Song of the South (song)
Encyclopedia
"Song of the South" is the title of a song written by Bob McDill
. First recorded by American country music
artist Johnny Russell
, it reached number 57 on the U.S. Billboard country chart in 1981. Covered by Tom T. Hall
and Earl Scruggs
, it was a number 72 country single for them in 1982 from the album Storyteller and the Banjo Man. A cover released in November 1988 by American country music group Alabama
, from their album Southern Star
, reached Number One on both the U.S. and Canadian country charts.
farm-family during the Great Depression. "Cotton on the roadside, cotton in the ditch. We all picked the cotton but we never got rich." "Well, somebody told us Wall Street
fell, but we was so poor that we couldn't tell." The song references President Franklin D. Roosevelt
's New Deal in the line, "The cotton was short and the weeds was tall, but Mr. Roosevelt's gonna save us all."
The father of the family is a Southern Democrat; "Daddy was a veteran, a southern democrat. They oughta get a rich man to vote like that." The family loses the farm after the mother becomes ill. "The county got the farm and they moved to town." In the end, the family ends up living comfortably well, having sought a life in a more urban
location; "Well, papa got a job with the TVA
, we bought a washing machine, and then a Chevrolet."
during the 1930s, as well as footage of members of the band and other actors in the South, which is also in black and white, to give the illusion that it was the 1930s when it was filmed. The content of the video mainly follows the song lyrics, such as the footage of President Roosevelt during the lines in the song where he is referenced. The video turns to color during the chorus, showing a large crowd fronted by the band members marching down the street of a small town. At the end, the video is also in color and shows Alabama playing at a concert, at the end of which random people come onto the stage.
Bob McDill
Robert Lee "Bob" McDill is an American country music songwriter. Active from the 1960s until 2000, he has written several songs for country music artists, including more than thirty Number One hits...
. First recorded by American country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Johnny Russell
Johnny Russell
John Bright "Johnny" Russell was an American country singer, songwriter, and comedian best-known for his song "Act Naturally", which was made famous by Buck Owens, who recorded it in 1963, and The Beatles in 1965...
, it reached number 57 on the U.S. Billboard country chart in 1981. Covered by Tom T. Hall
Tom T. Hall
Thomas "Tom T." Hall is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has written 11 #1 hit songs, with 26 more that reached the Top 10, including the pop crossover hit "I Love", which reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100...
and Earl Scruggs
Earl Scruggs
Earl Eugene Scruggs is an American musician noted for perfecting and popularizing a 3-finger banjo-picking style that is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music...
, it was a number 72 country single for them in 1982 from the album Storyteller and the Banjo Man. A cover released in November 1988 by American country music group Alabama
Alabama (band)
Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
, from their album Southern Star
Southern Star (Alabama album)
Southern Star is the ninth studio album from country music band Alabama. It was released in February 1989. The album produced four singles, "Song of the South", "High Cotton", the title track and "If I Had You", all of which reached #1 on the Hot Country Singles charts between 1989 and 1990.-CD...
, reached Number One on both the U.S. and Canadian country charts.
Content
The song tells the story of a poor Southern cottonCotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
farm-family during the Great Depression. "Cotton on the roadside, cotton in the ditch. We all picked the cotton but we never got rich." "Well, somebody told us Wall Street
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
fell, but we was so poor that we couldn't tell." The song references President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's New Deal in the line, "The cotton was short and the weeds was tall, but Mr. Roosevelt's gonna save us all."
The father of the family is a Southern Democrat; "Daddy was a veteran, a southern democrat. They oughta get a rich man to vote like that." The family loses the farm after the mother becomes ill. "The county got the farm and they moved to town." In the end, the family ends up living comfortably well, having sought a life in a more urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
location; "Well, papa got a job with the TVA
Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected...
, we bought a washing machine, and then a Chevrolet."
Music video
The music video, directed by Steve Boyle, consists mainly of black-and-white photos and footage of the SouthSouth
South is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.South is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the bottom side of a map is south....
during the 1930s, as well as footage of members of the band and other actors in the South, which is also in black and white, to give the illusion that it was the 1930s when it was filmed. The content of the video mainly follows the song lyrics, such as the footage of President Roosevelt during the lines in the song where he is referenced. The video turns to color during the chorus, showing a large crowd fronted by the band members marching down the street of a small town. At the end, the video is also in color and shows Alabama playing at a concert, at the end of which random people come onto the stage.
Johnny Russell
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 57 |
Tom T. Hall/Earl Scruggs
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 72 |
Alabama
| Chart (1988-1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| Canada RPM Country Tracks | 1 |