Alabama Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Oh, Alabama
The devil fools with the best laid plan
Swing low, Alabama
You got the spare change, you got to feel strange
And now the moment is all that it meant
[Chorus]
Alabama, you got the weight on your shoulders
That's breaking your back
Your Cadillac has got a wheel in the ditch
And a wheel on the track
[Verse 2]
Oh, Alabama
Banjos playing through the broken glass
Windows down in Alabama
See the old folks tied in white robes
Hear the banjo, don't it take you down home?
[Chorus]
Alabama, you got the weight on your shoulders
That's breaking your back
Your Cadillac has got a wheel in the ditch
And a wheel on the track
Oh, Alabama
The devil fools with the best laid plan
Swing low, Alabama
You got the spare change, you got to feel strange
And now the moment is all that it meant
[Chorus]
Alabama, you got the weight on your shoulders
That's breaking your back
Your Cadillac has got a wheel in the ditch
And a wheel on the track
[Verse 2]
Oh, Alabama
Banjos playing through the broken glass
Windows down in Alabama
See the old folks tied in white robes
Hear the banjo, don't it take you down home?
[Chorus]
Alabama, you got the weight on your shoulders
That's breaking your back
Your Cadillac has got a wheel in the ditch
And a wheel on the track
[Verse 3]
Oh, Alabama
Can I see you and shake your hand?
Make friends down in Alabama
I'm from a new land, I come to you and
See all this ruin, what are you doing?
[Outro]
Alabama, you've got the rest of the Union
To help you along
What's going wrong?
Oh, Alabama
Can I see you and shake your hand?
Make friends down in Alabama
I'm from a new land, I come to you and
See all this ruin, what are you doing?
[Outro]
Alabama, you've got the rest of the Union
To help you along
What's going wrong?
About
Genius Annotation
A protest song in the vein of Young’s other hits, Ohio and especially Southern Man, this track discusses the changing political and social landscape of the 1960’s in America, in reference to the state of Alabama (the setting of such works as To Kill a Mockingbird), and especially the Civil Rights Movement. This song, along with “Southern Man,” inspired the writing of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s famous Sweet Home Alabama.
Q&A
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Credits
Produced By
Written By
Backing Vocals
Lead Vocals
Electric Guitar
Steel Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums
Recorded At
Barn, Broken Arrow Ranch
Release Date
February 1, 1972
Alabama Live Performances
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