Nathan Songfic: Sweet Home Alabama
By Monica


ATF Universe


Normally the radio remained set on one station; he just was not the type to dart from one station to the other. But today, as he drove home, Nathan found himself in the mood for something a bit different than what he usually listened to.  A short bark of disbelieving laughter escaped his lips as he scanned through the stations and happened upon the very beginning of the song for which he had been unconsciously searching.  So with an indulgent, self-satisfied smile he cranked up the volume to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" just as Ronnie Van Zant directed him to "Turn it up!"

There was just something about this song, something infectious in the music that always had him moving a bit to it even as his left foot tapped in time. Of course it did not hurt that it was about his home state.

Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the Southland
I miss Alabamy once again
And I think it's a sin, yes

At hearing those first few lines, Nathan could never repress the bit of homesickness that filled him.  It was all such a deep part of who he was. Just the same way that it was a deep part of who Ezra was. But for all that his and Ezra's geographical origins were similar, it seemed that they never shared very much with each other about their pasts and their lives back home. Nathan truly blamed no one but history, though it was sometimes a hard history to overcome.

Well I heard mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don't need him around anyhow

Nathan allowed himself a small smile at that. Nothing can get a reaction out of a Southerner faster than someone, especially a Yankee or in Neil Young's case a Canadian, trying to tell him how to do things. And it worked both ways, for both black and white.  There was just too much pride and again just a long history that was sometimes too hard to let go.  But Nathan did not care too much for songs that attempted to make statements like Neil Young's did, especially in the sensational manner in which he did it.  The issues were far too complicated to be easily addressed in a song.

But what brought the smile to Nathan's lips was the fact that despite this little sting in Neil Young's direction, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young actually collaborated on some music.  It made him think of his relationship with Ezra. The two of them outwardly argued about just about everything, but when it came down to it, both of them worked together as a team and as friends.

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you

Another wave of homesickness struck Nathan as he suddenly found himself trying to remember when was the last time that he had been home.  It had been far too long. And while he found his teammates to be his new family, there was nothing like the extended family that he had left behind. Suddenly he found himself thinking about how wonderful it would be to introduce Rain to the aunts and uncles and all the others who had a hand in raising him and making him into the man he was today.

In Birmingham they love the governor
Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
Tell the truth

In all honesty, Nathan could never understand this verse of the song. But again he was not really looking for a song with a social message. Instead he liked to react to music for its visceral impact.  Still he had to think that again they were pointing out that there were many layers to everything and no easy answers. Those who were for or against Governor Wallace or those who were for or against President Nixon could argue for all of eternity. It was all a matter of perspective and agendas.  The truth behind the two men's actions might never be known, but the impact they both had on the country would still be felt for quite some time.

Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they've been known to pick a song or two
Lord they get me off so much
They pick me up when I'm feeling blue
Now how about you?

Nathan laughed as he realized just how this song had "gotten him off." It was just a song that moved you whether you cared to decipher the "meaning" of it or not.  It was a song that was as simple and complex as the South herself. She had a heritage all her own.  Those who lived it could cherish it and curse it all in the same breath.  He did not find it strange at all, though he knew that there would be plenty of others who would, that the one man on his team that could understand all that was the one man that everyone seemed to think he had the least in common with. The truth was that he and Ezra had a lot in common; they merely dealt with it and expressed it in different manners.


Sweet Home Alabama
(Ed King - Ronnie VanZant - Gary Rossington)

Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the Southland
I miss Alabamy once again
And I think it's a sin, yes
Well I heard mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her 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 love the governor
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 get me off 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 governor's true
Sweet Home Alabama
Lordy
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Yea, yea Montgomery's got the answer

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