Alabama
Neil Young · Official Release Series Discs 1 - 4 [2012]
The devil fools
with the best laid plan.
Swing low Alabama
You got spare change
You got to feel strange
And now the moment
is all that it meant.
Alabama, you got
the weight on your shoulders
That's breaking your back.
Your Cadillac
has got a wheel in the ditch
And a wheel on the track
Oh Alabama
Banjos playing
through the broken glass
Windows down in Alabama.
See the old folks
tied in white ropes
Hear the banjo.
Don't it take you down home?
Alabama, you got
the weight on your shoulders
That's breaking your back.
Your Cadillac
has got a wheel in the ditch
And a wheel on the track
Oh Alabama.
Can I see you
and shake your hand.
Make friends down in Alabama.
I'm from a new land
I come to you
and see all this ruin
What are you doing Alabama?
You got the rest of the union
to help you along
What's going wrong?
Alabama - Neil Young
Neil Young's "Alabama" stands as a defining anthem of the 1970s folk-rock revival, capturing the raw energy and social consciousness characteristic of his work during that era. Originally recorded for the 1971 album *Nightingale*, the song was later reissued in the Official Release Series Discs 1 - 4 [2012] collection, highlighting its enduring relevance. The track exemplifies Young's signature style, blending acoustic guitar with a driving rhythm that underscores themes of regional pride and political activism. Its powerful delivery and memorable melody have cemented its place in the canon of classic American folk-rock, influencing countless subsequent artists who sought to merge personal narrative with broader cultural commentary. The recording remains a testament to the artist's ability to translate complex social issues into accessible, emotionally resonant music.