in attendance while the band was on tour, due to his struggle with Parkinson's. He had been diagnosed four years prior, and this was his first public announcement about his condition.
In August 2021, the band sold its interest in its recorded music rights catalog to Reservoir Media. Cook died from complications of Parkinson's disease on November 7, 2022.
The band's blend of traditional country music and Southern rock combined with elements of bluegrass, folk, gospel and pop music gave it a crossover appeal that helped lead to their success. They also toured extensively and incorporated production elements such as lighting and "sets" inspired by rock concerts into their shows.
Alabama was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019 and were awarded with the first ever Life Time Achievement Award from this institution.
The members of Alabama are:
- Randy Owen (lead vocals and rhythm guitar)
- Teddy Gentry (bass guitar and backing vocals)
Sad Lookin' Moon
Alabama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought that you could fly, i thought that you had wings
I guess that i believed you'd never say goodbye
But my world stopped turnin' 'round, the stars turned upside down
It knocked me to the ground on my knees
[Chorus]
Now there's a sad lookin' moon shinin' down on me
I always believed and i thought the stars could see
But there's a sad lookin' moon shinin' down on me
I shared with you my dreams, i gave you everything
I opened up my heart and i gave you my ring
Well i spent days and nights just thinkin' about the time
When you would be mine all my life
[Chorus]
There's a sad lookin' moon
A sad lookin' moon
There's a sad lookin' moon
Shinin' down on me
The lyrics of Alabama's song "Sad Lookin" are about heartbreak and disappointment. The singer of the song had believed in his lover's love and loyalty, even going so far as to think that they had wings and could fly. But when she ended their relationship, he was devastated and felt like his whole world had turned upside down. The chorus repeatedly mentions the "sad lookin moon," which symbolizes the singer's feelings of loneliness and sadness.
The song is structured around a simple verse-chorus-verse pattern, with a straightforward melody and instrumentation that supports the emotional weight of the lyrics. The chorus has a strong hook, with the repeated "sad lookin" phrase creating a memorable and poignant image in the listener's mind.
The lyrics of "Sad Lookin" speak to the universal experience of heartbreak and the difficulty of moving on from a relationship that meant everything to you. They remind us that even when we think someone will be with us forever, things can change in an instant, leaving us feeling lost and alone. But despite the pain, the song offers a sense of catharsis and hope, suggesting that there is always a way to move forward and find happiness again.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought that you could fly, i thought that you had wings
I held you in high regard, thought you were capable of amazing things.
I guess that i believed you'd never say goodbye
I trusted you and believed you would never leave me.
But my world stopped turnin' 'round, the stars turned upside down
Your departure shook my world, it turned everything I held dear upside down.
It knocked me to the ground on my knees
Your abandonment left me feeling powerless, weak and defeated.
Now there's a sad lookin' moon shinin' down on me
The moon and the sky look melancholy to me, reflecting the sadness in my heart.
There's a sad lookin' sky as far as i can see
Everywhere I look, I see sadness and gloom, even in the sky above.
I always believed and i thought the stars could see
I always had faith in you, and I trusted you just like how we trust the stars to brighten up the night.
But there's a sad lookin' moon shinin' down on me
Now, everything looks depressing and melancholy, even the moon is shining down on me with a sorry face.
I shared with you my dreams, i gave you everything
I shared my deepest desires, and I gave you everything I had, including my commitment.
I opened up my heart and i gave you my ring
I surrendered my heart to you, expressed my love and commitment by giving you my engagement ring.
Well i spent days and nights just thinkin' about the time
I spent my every waking moment dreaming about our future and getting excited at the thought of being together forever.
When you would be mine all my life
I thought with you, I had found forever, and our love will last a lifetime.
There's a sad lookin' moon
The moon looks sad.
A sad lookin' moon
The moon looks mournful and distressed.
There's a sad lookin' moon
The moon looks depressed and sorrowful.
Shinin' down on me
The moon's light is reflecting on me, adding to my already gloomy mood.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GREG FOWLER, RANDY OWEN, TEDDY GENTRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kimberly Bittner
on Carolina Mountain Dewe
Why would you put this one to show, when I made a video to it on u-tube.. This dosen't tell the story to the song I have loved for over 30 tears..