4. Sweet Home Alabama.

Let's be fair I have to talk about the ever-controversial Sweet Home Alabama lyrics. As much as I hate to spend time on this, because lets face it guys and gals it's a tired subject, I do feel that it is still a subject of some relevance. As most of you know "Sweet Home Alabama" was conceived after the Neil Young song "Southern Man." Neil Young was quite a bit pissed at the south you know and wanted to let himself out a little. In good jest the boys responded with Sweet Home Alabama. Some good yolks think this song is a defense of racism; other good yolks think this is just a defense of good old southern pride. Me I'm a member of the latter yolks. Still annoys me though. Never understood the capacity to love where you are from despite the dark shite that goes on in your own backyard.

But I'm over that. What really this little segment should be about is the feeling those guitars convey. I'm never going to believe that it's noble to love your home no matter what but Lynyrd Skynyrd at least expressed the feeling of pride they exhibit in their little space. The opening guitar lick conveys a sense of royalty and honor. It's an easy sounding lick with the ability to morph into filler or chord changes. Provides the stability for the song don't you know. Would be no Sweet Home Alabama if it wasn't for the opening guitar lick take my word on that. The ladies in the back give in a little choral work during the solo and wham people are waving confederate flags out of nowhere.

What made Lynyrd Skynyrd such artists was this ability to convey a feeling that may not be agreed upon by the general population. Hell I don't want to be a simple man but I can see the beauty and honor in Simple Man. And it's this that makes art more then just pretty words and pictures. When it transcends philosophy and morality and brings you a little bit of the divine. The divine being the ability to kick you in the heart and move you even when you don't want to be moved.