This is what he read:


Hey Mike,



This is RagingInMiami from Democratic Underground, one of your biggest fans. I even posted something for you on that thread they printed out and gave you at the Atlanta meet-up.



But please don’t fall into the trap that many DUers do and start ragging on Skynyrd because you think they’re not liberal. The real Lynyrd Skynyrd, the band that became world famous during the 1970s before that deadly plane crash, was very liberal. The ones out touring today are a bunch of right-wingers who are riding on the name of the original band, as so many bands do nowadays.



Singer Ronnie Van Zant, who died in the crash, wrote an anti-gun song, a pro-environmental song, and several anti-poverty, anti-Vietnam songs, and an anti-racist song. The one song that seems to get under every liberal’s skin is Sweet Home Alabama because they mentioned Governor George Wallace and ragged on Neil Young.



If you listen to the song, the chorus after the Wallace line is “BOO! BOO! BOO!" In fact, LS bassist Leon Wilkenson was quoted as saying, "We supported Wallace about as much as your average American supported Hitler".



And as far as the Neil Young reference goes, they were good friends with Young. It was all in fun. In fact, in his first concert after the plane crash, Young was playing a concert in Miami and performed Sweet Home Alabama in honor of Van Zant. Young was a pallbearer at Van Zant's funeral.



In Sweet Home Alabama, Van Zant mentioned that Watergate didn’t bother him. He was a poor white boy from North Florida. The way he saw it, it was business as usual in the White House.



However, Lynyrd Skynyrd supported JIMMY CARTER in 1976 and raised money for his campaign with concerts. Ronnie Van Zandt even wore Carter t-shirts during that time.



Here are some lyrics:



Things Goin’ On (This was written during the 70s but obviously, things haven’t changed)



Have you ever lived down in the ghetto
Have you ever felt the cold wind blow
If you don't know what I mean
Won't you stand up and scream
'Cause there's things goin' on that you don't know

Ask them why they spend lives across the ocean
Ask them why they spend millions on the moon
Well, untill they make things right
Lots of people gonna be uptight
They better make some changes pretty soon

They gonna ruin the air that we breathe y'all
They gonna ruin us all bye and bye
Telling all you beware
I don't think they really care
Think they just sit up there and just get high

Have you ever lived down in the ghetto
Have you ever felt the cold wind blow
If you don't know what I mean
Won't you stand up and scream
'Cause there's things goin' on that you don't know



The Ballad of Curtis Lowe



Well I used to wake the mornin
Before the rooster crowed
Searchin for soda bottles to get my self some dough
Brought em down to the corner
Down to the country store
Cash em in and give my money to a man named Curtis Lowe



Old Curt was a black man with white curly hair
When he had a fifth of wine he did not have a care
He used to own and old dobro used to play across his knee
I'd give old Curt my money he play all day for me

(chorus)
Play me a song Curtis Lowe Curtis Lowe
Well I got your drinkin money tune up your dobro
People said he was useless them people all were fools
Cuz Curtis Lowe was the finest picker to ever play the blues

He looked to be 60 maybe I was 10
Momma used to whoop me
But I'd go see him again
I'd clap my hands, stomp my feet tryin to keep in time
Well he'd play me a song or 2 then take another drink of wine

(chorus)
Play me a song Curtis Lowe Curtis Lowe
Well I got your drinkin money tune up your dobro
People said he was useless but them people all were fools
Cuz Curtis Lowe was the finest picker to ever play the blues

On the day old Curtis died nobody came to pray
Old preacher said some words
They chucked him in the clay
Well he lived a lifetime playin the black mans blues
And on the day he lost his life thats all he had to lose

(chorus)
Play me a song Curtie Lowe Curtis Lowe
I wish that you was here so everyone would know
People said he was useless but them people all were fools
Cuz Curtis your finest picker to ever play the blues





Peace,



Still Raging in Miami