Sweet Home Alabama
Ashley Ray Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the south-land
I miss 'ole' 'bamy once again and I think it's a sin

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, boo-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, here I come

Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they've been known to pick a song or two (yes they do)
Lord they get me off so much
They pick me up when I'm feeling blue, now how bout 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
Where the skies are so blue and the governor's true




Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you

Overall Meaning

The song "Sweet Home Alabama" by Ashley Ray is an ode to the state that Ray grew up in, Alabama. The first verse talks about the feelings of someone who has been away from home, missing their family and friends. The character in the song yearns to return to the south-land and sing songs about it with his kin. He feels like it's a sin to be away from the place that he loves so much.


The second verse, with its opening lines "Well, I heard Mister Young sing about her/Well, I heard ole Neil put her down", makes a reference to an ongoing feud between iconic rock musicians Neil Young and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Young had famously criticized the south in his song "Southern Man", to which Skynyrd responded with "Sweet Home Alabama". The verse, essentially, tells Young that a southern man doesn't need his kind of criticism around, and that they are proud of their home state, despite its flaws.


The chorus of the song is the catchiest part and repeats the phrase "Sweet Home Alabama" several times over. This phrase has become somewhat of an anthem for the state and is often played at sporting events and rallies. The final verse mentions the town of Muscle Shoals, which has become famous for its music scene and is often referred to as the "Hit Recording Capital of the World". The verse talks about how the musicians there, known as ''The Swampers'', have a special way of making people feel good through their music. The outro of the song repeats the chorus and ends with a declaration of love for the state, "Lord, I'm coming home to you".


Line by Line Meaning

Big wheels keep on turning
Life moves on regardless of how we feel about it


Carry me home to see my kin
Take me back home to see my family


Singing songs about the south-land
We singing songs about our beloved South


I miss 'ole' 'bamy once again and I think it's a sin
I miss Alabama, and it feels wrong that I am not there


Well I heard Mister Young sing about her
I heard people singing praises of Alabama


Well I heard ole Neil put her down
I heard Neil Young give negative remarks about Alabama


Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
I hope Neil Young remembers what Southern hospitality feels like


A southern man don't need him around anyhow
We don't care much about his opinion as we have our own way of life


Sweet home Alabama
Alabama, my sweet home


Where the skies are so blue
Where the skies are above us and clear


Lord, I'm coming home to you
I am going back home where I belong


In Birmingham they love the Gov'nor, boo-hoo-hoo
They are disappointed because they love the Governor, but something has gone wrong


Now we all did what we could do
We tried our best to make things right


Now Watergate does not bother me
I am not concerned about the Watergate scandal


Does your conscience bother you, tell the truth
Are you guilty about anything, you can confess


Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
We are proud of Muscle Shoals for producing great music


And they've been known to pick a song or two (yes they do)
They are great at picking hit songs


Lord they get me off so much
Their music lifts my spirit, and I enjoy it so much


They pick me up when I'm feeling blue, now how bout you?
Their music cheers me up, and how about you?


Sweet home Alabama, oh sweet home
Alabama, my sweet home


Where the skies are so blue and the governor's true
Where we have clear skies and a trustworthy governor


Lord, I'm coming home to you
I'm going back home where I belong




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Robert Rossington, Edward C. King

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Michael VanDyke

Play a song, you do it your own way.. She nailed it!

Photograph1974

Love it! Finally, a very different version of this all-time classic American song.

Dave Norris

I heard her on the radio here in Seoul, Korea, today. I had never heard her voice before. It was love at first note!!!

April Francis

Ashley Ray

ooTFoo

I love it...she sing this song soooo great....and her voice ...awesome *top*

Bill miller

This arrangement is beautiful and mesmerizing. Thank You.

Nick Korkodilos

I love this version. It's so different from the original which is a part of my life like air that I get to fall in love with Sweet Home Alabama all over again. How cool is that.

USS Indianapolis

Its certainly unique

Costas Giotakis

ΕΤΣΙ ΡΕ ΦΙΛΕ!

WC 'Strawberry' Fields

I remember where I was the first time I heard Ashley's version. Like hearing the song for the first time, with an ethereal, feminine twist. In an interview, she gives credit to a fellow songwriter/producer for the minimalist arrangement.

More Comments

More Versions