southern man...?

[GroundBeneathU2]

time to display my ignorance.....
so while downloading songs i came across U2's "southern man"....and...i've never heard it before!! ....so umm can anyone help me out, give me any and all info? hmm perhaps even the lyrics..?
*ooh how embarassing*...!!!

 

[Sicy]

Hmm ok then I'm embarrased too lol ..

 

[ThatGuy]

A cover of Neil Young's song? Here's the lyrics:

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 screamin'
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
comin' round
Swear by God
I'm gonna cut him down!
I heard screamin'
and bullwhips cracking
How long? How long?

Information from Macphisto.net

first time played live: 1982-02-21: First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minneapolis
last time played live: 1987-12-11: Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia

This song has been played at least 13 times live (either as full song or snippet).

 

[martha]

Doesn't Bono say on the Chicago JT boot that it's the first song he learned to play or something?

I'll go home and listen to it tonight after the freakin' PTA meeting's over.

 

[HeartlandGirl]

I've only heard U2's version of this in Chicago where they have a fan come up and play guitar, and the guy pulls off a pretty good guitar solo. Good song.

 

[martha]

I've only heard U2's version of this in Chicago where they have a fan come up and play guitar, and the guy pulls off a pretty good guitar solo. Good song.

I'm listening to it as I type this! It's not on the Chicago boot I have, but on a Tour Rarities disc Sula gave me. Bono says he learned to play it when he was 17.

 

[~LadyLemon~]

 

[meegannie]

Never heard of it.

I'm a bad U2 fan.

 

[MrBrau1]

"Southen Man" is one of Neil's best. He's written several tunes denouncing the racist past of the southern U.S., "Alabama" is another one that comes to mind.

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

I never knew they had done a cover of it.

 

[babyman]

hear the original one performed by neil young...fantastic!

 

[fah]

Southern Man is the song that pissed off Lynyrd Skynyrd and they wrote:

Sweet Home Alabama (Ed King - Ronnie VanZant - Gary Rossington)

Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the Southland
I miss Alabamy once again
And I think its a sin, yes

Well I heard mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don't need him around anyhow

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you

In Birmingham they love the governor
Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
Tell the truth

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Here I come Alabama

Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they've been known to pick a song or two
Lord they get me off so much
They pick me up when I'm feeling blue
Now how about you?

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you

Sweet home Alabama
Oh sweet home baby
Where the skies are so blue
And the governor's true
Sweet Home Alabama
Lordy
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Yea, yea My gov'nors got the answer

 

[GroundBeneathU2]

Ahh, thank you all sooo much!!! Yeah while listening to the song (playing it as i type) I'm hearing Bono say "we started playing our own songs cause we can't play anyone else's songs and we still can't, and thats what makes us a rock n' roll band"....too cute
and someone went up and played his guitar, yes...!!!! ohh if only i could....
but anyway, thank you so much for providing the info!!! i feel enlightened. and it IS an awesome song!
have a wonderful day, all!!