Lynyrd Skynyrd is from Jacksonville, Florida. They wrote this song about their impressions of Alabama and as a tribute to the studio musicians at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, where they recorded from 1970-1972.
The studios gained fame during the '60s and '70s when it became the vogue thing for bands to record there. Artists like Bo Diddley, Aretha Franklin, and many big southern rock groups recorded there.
"The Swampers" was a name Leon Russell's producer Denny Cordell came up with for the musicians, and when Russell earned a Gold Record for his 1971 album Leon Russell and the Shelter People (recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios), he gave one to the guys that said, "Presented to The Swampers." (These commemorative gold records were often given to folks who helped create or market the album, and they often went to record executives or radio stations). Lynyrd Skynyrd saw the record, and when they included the line, "Muscle Shoals has got The Swampers" in this song, they popularized the nickname and brought a lot of attention to these Alabama players who worked behind the scenes on many famous recordings.
Swamper - bass player David Hood, said:
"We had been working with Leon, we had been working with Denny Cordell, who was his producer. I think Denny came up with the name. We did an album called The Shelter People. And on the album there were musicians on some tracks from Tulsa - Carl Radle and some of the guys from out there - and tracks by us. And to differentiate, he wrote down "The Muscle Shoals Swampers" on the ones we did, and the Tulsa one, I don't know what he called them, but the Tulsa people on the others. And that just kind of took."
Lyrics
Big wheels keep on turning Carrying me home to see my kin Singing songs about the southland I'm missing Alabama once again And I think it's a sin, yes Well I heard Mr. Young sing a ballad Well I heard old Neil put it down Well I hope Neil Young will remember A southern man don't need him around anyhow Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet Home Alabama Lord, I'm coming home to you In Birmingham they rocked the governor (boo, boo, boo) Now we all did what we could do Now Watergate does not bother me Does your conscience bother you? Tell the truth Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet Home Alabama Lord, I'm coming home to you Here I come Alabama Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers And they've been known to pick a song or two Lord they give me oh so much They pick me up when I'm feeling blue Now how about you? Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet Home Alabama Lord, I'm coming home to you Sweet home Alabama (Oh sweet home baby) Where the skies are so blue (And the guv'nor's true) Sweet Home Alabama (Lordy) Lord, I'm coming home to you Yea, yea Montgomery's got the answer
