Lyrics of and My Thoughts on "Sweet Home Alabama"

(comments in italics)

Skynyrd's most famous song and their first huge hit (which retroactively made "Free Bird" take off), this song is Ronnie's take on Southern culture and Northern stereotypes of it.  A memorable guitar riff opens the song before the first verse:

Big wheels keep on turnin'
Carry me home to see my kin.
Singin' songs about the Southland
I miss ole 'Bamee once again and I think it's a sin.   'Bamee=Alabama

Well I heard Mister Young sing about her
Well I heard old Neil put her down   Neil Young criticized the South in a few songs (he's Canadian).
Well I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don't need him around anyhow.

Chorus:
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue.
Sweet home Alabama
Glad I'm comin' home to you.

In Birmingham they love the gov'nor (Ladies: Boo hoo hoo)
  This line is about Alabama segragational governor George Wallace.  Many people originally thought Ronnie was supporting Wallace here; they missed the ladies "boo hoo hoo."  This was a blatant criticism of Wallace and his policies.
Now we all did what we could do.  This probably means they did all they could do to protest Wallace.
Now Watergate does not bother me.
Does your conscience bother you?  Tell the truth.
  These two lines portray cynicism toward politics in general.

Chorus

In Muscle Shoals they got the Swampers,
And they've been known to pick a song or two. (Ladies: yes they do)
  Muscle Shoals was a recording studio where many Southern artists, collectively known as the Swampers and including Lynyrd Skynyrd, got their start.
Lord they get me off so much
They pick me up when I'm feeling blue, now how 'bout you.

Chorus, and fancy guitar work completes the song.