Alabama

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Bruce Hornsby

One of two songs set to Hunter lyrics on Bruce Hornsby's album "Indigo Park". In an interview, Hornsby explained:

"[Hunter] sent me this crazy song and his email, accompanying the lyric, was sort of apologetic. It was like, 'I don't know about this one. It might be nothing. It might be just too wild and crazy, but, hey, I'm sending it to you, and do with it what you want. Nothing is fine, too.'"

Got my wildcat in a gunny sack
Lit out to howl at the moon
Took a barrel of peril, the son of Cochise
A piccolo and my bassoon

I can't play 'em but my wildcat can
Anything in the key of D
Columbia the Gem of the Ocean
Tutti Frutti and Let It Be

But the date of his expiration
The sine qua non of success
The number that sets the whole world rockin'
The one they love the best
(Count it off now - 1-2-3-4)
(Count it off now - 1-2-3)

Al-A-Bama
Look down from the sky
Al-A-Bama
Until the day that I die
Al-A-Bama
One among forty-nine
Al-A-Bama
The star that I call mine

Born and bred in Alabama
West central heart of the state
Fair fine city of Tuscaloosa
Where the sunset rises late

You're my everything
Oh Al-A-Bam
`Tis of thee I sing
Where the eagles sing in choir
Around a roaring fire

The date of his expiration
The sine qua non of success
The number that sets the whole world rockin'
The one they love the best
(Count it off now - 1-2-3)

Al-A-Bama
The present is the past
Al-A-Bama
You know our love will last
Al-A-Bama
A banjo on my knee
Al-A-Bama
The whole world shall be free