Southern Rock Literei
Published August 19, 2004
2. Freebird
Art is strange. Somewhere along the line it's become a hazard to be too popular. Because when every radio station is playing your song there is no way in hell you can be legit. No way possible. "Freebird" is too mighty a song to let that stand. The lyrics are traditional "I have to leave because I just want to be free" type of crap. We have a lot of those in the south and no I don't know if that has anything to do with our divorce rate. Narrator needs to leave this girl and he's sad because it's been a blast but his free roaming spirit just won't let him. While Ronni VanZant is moaning out his sorrow the guitars weep in melodic strength. Makes you wonder why the guys leaving this girl, I mean what is drawing him away from love and security and the American Way?
The guitar solo is the answer. In the language that is guitar squeals and rapid-fire delivery note exchange the boys in the back give out freedom. In a thought that cannot be expressed by words alone the narrator gives his reason for leaving. It's freedom, it's power, it's the soar of the flight, it's independence, it's all these things and every unmentionable emotion that deals with freedom. What this is, this is music that transcends a question. I'm a big believer in music being a trancender so unfortunately my articles are going to be littered with that concept. But I believe that the guitar attack solo is an extension of the universal reason. The reason to be free and bound to no man or woman. If it was a little louder or a little more pompous it would be Wagner.
3. Simple Man
I have a love hate relationship with that song. The lyrics are atrocious. I mean the philosophy behind said song seems to be that it's ok to be simple and completely water thin personality wise. Frankly it has never been my goal to be something that I could understand. That being said it's the guitars that beckon me. Always those guitars with the Lynyrd Skynyrd boys. It has a soft majestic sweep to it countering the lyrics. If the words praise the times and mind of a simple man then the musical accompaniment give out a fanfare for the song.
- Southern Rock Literei
- Published: August 19, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Music
- Writer: Celestial Dung
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Track down a copy of the New Skynyrd's Endangered Species if it isn't out of print. Oddly enough, some of these unplugged versions ring truer than the originals. Is it possible that all those electric guitar solos were a distraction to what are basically good, solid rock songs? Of course the content & emotional spectrum (i.e., cryin', lovin', leavin') is either narrow or focused, depending on your love of southern rock, but it is consistent for the genre. Good guitar players are a dime a dozen nowadays, but mystique is still hard to come by, and Skynyrd, for whatever reason, still has a lot of mystique and consequently a lot of appeal.
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Freebird as "The South's National Anthem" does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
Yes, the "Sweet Home Alabama" business has been way overdone. VH-1's Uncivil War certainly help propel some of the myths including the Neil Young vs Ronnie Van Zant.
Here's a link with more on "Sweet Home Alabama":
http://www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/lynyrd.htm
As for me? Well I think neil & Ronnie got along just fine.
The Drive By Truckers Southern Rock Opera has a nice way of making the myth even bigger.