The Lynyrd Skynyrd song... is it anti-gun?

[68'chevelle]

first of all, how dare you dis the greatest band in the world. (Note the rebel flag in the back ground) these guys are as redneck as they get. these songs are about killing these people. and also these lyrics are just made up words, they do not apply to their personal life. Ronnie Vanzant was the biggest put duct tape on everthing he owned type of redneck. that includes shootin stuff too. He believed gun control was hitting the target every time.

 

[Kilgor]

In the 1970's, many Southerners figured hunting, defending the home, and defending against invaders was best done with a rifle or shotgun and that a handgun was only meant to be hidden and used to kill. I don't agree with it and I have seen many of the people who came of age in the 1970's (late 40's to early 50's) change their views as CCW was become more common throughout the country. However, that was a common view in the South at the time.

 

[JLelli]

The Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Run Through the Jungle" is also what most here would consider anti-gun. It's just not as blunt as the Skynyrd song.

This is often believed to be about the Vietnam War, as it referred to a "jungle" and was released in 1970. The fact that previous CCR songs such as "Who'll Stop the Rain?" and "Fortunate Son" were protests of the Vietnam War added to this theory. In response, John Fogerty said: "I think a lot of people thought that because of the times, but I was talking about America and the proliferation of guns, registered and otherwise. I'm a hunter and I'm not antigun, but I just thought that people were so gun-happy -- and there were so many guns uncontrolled that it really was dangerous, and it's even worse now. It's interesting that it has taken 20-odd years to get a movement on that position."

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2997

 

[randyman_ar]

How can it not be anti-gun? According to the song the 'Saturday Night Special' evidently was invented for murder.... not self defense!

 

[MP5]

I wouldn't dig too deeply into any rock/pop lyrics, looking for wisdom about the RKBA or political issues. Rock is essentially by and for teenagers and 20-somethings, i.e., kids' music.

 

[Merc41]

In the 1970's, many Southerners figured hunting, defending the home, and defending against invaders was best done with a rifle or shotgun and that a handgun was only meant to be hidden and used to kill.

WHAT? I am from south west Louisiana, and in the 70's I used a 22 rifle for hunting, and carried a 41 magnum for a side arm, incase some of the squirrels got out of hand.

 

[skynyrd1911]

And Steven Tyler wears nail polish! Save your energy for your politicians and let's enjoy music as it is. Eveyone has different tastes. Mine is Lynyrd Skynyrd & 1911's

 

[Scanr]

I would not be surprised that this was a dig at his brother. Groups would do things that that about one another, look at the Eagles' little dig at Steely Dan. Hotel California, "stab them with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast."

 

[halvey]

Not all guns.

Is a Saturday Night Special really much good for anything else but putting people 6 feet in a hole?

Yeah, it's good for putting rapists, child molestors and car jackers in a hole.

It's called self defense.

 

[Cosmoline]

Of course it was anti-gun. The "Saturday Night Special" debate was at its height back in the 60's and 70's. It was the "assault weapon" of its time, and there were attempts to ban them from DC to many states. LS's drunken tirade against the firearm was an endorsement of these measures.

let's enjoy music as it is.

Would you enjoy a song from a band of today you like that said the only thing assault weapons was good for was killing people, and that they should all be dumped in the ocean?

Times change and if you understand this, you'll have a better understanding of the past.

I understand the past very well in this case. A bunch of drunk rockers decided the firearms were to blame for their personal problems and set about using their music to help ensure that you and I wouldn't have any concealable handguns, let alone CCW rights. They were on the wrong side, and the debate is far from over. The band should have been sunk in the ocean.

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

+1 on XLMiguel's point.

I listen to music for entertainment. To receive political advice from someone who knows an equal amount or less about politics than myself is just plain stupid.

 

[eltorrente]

Who cares if the song is "anti"? They were a great band.

I happen to think that there are a lot of "Big Jims" out there that have no business at all carrying a gun. They weren't singing about CCW ownership, they are talking about Saturday Night Specials that are used for robbing and killing, not lawful personal defense.

 

[roscoe]

I heard an interview on the radio with one of the LS members, and they talked about that song. He said that they wrote that song based on the death of a friend, even though "they all carried guns anyway".

Is there a more overrated song than "Freebird"? My head hurts when it comes on the radio.

 

[romma]

That old addage. "My handgun is there so I can fight my way to my rifle" comes to mind...

 

[eltorrente]

Is there a more overrated song than "Freebird"?

No.

It's actually a cool song, but man they overplayed it to death.

My favorite is probably Tuesday's Gone.

 

[SSN Vet]

oops

 

[68'chevelle]

My favorite is Gimme back my bullets.

 

[LoverOfLiberty]

Sarah Brady's hatred of guns also comes from personal experience.

Her husband was shot in a city with a gun ban.

::tries not to laugh::

 

[Piedmont Plinker]

it's entertainment
i hate mrk wahlberg's gun control position, doesn't make him a bad actor
same w/Daniel Craig
now while we are on the topic of southern rock, does anyone know the pro-gun position (or anti-gun) position of Big & Rich?
John Rich quotes his grandfather in their new album (Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace, BUY IT!) that goes something like this "If it weren't for guns and American people who new how to use them, we'd all be salutin a swastika or a rising sun."
sounding like a hypocrite and just back from canoeing...
pres (CZ.22)

 

[Dan from MI]

Skynyrd's a great band, but that song is anti. I just skip that song when it comes on since I Don't feel link dumpin them to the bottom of the sea.

Simple Man, Needle and the Spoon, On the Hunt, Trust, Comin Home, and Sweet Home Alabama make up for it.

 

[Cannonball888]

If you're full of 'ludes and drink poor whiskey and play the song backwards you can hear "Ravens forever"

 

[the pistolero]

My favorite is probably Tuesday's Gone.

Yes, indeed! "Well, Tuesday, you see, she had to be free, but somehow I got to, carry ooooon...."
"Free Bird" is over-rated indeed, but I would rather hear it than "Saturday Night Special." All-time LS faves are "Tuesday's Gone," "Comin' Home" and "Gimme Back My Bullets."
Back to guns. What kinds of guns were they referring to as SNS back in that era? I know nowadays it seems to be the Lorcins, Jenningses & such, but was it the same back in the mid-1970s?
edit: Cannonball, that smiley is a riot!

 

[Cannonball888]

I believe SNSs back in the 70's were not legitamate commercially-made firearms like Lorcin, Raven, Jennings, etc, but rather cheap blackmarket-made guns with zinc castings.

 

[Joe Demko]

What I'm more concerned about is whether that Mozart fellow was pro-gun. He wrote some pretty music, but I just wouldn't feel right listening to Eine Kleine Nachtmusik if I thought it had anti-2A undertones.

 

[Cosmoline]

it's entertainment
i hate mrk wahlberg's gun control position, doesn't make him a bad actor

There's a huge difference. In this case, the LS song isn't entertainment, it's AGITPROP. No different from Bowling for Columbine. And as this thread shows, it HAS convinced many people that the "Saturday Night Specials" are good for nothin' Never mind that a "Saturday Night Special" is just a concealable handgun that folks in the quarters can afford. Never mind the racist roots of the whole concept of Saturday Night N____town Special.

I believe SNSs back in the 70's were not legitamate commercially-made firearms like Lorcin, Raven, Jennings, etc, but rather cheap blackmarket-made guns with zinc castings.

Wrong. They were any inexpensive handgun and included old Colts S&W's or anything else a poor person, esp. one with dark skin, could afford. The song and the concept of the SNS had NOTHING TO DO WITH SAFETY. The song isn't about a cheaply made zink revolver blowing a man's hand off. It blames a class of firearms for murder, and that my fine fellows is a CLASSIC anti-gun position.

MOREOVER, I think you fans need to read these lyrics carefully:

Hand guns are made for killin
Aint no good for nothin else
And if you like your whiskey
You might even shoot yourself
So why dont we dump em people
To the bottom of the sea
Before some fool come around here
Wanna shoot either you or me

HAND GUNS. Not cheaply made zink knockoffs. But HAND GUNS! 'nuff said?