Charlie Daniels Band, The - Free Bird Lyrics

01022020 still kicking and alive!

Listening in 2020! I was there that night - what a great memory! All I need now is a cold one!

Great night! I remember it fondly.

was that allen's wife who died during childbirth?

Gods chosen band

The slide guitar in this song made me into a slide nut.

Yep, me too

An easy one to learn on too

I noticed Allen is not playing his explorer was it destroyed in the crash? Just wondering

Is so weird seeing Collins not playing a Firebird or Explorer

Incredible. One of Kind. Never finer. LS with its many brilliant lyrics, riffs, and sense of connection will live on for ever ... as long as there are 'Freebirds' among us. The lone mic is painful. Saw LS twice 'back in the day' - unforgettable, and again just recently. Johnny, Gary and the others carry on - for just a bit longer. Long live LS Band!

Always wondered why Gary uses his les Paul and Allen didn’t use his firebird for this one! Anyone know?

Allen was covering 2 parts his and Steves

I was there! On the floor, standing as close to the floor as we could get. This was an emotional performance, that no one (not me anyway!) was expecting. I'm so happy to find this on youtube.

😔😥...God bless Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ronnie, Cassie, Steve, Dean, Allen, Leon, Billy, JoJo, Bob, n Ed 💔⭐️🦅🎸🎤

Allen Collins was such a beast on guitar. My favorite LS is the Gimmie back my bullets album where it's just Rossington and Collins on guitars. The whole band was great but those two were what drove the musical side of things within the band.

Happy Heavenly Birthday Ronnie VanZant 1/15/48

I will never get tired of Lynyrd Skynyrd!! Fly on Free Bird RIP!!! To all the members in Rock-n-Roll Heaven....

all my buddies use to say you'll be the first to die when we get older ,
I'm still here and all my friends are gone except one.

Why don't Gary use his SG?

Billie Powell rreally nailed the piano

Saw them when they first started touring 1st summer they opened for Charlie next summer Charlie opened for them .that's how fast they grew .

Allen Collins Was always the guy up front giving 150 percent at every show. Both he and his long time friend Gary Rossington never failed to satisfy. Ed Kings song writing and guitar work were a great part of LS sound. The ex-marine Artimus Pyle was indeed the powerhouse Drummer Double Bass that made it all happen. Next to the original Allman Brothers Band, they were one of the hardest hitting live bands of their era that to me ended in 1977.

No words. Just WOW !

The most genius move to not have vocals. Top 5 band all time

is that ed king? (rip )

No this was 1979 he left in 1975 mid-way through the torture tour and reunited with Skynyrd in 1987. It may be Charlie Daniels you thought was Ed.

@JordanMatthew Anderson ..and so it is thank you! Hey do you know who is playing bass here? Doesn't look like Leon ?

@secret police Leon was on the second drum kit. He still had his arm in a sling. The bass player was from CDB. And yes I am old as hell but I was there,

The best performance of this song. Forget that some notes are off, or there are some timing issues here and there. The emotion that permeates this version is what makes it special. This should have been the end. Dignified.

Turn it up..

No better song

ill never forget that night.. Completely unexpected when they took the stage...NO WARNING..What a show.

Help me out, as I don't understand: My recollection of watching the footage back then is of the camera being trained on the empty microphone stand where Ronnie would have been. The camera stayed on that slot with a spotlight on the empty mike. I remember it being tearjerkingly emotional. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Bill Woo. The spot light was on Ronnie. Even though he wasn't there he was and always will be in the spot light

That's how I remember watching it. But that's not what this footage shows. Am I thinking of something else??

Maybe you are thinking of the 1987 gig

I was at this concert in Nashville. Municipal Auditorium...And we. were not expecting this.....WHAT A SUPRISE THEY EERE....AND. NAILED IT.

Allen Collins "Sure Loved to play guitar, & Sure was Great"!!

i miss those guys gary is the only one carrying on and that ends this summer 2018

We will always have the records and cds to listen and enjoy. I still love hearing Ronnie today. I guess alot of people come out and enjoy hearing the music played by the tribute band, bur for me it's time to stop calling it Lynyrd Skynyrd and put it to rest. When your down to 1 original member ( 1 1/2 if you count Rickey per say) its time to stop calling it that. I wish he would just call it what it is - Gary Rossington and friends play the music of Lynyrd Skynrd. Or the Gary Rossington band, or something but LS is no more. The survivors made a deal with Ronnie's widow that it must have 3 original members to keep going and that ended in 2009 with Billy's death. Should have honored the pact. Ronnie, Allen, Ed, Leon, Billy, Steve, are all dead and gone, and thus the Band is too. But the music can and will live on forever. Rest in Peace Lynyrd Skynyrd

It's summer 2019 and their still jamming

i think the reason was rossington collins came out following year and they did it live new years eve 1980 awsome i heard it at a party nobody knew who they were i did i had the album shocked them all i told them this is skynyrd

Six of us traveled two days in a rented mobile home for this concert. We waited for hours in line to be able to stand in front of stage.There I was a young man of twenty-two totally in awe as I watched this performance..

40 years ago today.RIP Ronnie,Cassie and Steve.Greatest band ever.Fly on Freebird.Great tribute and brought a tear to my eye seeing Charlie tearing up.Ronnie was his best friend.

I'm surprised they didn't play all night because Ronnie was not there to stop them.. The voice was silent. Awesome post.. Thank you!!!

Awesome

I was at this concert. My brother got me and my sister tickets for Christmas. We about lost our minds when they appeared as the final act.

I had just been born, 1/1/77, and never got to see them live. Had a few chances to see them live a few years ago, but always forgot and had no money for those shows. i know its not the same, but I do hope to get a chance to see them before Gary passed away. If Gary would be gone, I do not think I would even be interested in seeing them live. I do love the albums they have put out and my favorite one, of the new era of Lynyrd Skynyrd would have to be 1991. Had that on cassette and played the heck out of it. When my dad gave me his vinyl collection, there are a few Lynyrd Skynyrd vinyls in there and are still in very great condition. He had bought them back in the day when they came out. One that is in there is Lynyrd Skynyrd - First and... Last. The track Coming Home is such a great one and heck, all of the tracks on that vinyl are great https://www.discogs.com/Lynyrd-Skynyrd-Skynyrds-First--And-Last/release/1331014

Eric Wells. I don't think the real skynyrd made a bad song. I found the original street survior on vinyl. Flame cover and all. Had to have my mom buy it for me.

Love the passion Allen always had when he performed. The music took over him and I see the same a bit in Ricky when he does the solos for Freebird now. Even when Ricky does the solos, to me at least, his facial expressions make him somewhat look like Allen and its as if Allen has overtaken him and is playing the solo through Ricky. Hearing solos that Alan does, man, for the time they were done in, they top anything that is out there today, but that is my opinion. Some say he may not be such a great player, but even if that were true, his passion is something that cannot be denied

This is a sad and chilling version to hear because it doesn't feature any vocals, just has them playing Freebird instrumentally...

Even when they did the "Southern By the Grace of God" Tour in 1987, Johnny Van Zant would not do the vocals for Freebird. You can hear the audience sing on the album they put out for the tour. It wasn't until the 90s when Johnny felt comfortable singing it.

Ronnie's window Judy was appalled when Johnny started singing the song, but the reality is he sings it as a tribute to his big brother and Judy is just trying to hold on to the legacy of her dead husband. She should of excepted the fact that the band couldn't just keep playing Ronnie's vocals on stage every night knowing that his spirit is being carried on by his little brother Johnny...

In this day of 24/7 social media I get so turned off by the negativity and incomprehensible nature of human kind that I wish this type of event was available to me when I was a senior in HS. I had no idea that there was even such a thing as a Volunteer Jam when I was 17. All I knew was Skynyrd was gone and it broke my heart. This is vintage...carpe diem.

Allen Collins is playing very well . Doctors wanted to amputate his right arm just two years earlier. His father stopped them.

Skynyrd helped form the lives of millions who knew the music and what it mean. Loved them from the first time and still love listening to the music today. The music is timeless and lives on through the existing members of the band today. No matter what the age, ask anyone you come across and all will agree some of the best songs ever written. Live on Lynyrd Skynyrd ! We love you and miss the ones who started this movement of Southern Rock.

Touches the heartstrings on many levels. Thanks for posting this video!

I wonder, where was Leon?

Michael Perry he was unable to play at this time, he was on stage but he wasn't playing

His arm was still messed up from the crash I believe.

You can see Leon at 13:03...he still has his arm in a sling from the crash.

Nashville radio carried Vol Jams live from #4 up.. I heard some of this on radio.. finally saw it on pbs.. As usual for the 70's the 115 year old sound techs were only interested in piano and drums .. I knew Gary and Allen were talented but I had no idea they could get drum and piano sounds out of their guitars.. at least it didnt suffer from video-stupidity like most shows that focused on the stage and the guitarists. until a great solo came up.. and you could almost bet your house on it.. as soon as the guitarist started to wail on a solo... THEY'D SHOW THE DRUMMER OR THE CROWD ... 99.999% OF THE TIME

Best instrumental

I WAS THERE! January 13, 1979-the day before my 26th birthday. One to remember!

For all us old skynyrd fan's still alive out there. Hope you enjoy.

Susan Ford What am awesome video that was !

Susan Ford Thank you for posting this I remember it very well,and I hate to admit it bit your are right us old skynryd fans.

I seen The Rossington Collins Band in Orlado Florida at The Tangerine Bowl in 1980 first time they performed out live with Dale Krantz ! Johnny VanZant Band opened the show !

always leaves a tear in my eyes. Bad ass group bad ass song!!!! Freebird will always live on

Amazing concert. Thanks!

Allen does not look right playing a Les Paul Jr...miss his Gibson Explorer...but he is covering all the parts including Steve Gains..."Smoking"! Wonder where Allen's guitar is?

He does have that same whammy installed.

Mark Burns I did not notice that until I read your comment, it does not look right

I'm wondering what happened to Gary's SG...

don't know if it's true or urban legend, but I heard that he was buried with one of his guitars. kind of cool. but wish it was on display somewhere to see. Wonder what happened to all his guitars? Did Gary get them? Or Allen's daughters?

JordanMatthew Anderson Gary said his SG is in the Hall if Fame now

What can you say the best

Wow I was there my first volunteer jam seeing the surviving band members was moving to say the least much as I like medlocke he's not Allen Collins old song is true if there's a rock and roll heaven you know they got a helluva band !

I was extremely lucky to have seen them 2 days before the crash, in Hollywood Florida,October, 1977. Best concert ever, and I've seen many. It felt like someone ripped a big chunk of my soul, that fateful day the music died. Thanks to youtube, Skynyrd's music will live on and on!

+Renee Schwartzman I was also there--great concert. But I will never understand why they didn't have it in a larger venue like the Baseball Stadium.
RIP, Ronnie, Cassie, and Steve...

you have any audio from that night?

I was there it was my 18th birthday i know how you feel!

You can hear audio static during the vocal spots where Ronnie would come in. Chills indeed<> God Bless the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band

Maybe that static was Ronnie trying to communicate and sing the song.

I didn't hear any static.

Maybe it was the actual crowd singing in his place.

Say what you want but Rickey Medlock ain't have the guitar player Allen Collins was

Lynyrd skynyrd became a tribute band after the crash. That was Ronnies band. They get on stage now like a bunch of clowns. Sorry if this hurts your feelings but it's the truth.

to be fair to Rickey - ain't nobody quite like Allen. So to even make that comparison is harsh. AC was an amazing player, never to be duplicated. Rickey does a good job, but it's unfair to come in after that trio. and What a trio they had: AC, GR, and Ed King. and for a very short time Steve Gaines. All 4 are irreplaceable. As good and awesome as Gary is, the band is just not the same without Ed King. The band died the day Ronnie died, and while I enjoyed the 2nd version in 87, Mach2 died when Ed King left a 2nd time in 96. I haven't seen them since 87 reunion, and I loved that show and it was enough for me. It was my "shot" at seeing Skynyrd, and it satisfied my itch. Never saw them again, and honestly as much as respect the members and love hearing Billy on Piano, and Ed and Gary on guitar, Leon on bass, Artimus on drums, I just didn't have a desire to see this "tribute" band a 2nd time. Johnnie does a good job on vocals but it was and always will be Ronnie's band.

@David Gibbons you obviously have no clue as the original versus the clown show now. There should have been the one tribute in 86 then stopped . I on the other hand still have my ticket stub from the last show in Greenville S.C. and no it's not for sale.

@Jim Smith I'd never sell that bro. That's a treasure!

You do know medlock played with skynyrd before their big break right? He left skynyrd and formed Blackfoot which had a few hit songs that medlock wrote like "train, train" and "highway song" which are both straight up jamming kind of songs with bad ass guitar leads. Medlock and Collins were both great guitarist (Medlock still is), just different guitarist. One is neither better or worse than the other. Two very very talented musicians.....

 
Today while buying tickets to the 40th Anniversary Volunteer Jam in August 2013, I remembered more than just Ronnie Van Zant and shared with some friends the experience of being at Vol Jam 5 back in 79.  One of the BEST concerts EVER!  I was in High School @ HHS on the first real date with the love of my life and several friends.  I remember that introduction by Charlie was right after a intermission.  Usually they would turn the house lights on and off 2 or 3 times before the next band came out to play so everyone could get back to their seats.  On this occasion Charlie came out and the house lights stayed off with only a single light on him.  I will never forget what he said.  "we would like to introduce again a band that has been off the scene way too long, thank God their back,  from Jacksonville, Florida.............."  We could not hear the rest of what he said, the roar was deafening.  The instrumental only rendition of Freebird with the spotlight on a empty mic was EPIC!  Everyone was crying, hugging and holding their lighters high like candles. CDB's historic last song, on the last stop of the touring season, the "Tennessee Waltz" was so special that night everyone was slow dancing (I was dancing with my darling to the Tennessee Waltz) in the isles and outside in the hall ways.  What a great time to be a teenager in Music City at the epicenter of the Southern Rock movement. That concert was a defining moment for several of us.  One of our friends later became a writer for Rolling Stone magazine and currently writes for "Bill Board" magazine back home in Nashville.  It solidified my Southern Rock roots, I later married the love of my life, traveled the world, had three kids and returned home to H'ville.  August 12 we will celebrate our 33rd wedding anniversary at the Volunteer Jam.   How freaking cool is that?  Thanks for the memories Charlie!!!

I was there also. We were out in concourse and noticed the lights were down. One of my friends said, whatever this is its going to be big. I can't watch this without a tear coming to eye.

I saw The Charlie Daniels Band for the first time in February 1987 at The Scope in Norfolk, VA. Gary Morris opened. The second time was May 25 (Memorial Day) at the Busch Gardens Amusement Park in Williamsburg. Crystal Gayle opened. The third at The Boathouse in Norfolk in January 30, 1988. Long Shot, a Southern Rock tribute band from Virginia Beach, opened.

MCA Records dropped the ball back in 1979 when they should have released this great live instrumental recording of "Freebird". This, by all accounts, should have been Skynyrd's last actual recording. If "Freebird Live (instrumental)" had been released as a single & marketed as "The Lynyrd Skynyrd Band & The Charlie Daniels Band", this single would've zoomed up the Billboard Hot 100! This should've been released as a two-sided single in '79! :-)

@ChihuahuaboyDH For all the dough that Lynyrd Skynyrd put into MCA's coffers, MCA certainly hasn't done them any favors.   MCA's lack of marketing and "push" on the 1987 album "Legend" is mind boggling.  That should have been promoted to the hilt.  Yet, I found out about it only through a small article in Rolling Stone. No ads, no radio airplay, no nothing.

It is freaky, not having Van Zant there to sing. It's beautiful, too, in a way. A perfect tribute to the heritage of southern rock we all love. Thank you.

ive seen them several times. unfortunately I missed Ronnie. i was planning to see them in November 1977 in new haven. but in the meantime we all know what happened. sad time in rock history. to me this is the classic rock song bar none!

me 2 ,I still have my ticket,,seen them at the bushnell,and providence

I had tickets to see them on Oct 28th in Columbus, Oh. 8 days too late. :-(

Always a favorite!

Love that song, loving the band also.

I never saw the original lineup but did have my ticket for a concert before the crash and unfortunately I don't know what happened to that ticket. Later...about 3 years later I saw RCB at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium I think in 1980. I do remember they played Freebird and the power went out...and Billy slammed his fists on the piano and I think Gary said...someone is sending us a message....good night. It was powerful for this teenage Skynryd fan. Is there anybody out there that was at this concert?????

Saw them twice in 76 .. At RFK Stadium .. and at Cap Centre exactly one year before crash ..
You knew when they hit the Stage .. It was a Party ..

do either of you guys have any sort of footage of either of those concerts yall mentioned??

1 of ur good buddys stole it.

Icons in American music history...enough said

right on to that!!!

I was there! Chills went through, we didn't even know they were Coming out. The final band--They said you know the words---sing it--no one could remember guess we had too many drinks and other stuff LOL

+april gosa  Yes they were

+Rodney Young  Chills

+april gosa  Ronny's hat was on stage and the lights shown on it and that when we knew Skynyrd was coming out un believable experience

Spiritual...love it!

@april gosa never to high for such an occasion as that! LOL!

wish i could have seen the real skynyrd but i wasnt even thought about in the 70's, so guess ill grab my guitar, think about allen and play some free bird. R.I.P 

RFK stadium 76 .. $10 .. Nugent , Nazareth, SKYNYRD , Aerosmith .. LS blew everything up and left nothing for Aerosmith for P.A. .... As Ronnie said many times "Well .. We Blew up another Amp"

I never got to see the original band...too young...but I did get to see this Volunteer Jam V performance on my little 13" black & white tv back in 1979 when PBS aired the full concert. It was a huge deal to me at the time as I was just becoming a fan and had recently picked up the guitar, inspired by all of the Skynyrd guitarists.
It was amazing to watch these guy who had survived the plane crash, back on stage playing again...and sad to think of those who didn't make it.

I cried. Respect

American Southern History RIP  You were wrong Artie, we were yelling for SKYNYND.. ALL of you boys. Still are.

Even as the instrumentals are lovingly played, I can still hear Ronnie's soulful voice singing those words as if he were still here.... I am so glad I was able to see the original lineup perform a number of times, the last one being on 8/6/77, just a few weeks before that terrible day.  Rest in Peace all of you Freebirds everywhere, may we never forget you! \m/

rockn24x7goog got any audio from that last 77 concert??

I was there drove down from NY with a bunch of guys in a WINNABAGO. Great nite great trip what I can remember 

Who was playing bass?

Charlie Hayward from the Charlie Daniels Band

It's a wonder Allen could even still play after what happened to one of his arms. He had a one foot scar on one of his arms. He had a piece of metal in his arm from the plane crash. The hemovac machine, a tube, got clogged up and Allen's injured arm swelled up like a grapefruit. They had to take a skin graft from his leg I guess for cosmetic purposes. You can see part of the bad scar on the black This Is The Way, Rossington Collins Band album. Allen never played as well as he had after the plane crash. The man lost a little dexterity and speed. Shit, his whole adult life was about loss. Rest in Peace Allen. 

jaxflfreebird Dedicated player up until the car crash. Can't imagine his mental state after all he endured. Poor guy.

He had a rough road, starting with that plane crash. A few years later he was in a bad car accident, ended up in a wheelchair and eventually died from MS or some other disease, not sure. Definitely a tragic figure. I saw them in May of '77, Collins was so full of energy, sprinting and jumping around the stage.

I question wheather him not playing the same was mental not physical. I know the demons that come hand in hand with fame grew for him after the crash and are what led to his car crash.

jaxflfreebird think about it like this, the best people, musicians everything goes out while theyre young. he wasnt mean to be here as long as some of us, just long enough to leave his mark on the world and music

Pneumonia due to his disease

Much better quality on this upload that the other one I was just looking at. Same song, same date, but way better quality. 

This is the first time I have seen this non vocal.. Saw em once in person with Hank jr  in 1995 and that rocked..OMG, this is amazing :-)

Westside missing ya Guys

Heck I WAS THERE!!! Great Times!!!

I was there that night. Not a dry eye in the house, inc. my own.  A buddy of mine was at rehearsals the night before, but was sworn to secrecy for obvious reasons.

God Bless You for having this Posted!
You Rock!

Awesome!!

That empty mic is so very sad to see. That had to be the hardest thing for those guys to get up there without Ronnie and the rest.

Very powerful too.

Jeff Brown very symbolic.

Why did it have to end so soon