The Short Story Behind One of Skynyrd's Signature Songs

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The US has had a number of Southern rockers such as the Allman Brothers, but it's Jacksonville's own Lynyrd Skynyrd who wrote one of the most iconic rock songs ever, one of the long ones, and perhaps one of their signature songs.

"FREE BIRD"

The History of the Song:

 Originally, guitarist Gary Rossington came up with chords to the song, the late singer Ronnie Van Zandt said there were "too many chords," to write a proper song. Because of that, the fast-paced instrumental was created to allow Ronnie Van Zandt to rest his vocal cords as the band were playing heavily at the time (touch of Southern prog-rock ha?).

Guitarist Allen Collins wrote the song after his girlfriend once said, and I quote, "If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?" The intro at the beginning was added in after Van Zandt heard the late Billy Powell playing an arpeggiated piano intro, Powell then became Skynyrd's keyboardist.

Included on their self-titled 1973 debut record pronounced Leh-nerd-Skin-nerd the song, and most of the album, was produced by Al Kooper of Blood, Sweat, and Tears fame. The album also features ex-Strawberry Alarm Clocks guitarist Ed King on bass and Bob Burns on drums.

Was the song really most requested?

 Throughout the 70s, it had become a phenomenon for the crowds to shout "Free Bird!" no matter which most significantly led to Nirvana performing a crappy, unplugged version of another Skynyrd signature hit Sweet Home Alabama.

Also in 1976, Skynyrd's Van Zandt asked the crowd, "Now what song is it that you want to hear?" Thereafter, the band went into a near fifteen-minute rendition of the song, even complete with bird sounds :-)

Interestingly, Bob Dylan also performed the song at a 2016 concert.

Covers and Dedications

 First and foremost, following the deadly 1977 plane crash that stole the lives of Van Zandt, guitarist Steve Gaines, and several other crew members, the remains of the band performed an abridged, instrumental version of the song at the fifth annual Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam in Nashville, Tennessee in 1979. Almost a decade thereafter, Miami area's own Will to Power recorded a mashup of Peter Frampton's 1976 hit Baby I Love Your Way with a verse of Free Bird.

Skynyrd still uses the song to close out their shows, and in fact, Johnny Van Zandt often raises his hand in the air to all the "free birds," (late band members) as a sort of memorial.

Other hits from their 1973 debut include Tuesday's Gone, Simple Man, and Gimme 3 Steps. Skynyrd continued their career with their 1974 record Second Helping featuring their other signature song, the aforementioned Sweet Home Alabama.



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