I know in came out in '70 so there may not be many, if any, posters who were around and old enough during that 70-71 period, but I'm curious just how much outrage Neil Young's "Southern Man" caused down here.

Obviously, Skynrd took offense with their shot at him in "Sweet Home Alabama", but were people even listening to Neil Young down south in the '70s?

I love the song but Neil definitely didn't hold back with the lyrics.

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 screaming and bullwhips cracking
How long? How long?
Lillie Belle, your hair is golden brown
I've seen your black man coming 'round
Swear by God I'm gonna cut him down
I heard screaming and bullwhips cracking
How long? How long?

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Posted by Kashmir

Member since Dec 2014

10372 posts

Posted on 3/30/19 at 9:03 pm to mmmmmbeeer

i don’t care what ole neil said. a southern man don’t need him around anyhow!

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Posted by Chitter Chatter

In and Out of Consciousness

Member since Sep 2009

4667 posts

Posted on 3/30/19 at 9:20 pm to mmmmmbeeer

Don't need a Canadian telling us what we should do & think about. I don't think an American will sing a song telling Brits to rethink Brexit

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Posted by TouchedTheAxeIn82

near the Apple spaceship

Member since Nov 2012

7531 posts

Posted on 3/30/19 at 9:34 pm to mmmmmbeeer

quote:
Obviously, Skynrd took offense with their shot at him in "Sweet Home Alabama"

Well that's not quite true. Some of the members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were fans of Neil Young, and that verse was more of a playful shot at Neil because they knew it would be popular. They weren't offended because they knew some people in the South were still stuck in the past. There's been plenty written about this.

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Posted by mmmmmbeeer

ATL

Member since Nov 2014

10189 posts

Posted on 3/30/19 at 11:12 pm to TouchedTheAxeIn82

quote:
TouchedTheAxeIn82

Ha! I didn't know that. Interesting stuff.

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Posted by The Spleen

Member since Dec 2010

38865 posts

Posted on 3/31/19 at 9:24 am to mmmmmbeeer

Ronnie is wearing a Neil Young shirt on the cover of the Street Survivors album.

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Posted by RogerTheShrubber

Juneau, AK

Member since Jan 2009

299716 posts

Posted on 3/31/19 at 9:29 am to mmmmmbeeer

I'm a bit younger but no one cared about the song or its meaning. No one that I knew.

If people really cared about entertainment dingbats insulting them, the industry would be dead.

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