Free Bird

I think the spirit of a Lynyrd Skynyrd roadie has possessed me. And apparently his favorite song is “Free Bird”. You might think, well at least it’s not “Sweet Home Alabama”. But everywhere I went to today I could hear it ringing in my ear, everywhere! I didn’t even know I knew the words, but I do. How does that happen?? I can’t even remember the last time I heard the song, I don’t listen to classic rock radio. But there it was today: Free Bird in the shower, Free Bird on my way to class, Free Bird while I was trying on an ugly shirt and you’ll NEVER guess what song they were playing at that particular clothes store … “Sweet Home Alabama”! I kid you not.

So I’m trying this new therapy I came up with myself to exorcise the spirit: I’m listening to the song over and over and then maybe I’ll be so saturated by all the Lynyrds and Skynyrds that Mr.Roadie’s ghost thinks ‘Ah my work here is done’. Sounds almost scientific right?

Ok I’m listening to it right now. Alright it’s a bit corny, but I forgot how dreamy and how exciting and how, ehm long it was. I’m kinda glad that most bands don’t do the epic three guitar solos anymore. It sounds exhausting to play and to listen to, to be honest. Well I must say, it is nice to hear again after all this time.

I wonder who the very first person was who called out Free Bird at a non-Lynyrd Skynyrd concert. He musta gotten a lot of laughs, because it’s one of the longest running jokes in music history and it’s spoiled many a live recording from all kinds of bands. There’s always that one joker in the audience … Hmm maybe all these years it’s been that same guy. Anyway here it is, the full ten minute version. Now play that a thousand times in a row and that was my day.

   Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird