Neil Young - Southern Man Lyrics

Neil Young Lyrics

"Southern Man"
(from "Journey Through The Past" soundtrack)

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?

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 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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Writer(s): Neil Young

Lynyrd Skynyrd's song "Sweet Home Alabama", written by Ronnie Van Zant, was a southern man's response to this song.

"Your good book" is a reference to the Bible, the holy book for Christianity, whose aspects many southerners follow.

"Crosses are burning" is a reference to Ku Klux Klan.

In his 2012 biography "Waging Heavy Peace", Neil Young apologized for the song, writing, "I don't like my words when I listen to it. They are accusatory and condescending, not fully thought out, and too easy to misconstrue."

Neil Young wrote in the liner notes for his greatest hits album "Decade", "This song could have been written on a civil-rights march after stopping off to watch 'Gone With The Wind' at a local theater."

album: "After The Gold Rush" (1970)

Tell Me Why

After The Gold Rush

Only Love Can Break Your Heart

Southern Man

Till The Morning Comes

Oh, Lonesome Me

Don't Let It Bring You Down

Birds

When You Dance I Can Really Love

I Believe In You

Cripple Creek Ferry

soundtrack: "Journey Through The Past" (1972)

Neil Young - Journey Through The Past soundtrack cover

For What It's Worth / Mr. Soul

Find The Cost Of Freedom

Ohio

Southern Man

Are You Ready For The Country

Alabama

Words (Between The Lines Of Age)

Relativity Invitation

Handel's Messiah

Soldier

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"Southern Man" lyrics

Neil Young Lyrics