Bye, bye, baby, it’s been a sweet love/
Though this feeling I can’t change.
Lynyrd Skynyrd were the bad boys of southern rock in the early 70s; “Free Bird” was their opus. If you like guitar solos, freedom and jamming, this is probably a song that is at the top of your list of greatest songs.
They felt that their signature sound was due to their three lead guitarists, though it is obviously due to lead singer Van Zant’s unique voice. Lynyrd Skynyrd is another band that would die prematurely due to a tragic airplane crash at the height of their fame.
Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” is about a man apologizing to a woman for leaving her, because he is like a bird and is born to be free. He feels sorrow, and hopes the girl will remember him, but he knows his nature and he knows that it is time for him to move on. He takes complete responsibility…but he can’t and won’t change–he is not a one-woman man..
The guitars in “Free Bird” are amazing but the most outstanding part is the vocal. Both the verse and chorus are great melodies and they are sung perfectly by Van Zant. He is sad but not devastated. We know he will be ok tomorrow. We can tell he loves this woman, but he loves women more; and he will probably be with a new one tomorrow.
Free Bird Lyrics
If I leave here tomorrow,
Would you still remember me?
For I must be traveling on, now.
Cause there’s too many places I’ve got to see.
But, if I stayed here with you, girl,
Things just couldn’t be the same.
Cause I’m as free as a bird now,
And this bird you can not change.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
And this bird you can not change.
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can’t change.
Bye, bye, baby, it’s been a sweet love-
Though this feeling I can’t change
But please don’t take it so badly.
Cause Lord knows I’m to blame.
But, if I stayed here with you, girl,
Things just couldn’t be the same.
Cause I’m as free as a bird now.
And this bird you’ll never change.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
And this bird you can not change.
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can’t change.
Lord help me, I can’t change.
Lord, I can’t change.
Won’t you fly high, free bird, yeah.
Songwriters: Allen Collins / Ronnie Van Zant