The King (real name James Brown) is a rock and roll … Read Full Bio ↴Wikipedia says:
The King (real name James Brown) is a rock and roll artist from Northern Ireland, performing classic rock songs in the style of Elvis Presley.
He released Gravelands in 1998 and Return To Splendor in 2000. According to the official website Anyway You Want Me is the title of the brand new 2006 release. The new CD has a hard rock sound, with 11 new songs including "Before The World Explodes", "Space to Breath" and sort of an answer song to Elvis' "You Gave Me A Mountain" called "The Mountain Of My Dreams".
Sweet Home Alabama
The King Lyrics
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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
A southern man don't need him around any how
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
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 bout you?
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
The opening verse of "Sweet Home Alabama" tells us that the singer is travelling back home to see his relatives, probably his kin. The idea of home carries a sense of longing and nostalgia for the place, the people and the southern culture. The song is a tribute to Alabama, often referred to as the Heart of Dixie, due to its strong reputation as a center of Southern culture and tradition. The next lines indicate that the singer is singing songs about his homeland, as if to remind himself of the culture that he has grown up with and which he might have missed while being away. The repetition of the phrase "I miss 'ole' 'bamy once again" in the verse emphasizes this sentiment of longing. The song then makes a surprising turn with the statement, "And I think it's a sin." This line in the song has been interpreted in multiple ways by critics, ranging from the Southern pride that the sin is the singer's temporary absence from Alabama to a reference to the region's controversial history of racism.
The second verse of the song engages in a back-and-forth with Canadian singer Neil Young, who had been critical of the South in his hit song "Southern Man." The verse begins with a statement, "Well I heard Mister Young sing about her," indicating that the singer is aware of Young's critical remarks about the region. The next line directly references Young's lyrics that describe the racism and violence in the South. However, the singer has a rebuttal for Young's judgement about the southern culture, "Well I hope Neil Young will remember/A southern man don't need him around any how," which can be interpreted as a statement of southern pride and dismissal of the criticism from outsiders like Young. The song then returns to the chorus with a final line of an ultimatum - "I'm coming home to you."
Line by Line Meaning
Big wheels keep on turning
The journey continues and progress is ongoing.
Carry me home to see my kin
Take me back to where my family and loved ones are.
Singing songs about the south-land
Music is a significant part of the southern culture, and it tells stories about their people and land.
I miss 'ole' 'bamy once again
I long to return to my home state of Alabama.
And I think it's a sin
It's an unfortunate thing that I cannot currently be in Alabama.
Well I heard Mister Young sing about her
I heard Neil Young wrote a song about Alabama.
Well I heard ole Neil put her down
I heard Neil Young criticized Alabama in his song.
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
I hope Neil Young doesn't forget that the South has a strong and proud heritage.
A southern man don't need him around any how
Neil Young's opinions are not relevant or wanted in the Southern states.
Sweet home Alabama
Alabama is my beloved home and brings a sense of comfort.
Where the skies are so blue
The beauty of the Alabama sky is a notable and consistent feature.
In Birmingham they love the Gov'nor
The people of Birmingham support their governor and his decisions.
Now we all did what we could do
We did our best in any given situation.
Now Watergate does not bother me
The Watergate scandal of the 1970s does not concern or affect me personally.
Does your conscience bother you?
Are you troubled by your own conscience and actions?
Tell the truth
Be truthful and honest in all situations.
Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
Muscle Shoals, a town in Alabama, has great musicians and bands.
And they've been known to pick a song or two
These musicians are highly skilled and can play great music.
Lord they get me off so much
Their music has a profound impact on me and my emotions.
They pick me up when I'm feeling blue
Their music can uplift me during times of sadness and hardship.
Now how bout you?
Do you feel the same way about their music?
Lord, I'm coming home to you
I eagerly anticipate returning home to Alabama.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Robert Rossington, Edward C. King
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind