Southern Man

song by Young

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

"Southern Man" is a song by Canadian musician Neil Young, released in 1970. The song is known for its critical stance on the American South, addressing themes of racism, slavery, and hypocrisy. Young's lyrics describe these issues, contributing to a complex and often controversial portrayal of the region.

The song's direct response came from the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd with their 1974 hit, "Sweet Home Alabama." This song was written as a retort to "Southern Man" and Neil Young's other song, "Pocahontas," with Lynyrd Skynyrd objecting to what they perceived as Young's condescending portrayal and use of Southern stereotypes. "Sweet Home Alabama" also references Alabama's governor George Wallace and the Watergate scandal.

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Lynyrd Skynyrd
Second Helping and Sweet Home Alabama
…singer-songwriter Neil Young’s derisive “Southern Man,” opens the band’s sophomore effort, Second Helping (1974). Young’s song is an attack on the American South’s racism, with lyrics describing slavery and lynching and calling out white Christian hypocrisy. Van Zant, Rossington, and King wrote “Sweet Home Alabama” as a direct retort,…
Read More
…singer-songwriter Neil Young’s derisive “Southern Man,” opens the band’s sophomore effort, Second Helping (1974). Young’s song is an attack on the American South’s racism, with lyrics describing slavery and lynching and calling out white Christian hypocrisy. Van Zant, Rossington, and King wrote “Sweet Home Alabama” as a direct retort,…
Read More