No Free Bird!
Sometimes people know just what they want, or at least they think they do.
As Hal and most other musicians will attest, if you are a band that plays cover songs, you're going to hear the all too frequent request, "Free Bird," shouted out on a regular basis, especially in those establishments with generous happy hours.
I'd say it's easily the most requested song.
Only problem is, we only play original music, and we never, ever do requests.
But, we're just stubborn SOB's.
In business, you'd do we'll to try and meet all of your customers' requests, unless they're downright unreasonable. (Like "PLAY FREE BIRD!"...We've probably only heard that a thousand times, and we ain't played it yet!)
NO FREE BIRD
At a seedy bar in San Antone, halfway through a set,
A skinny kid approached the stage, and says, "I made a bet."
(He shouted) "FREE BIRD!" and downed another beer,
"FREE BIRD, that's what we wanna hear,
FREE BIRD, we hang on every note,
FREE BIRD...best song ever wrote!"
I said "We play originals, boy, that's what we do,
That's the kind of music we like to play for you,
We don't do no covers, only our own stuff,
Got more than a thousand, boy, ain't that enough?
"FREE BIRD," he shouted loud and clear,
"FREE BIRD, that's what we wanna hear,
FREE BIRD, we hang on every note,
FREE BIRD, best song ever wrote!"
I said, "Perhaps you didn't hear, We'z sorry if you suffas,
We just like doin' our own thing, we don't play no cova's
You've had one too many beers, maybe off your med,
Sit back down, or this guitar is goin' upside your head!"
"FREE BIRD," he shouted loud and clear,
"FREE BIRD, that's what we wanna hear,
FREE BIRD, we hang on every note,
FREE BIRD, best song ever wrote!"
He was seein' little birdies, flyin' 'round his head,
We took him in the back room, and tucked him into bed,
But, right before he passed out, his buddy 'proached the stage,
And yelled out for that #$#%$ song, that must be all the rage,
"FREE BIRD," he shouted loud and clear,
"FREE BIRD, that's what we wanna hear,
FREE BIRD, we hang on every note,
FREE BIRD, best song ever wrote!"
"FREE BIRD," he shouted loud and clear,
"FREE BIRD, that's what we wanna hear,
FREE BIRD, we hang on every note,
FREE BIRD, best song ever wrote!"
("Free Bird" is a classic rock song, released in 1973 by the American rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd.)
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
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 can not change
And the 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, free bird, yeah
The song never broke the top 10, peaking at #19 in 1975, but it seems to have some kind of cult status with bar crowds.
Recent Comments
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We announce what we do at the start, Keith. There are just some die hard Free Bird fans! :)
"Free bird" and "simple man" will be playing at my funeral. Tragically Ronnie van zantt the lead singer was killed in 77 as a plane crashed. I was 8 yrs old. His southern rock band continues on today with a few original members. I have tickets to see them may 2017.
There cultural view was not of the typical redneck as some would think. Didn't believe in the south will rise again rhetoric. Or rebel flag belief's. Great lyrics and political views.
In the Top 10 best rock band from the 70's
I agree, they're a great band, Wade, and I like the story of how they got their band name.
You made me look for it, Rick. Doesn't seem too great a song to me.Though they seem good musicians, at least to my understaning and taste in music...I liked "Sweet home Alabama"...
And as for your post, I like it. No free birds- no suffocating our principles and beliefs...:))
Funny thing about Freebird. I refused to play it for the longest time, but one time, I started noodling it and singing my own parody lyrics, making it up as I went. Mimicked the guitar solo with my voice. Best respo ce of the night and two people tipped me 20 bucks. I felt like such a wh*re. That was the first and last time I ever did it.
So true, that song and the Grateful Dead have achieved supreme cult status. Coast to coast. When someone calls out that request at the end of the night in NY, eve the crowd laughs. It's become a parody of itself.
But what I really wanna know is, did you really clock dat guy upside his head?
I'm actually a pretty peaceful guy, Kaju. That one's not fact-based, other than the constant requests for "Free Bird."
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Hi Rick, a great song. Irv.
Thanks, Irv.