LYNYRD SKYNYRD - Free Bird
"Free Bird" (often spelled "Freebird", including by the band itself on the cover of the single) is a song by the American southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It first featured on the band's debut album in 1973, and has been included on subsequent albums released by the band, including the previously unreleased, unfaded-ending version of the original recording (featured on Skynyrd's Innyrds). Amazon.com music reviewer Lorry Fleming calls it "the most-requested song in the history of rock music."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Bird
DID YOU KNOW
The band's name is pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd. PRONOUNCED LEH-NERD SKIN-NERD was the title of their first album. They gave it the title because they knew people would not be able to pronounce their name.
The lyrics are about a man explaining to a girl why he can't settle down and make a commitment. The opening verse, "If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?" was inspired by Allen Collins' girlfriend Kathy, who had asked him this very question during a fight.
Allman Brothers Band guitarist Duane Allman died around the same time this was released. Skynyrd sometimes dedicated it to Allman at concerts, but it was written long before his death. The double guitar solo at the end is the same style as many early Allman Brothers songs on which Duane played.
The band's record company did not want this on the album. They thought it was too long and that no radio station would play it. Even the band never thought this was going to be a hit.
Frontman Johnny Van Zant discussed this song in a track-by-track commentary to promote the band's 2010 CD/DVD Live From Freedom Hall. He said: "For years Skynyrd has always closed the show with that song and the song has different meanings for different people. This kid was telling me that they used it for their graduation song and not too long ago somebody told me that they used it at a funeral. And really it's a love song, its one of the few that Lynyrd Skynyrd's ever had. It's about a guy and a girl. Of course at the end it was dedicated to Duane Allman from the band Allman Brothers because it goes into the guitar part. If you can get through that one you've had a good night at a Skynyrd show."
Skynyrd always plays this as the last song at their shows.
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