'Sweet Home Alabama'?

By Dr. Lisa Barr
During the lull time between the dynamic keynote speakers, I did a doubletake. There was Lynyrd Skynrd's "Southern Man" on the P.A.

Really? Are they still playing that song? Don't the lyrics cut your soul in two?

"Hope Neil Young will remember--Southern man don't need him around anyhow." I'm not talking about the obvious problems with grammar. The lyrics to "Southern Man" say it all (at least they do to me):

"Southern Man"
(by Neil Young)

Southern man
better keep your head
Don't forget
what your good book said
Southern change
gonna come at last
Now your crosses
are burning fast
Southern man

I saw cotton
and I saw black
Tall white mansions
and little shacks.
Southern man
when will you
pay them back?
I heard screamin'
and bullwhips cracking
How long? How long?

Southern man
better keep your head
Don't forget
what your good book said
Southern change
gonna come at last
Now your crosses
are burning fast
Southern man

Lily Belle,
your hair is golden brown
I've seen your black man
comin' round
Swear by God
I'm gonna cut him down!
I heard screamin'
and bullwhips cracking
How long? How long?
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I always thought "Sweet Home Alabama" appealed to the "Morning in America" crowd that voted Reagan in. Personally, I hope they'll stop playing it at the convention simulation.