Video hit Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama (live)

Sweet Home Alabama is a song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album, Second Helping.

It reached #8 on the US charts in 1974, and was the band's second hit single.

Part of the reference comes from the 1971–1972 demo reels that Lynyrd Skynyrd had recorded in Muscle Shoals with Johnson as a producer/recording engineer. Johnson helped refine many of the songs first heard publicly on the Pronounced album, and it was Van Zant's "tip of the hat" to Johnson for helping out the band in the early years and essentially giving the band its first break.

Lynyrd Skynyrd remains connected to Muscle Shoals, having since recorded a number of works in the city and making it a regular stop on their concert tours.

In popular culture

"Sweet Home Alabama" appears on the soundtrack of the 1994 film Forrest Gump, as the title character dances with his beloved friend Jenny in the living room of his Alabama home during a rainstorm. In the 1997 film Con Air, the song is played as the list of main characters is seen in the end credits. During the film, it is also played on the plane as some of the convicts dance, prompting Garland Greene (Steve Buscemi) to comment on the irony of "a bunch of idiots dancing on a plane, to a song made famous by a band that died in a plane crash." The song (in edited form) is also heard at the beginning of the 2010 film Despicable Me. The song also appears in the 1995 film Crimson Tide. As the ballistic missile submarine USS Alabama sets sail, the crew in the enlisted mens mess are playing the song on a portable stereo.

It is also used in the opening to the film Joe Dirt and features David Spade lip syncing the opening "turn it up" lyric.

It is used in the 2002 Reese Witherspoon / Patrick Dempsey movie of the same name.

The song is often heard at U.S. Cellular Field whenever Chicago White Sox ace Jake Peavy is pitching. Peavy was born in Mobile, Alabama.

As of 2009, the State of Alabama has begun using the phrase "Sweet Home Alabama" as an official slogan on license plates for motor vehicles, with Governor Bob Riley noting that Lynyrd Skynyrd's anthem is the third most-played song referring to a specific destination. (This is also the second Alabama license plate in a row to make reference to a popular song, with the state's previous plate having featured "Stars Fell on Alabama".)

World Wrestling Federation (WWF) used Sweet Home Alabama as the theme song for their pay-per-view Armaggeddon in 2000.

The song has been used in multiple advertising campaigns. In September 2007, Alabama Governor Bob Riley announced the phrase "Sweet Home Alabama" would be used to promote Alabama state tourism in a multi million dollar ad campaign. No indication has been given if the song itself will be included in the campaign.

The song was used as the theme song to the 2001 EA Sports video game NASCAR Thunder 2002.

The song is played at every home football game for the University of Alabama with the phrase "Roll Tide Roll" following the title lyrics.

It was also played after the Crimson Tide's BCS National Championship victories in 2010, 2012, and 2013.

The lyrics:

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 it's a sin, yes

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 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