While I like and agree with what Petty said, history likely will not be kind to this thread.

Petty stopped playing his song Rebels for AGES because he disliked all the people who would bring & bust out their rebel flags for the song.

Tom broke his hand punching a wall while trying to get the tune written...

"Rebels"

Honey don't walk out I'm too drunk to follow
You know you won't feel this way tomorrow
Well - maybe I'm a little rough around the edges
Inside a little hollow
I get faced with somethings sometimes
That are so hard to swallow - Hey!

[Chorus:]
I was born a rebel
Down in Dixie on a Sunday morning
Yeah - with one foot in the grave
And one foot on the pedal
I was born a rebel.

Well she picked me up in the morning
And she paid out my ticket
Yeah she screamed in the car
And threw me out in the thicket
Well - I never would've dreamed
That her heart was so wicked
Oh - but I keep coming back
'Cause it's so hard to kick it.
Hey, hey, hey

[Chorus]

Even before my father's fathers
They called us all rebels
Burned our cornfields
And left our cities level
I can still see the eyes
Of those blue bellied devils
When I'm walking round tonight
Through the concrete and metal.
Hey, hey, hey

I do like this one, though:

"Southern Accents"

There's a southern accent, where I come from
The young 'uns call it country, the yankees call it dumb
I got my own way of talking, but everything gets done
With a southern accent, where I come from

Now that drunk tank in Atlanta, is just a motel room to me
Think I might go work Orlando, if them orange groves don't freeze
Got my own way of working, but everything is run
With a southern accent, where I come from

For just a minute there I was dreaming
For just a minute it was all so real
For just a minute she was standing there, with me

There's a dream I keep having, where my momma comes to me
And kneels down over by the window, and says a prayer for me
Got my own way of praying, but everything one's begun
With a southern accent, where I come from

Got my own way of living, but everything is done
With a southern accent, where I come from

I agree with both you and Tom, Rusty. Of course the only thing Southern about Tom Petty is Southern California and has been for decades IMO. 😉

Tom Petty is doing what he thinks is right......good for him.

Kinda tough being a Southern Man these days. Now I fully understand the OOM's emblem.

While I like and agree with what Petty said, history likely will not be kind to this thread.

There's different perceptions as to what the flag means. Yes we all know the Civil War was about the south wanting to maintain the slaves they had and the north saying no you cannot have slaves. But the flag was about a way of life in the south, where men had valor, romance in their souls, women were respected and treated with dignity, life was laid back but filled with nobility. Yes that only included white people, who were the majority of inhabitants back in those days.

As I said elsewhere people during the times before the Civil War did not recognize that black people had intellect and were capable of anything more than physical farm work or household domestic tasks. That was what they knew and believed at the time. They did not set out to hurt anyone, some of the plantation owners were mentors to their slaves, they were not ALL treated badly.

To me, the flag means those people did not accept tyranny, going back to when they freed themselves from the taxation of England. You really have to look at what people believed about black people during that time. To judge them from today's standards is not entirely accurate, they did not have the knowledge that you have today.

The majority of Europeans during Christopher Columbus's time truly believed the world was flat. You can look at that now and say well they were idiots, but their decisions were based on what was known at that time. Same thing with slavery. It wasn't like they knew blacks could be like anyone else and they just chose to hold them back and keep them ignorant. They did not know they could learn and advance.

Nobody here seems to understand this. Tom Petty saying that they never gave any thought to how black people felt about the flag or what it meant to them is accurate. We can be sensitive to how blacks feel about slavery, but I don't think the heritage of the culture of the south should be discarded.

Does the flag belong at statehouses today? Probably not, should the flag be outlawed in entirety? No. People have a right to their heritage on a personal level.

While I like and agree with what Petty said, history likely will not be kind to this thread.

There's different perceptions as to what the flag means. Yes we all know the Civil War was about the south wanting to maintain the slaves they had and the north saying no you cannot have slaves. But the flag was about a way of life in the south, where men had valor, romance in their souls, women were respected and treated with dignity, life was laid back but filled with nobility. Yes that only included white people, who were the majority of inhabitants back in those days.

As I said elsewhere people during the times before the Civil War did not recognize that black people had intellect and were capable of anything more than physical farm work or household domestic tasks. That was what they knew and believed at the time. They did not set out to hurt anyone, some of the plantation owners were mentors to their slaves, they were not ALL treated badly.

To me, the flag means those people did not accept tyranny, going back to when they freed themselves from the taxation of England. You really have to look at what people believed about black people during that time. To judge them from today's standards is not entirely accurate, they did not have the knowledge that you have today.

The majority of Europeans during Christopher Columbus's time truly believed the world was flat. You can look at that now and say well they were idiots, but their decisions were based on what was known at that time. Same thing with slavery. It wasn't like they knew blacks could be like anyone else and they just chose to hold them back and keep them ignorant. They did not know they could learn and advance.

Nobody here seems to understand this. Tom Petty saying that they never gave any thought to how black people felt about the flag or what it meant to them is accurate. We can be sensitive to how blacks feel about slavery, but I don't think the heritage of the culture of the south should be discarded.

Does the flag belong at statehouses today? Probably not, should the flag be outlawed in entirety? No. People have a right to their heritage on a personal level.

Gina, you will soon learn that because of your views that the Confederate flag is anything other than a symbol of hatred and racism, to most people around here you are now a racist, homophobic, hate mongering, putrid, redneck scum. Welcome to the club and I happen to think what you wrote was beautifully expressed.

Now to Tom Petty, a fine musician and one of my favorites, he is entitled to his opinion, but unfortunately for him to deny that he knew anything about the flag in lieu of his well crafted songs expressing very accurate and true sentiments of many southerners toward the yankee scum who have poured down here and infested the south with their rudeness and lack of refinement, belies how quickly he will sell out his southern heritage in order to salvage his record sales among the filthy carpetbagger types who poulate these pages. In other words, he demonstrates real character weakness when it comes to standing on principal.

[Edited on 7/19/2015 by wearly89]

While I like and agree with what Petty said, history likely will not be kind to this thread.

There's different perceptions as to what the flag means. Yes we all know the Civil War was about the south wanting to maintain the slaves they had and the north saying no you cannot have slaves. But the flag was about a way of life in the south, where men had valor, romance in their souls, women were respected and treated with dignity, life was laid back but filled with nobility. Yes that only included white people, who were the majority of inhabitants back in those days.

As I said elsewhere people during the times before the Civil War did not recognize that black people had intellect and were capable of anything more than physical farm work or household domestic tasks. That was what they knew and believed at the time. They did not set out to hurt anyone, some of the plantation owners were mentors to their slaves, they were not ALL treated badly.

To me, the flag means those people did not accept tyranny, going back to when they freed themselves from the taxation of England. You really have to look at what people believed about black people during that time. To judge them from today's standards is not entirely accurate, they did not have the knowledge that you have today.

The majority of Europeans during Christopher Columbus's time truly believed the world was flat. You can look at that now and say well they were idiots, but their decisions were based on what was known at that time. Same thing with slavery. It wasn't like they knew blacks could be like anyone else and they just chose to hold them back and keep them ignorant. They did not know they could learn and advance.

Nobody here seems to understand this. Tom Petty saying that they never gave any thought to how black people felt about the flag or what it meant to them is accurate. We can be sensitive to how blacks feel about slavery, but I don't think the heritage of the culture of the south should be discarded.

Does the flag belong at statehouses today? Probably not, should the flag be outlawed in entirety? No. People have a right to their heritage on a personal level.

Gina, you will soon learn that because of your views that the Confederate flag is anything other than a symbol of hatred and racism, to most people around here you are now a racist, homophobic, hate mongering, putrid, redneck scum. Welcome to the club and I happen to think what you wrote was beautifully expressed.

Now to Tom Petty, a fine musician and one of my favorites, he is entitled to his opinion, but unfortunately for him to deny that he knew anything about the flag in lieu of his well crafted songs expressing very accurate and true sentiments of many southerners toward the yankee scum who have poured down here and infested the south with their rudeness and lack of refinement, belies how quickly he will sell out his southern heritage in order to salvage his record sales among the filthy carpetbagger types who poulate these pages. In other words, he demonstrates real character weakness when it comes to standing on principal.

[Edited on 7/19/2015 by wearly89]

You know your inflammatory comments towards us northerners will not be tolerated sir. You had better temper your rhetoric lest you incite another Civil War...... 😛

[Edited on 7/19/2015 by Bill_Graham]

While I like and agree with what Petty said, history likely will not be kind to this thread.

Good point me.

While I like and agree with what Petty said, history likely will not be kind to this thread.

There's different perceptions as to what the flag means. Yes we all know the Civil War was about the south wanting to maintain the slaves they had and the north saying no you cannot have slaves. But the flag was about a way of life in the south, where men had valor, romance in their souls, women were respected and treated with dignity, life was laid back but filled with nobility. Yes that only included white people, who were the majority of inhabitants back in those days.

As I said elsewhere people during the times before the Civil War did not recognize that black people had intellect and were capable of anything more than physical farm work or household domestic tasks. That was what they knew and believed at the time. They did not set out to hurt anyone, some of the plantation owners were mentors to their slaves, they were not ALL treated badly.

To me, the flag means those people did not accept tyranny, going back to when they freed themselves from the taxation of England. You really have to look at what people believed about black people during that time. To judge them from today's standards is not entirely accurate, they did not have the knowledge that you have today.

The majority of Europeans during Christopher Columbus's time truly believed the world was flat. You can look at that now and say well they were idiots, but their decisions were based on what was known at that time. Same thing with slavery. It wasn't like they knew blacks could be like anyone else and they just chose to hold them back and keep them ignorant. They did not know they could learn and advance.

Nobody here seems to understand this. Tom Petty saying that they never gave any thought to how black people felt about the flag or what it meant to them is accurate. We can be sensitive to how blacks feel about slavery, but I don't think the heritage of the culture of the south should be discarded.

Does the flag belong at statehouses today? Probably not, should the flag be outlawed in entirety? No. People have a right to their heritage on a personal level.

Gina, you will soon learn that because of your views that the Confederate flag is anything other than a symbol of hatred and racism, to most people around here you are now a racist, homophobic, hate mongering, putrid, redneck scum. Welcome to the club and I happen to think what you wrote was beautifully expressed.

Now to Tom Petty, a fine musician and one of my favorites, he is entitled to his opinion, but unfortunately for him to deny that he knew anything about the flag in lieu of his well crafted songs expressing very accurate and true sentiments of many southerners toward the yankee scum who have poured down here and infested the south with their rudeness and lack of refinement, belies how quickly he will sell out his southern heritage in order to salvage his record sales among the filthy carpetbagger types who poulate these pages. In other words, he demonstrates real character weakness when it comes to standing on principal.

[Edited on 7/19/2015 by wearly89]

Don't worry about defending Gina. I doubt her post will cause anyone on this site to change their opinion about her and her view of the world.

While I like and agree with what Petty said, history likely will not be kind to this thread.

There's different perceptions as to what the flag means. Yes we all know the Civil War was about the south wanting to maintain the slaves they had and the north saying no you cannot have slaves. But the flag was about a way of life in the south, where men had valor, romance in their souls, women were respected and treated with dignity, life was laid back but filled with nobility. Yes that only included white people, who were the majority of inhabitants back in those days.

As I said elsewhere people during the times before the Civil War did not recognize that black people had intellect and were capable of anything more than physical farm work or household domestic tasks. That was what they knew and believed at the time. They did not set out to hurt anyone, some of the plantation owners were mentors to their slaves, they were not ALL treated badly.

To me, the flag means those people did not accept tyranny, going back to when they freed themselves from the taxation of England. You really have to look at what people believed about black people during that time. To judge them from today's standards is not entirely accurate, they did not have the knowledge that you have today.

The majority of Europeans during Christopher Columbus's time truly believed the world was flat. You can look at that now and say well they were idiots, but their decisions were based on what was known at that time. Same thing with slavery. It wasn't like they knew blacks could be like anyone else and they just chose to hold them back and keep them ignorant. They did not know they could learn and advance.

Nobody here seems to understand this. Tom Petty saying that they never gave any thought to how black people felt about the flag or what it meant to them is accurate. We can be sensitive to how blacks feel about slavery, but I don't think the heritage of the culture of the south should be discarded.

Does the flag belong at statehouses today? Probably not, should the flag be outlawed in entirety? No. People have a right to their heritage on a personal level.

Gina, you will soon learn that because of your views that the Confederate flag is anything other than a symbol of hatred and racism, to most people around here you are now a racist, homophobic, hate mongering, putrid, redneck scum. Welcome to the club and I happen to think what you wrote was beautifully expressed.

Now to Tom Petty, a fine musician and one of my favorites, he is entitled to his opinion, but unfortunately for him to deny that he knew anything about the flag in lieu of his well crafted songs expressing very accurate and true sentiments of many southerners toward the yankee scum who have poured down here and infested the south with their rudeness and lack of refinement, belies how quickly he will sell out his southern heritage in order to salvage his record sales among the filthy carpetbagger types who poulate these pages. In other words, he demonstrates real character weakness when it comes to standing on principal.

[Edited on 7/19/2015 by wearly89]

I dedicate the song Gator Country to Petty.

I dedicate the song Gator Country to Petty.

Considering Molly Hatchets song has absolutely nothing to do with the Confederate Flag and is basically a love song about the state of Florida I am not sure what your dedication has to do with this topic.

Gator Country Lyrics

"Gator Country" was written by J C Calderon.
Play Music

I've been to Alabama, people ain't a whole lot to see
Skynyrd says it's a real sweet home but it ain't nothing to me
Charlie Daniels will tell you the good lord lives in Tennessee, ha
But I'm going back to gator country where the wine and the women are free

There's a gator in the bushes, he's calling my name
And a saying come on boy, you better make it back home again
There's many roads I've traveled but they all kind of look the same
There's a gator in the bushes, lord, he calling my name

Old Richard Betts will tell ya lord he was born a ramblin' man
Well he can ramble back to Georgia but I won't give a damn
Elvin Bishop out struttin his stuff with little miss slick titty boom
But I'm going back to gator country to get me some elbow room

There's a gator in the bushes he's calling my name
And saying come on boy, you better make it back home again
There's many roads I've traveled but they all kinda look the same
There's a gator in the bushes, lord, he calling my name. yep

There's Marshall Tucker riding a rainbow searching for a pot of gold
Well they can take the highway, baby, and they can take all they can hold
The outlaws down in Tampa town it's a mighty fine place to be
They got green grass and got high tides and sure looks good to me

There's a gator in the bushes, he's calling my name
Saying come on boy, you better make it back home again
There's so many roads I've traveled but they all kinda look the same
There's a gator in the bushes , lord, he's calling my name

Oh gator country
A little bit of that chomp chomp

Songwriters
J C Calderon

Read more: Molly Hatchet - Gator Country Lyrics | MetroLyrics

[Edited on 7/19/2015 by Bill_Graham]

So does this mean this song won't get any air play or be played live by anyone anymore?
Written by a Canadian and sung by a southerner.

"Helm writes "Robbie and I worked on 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down' up in Woodstock. I remember taking him to the library so he could research the history and geography of the era and make General Robert E. Lee come out with all due respect."

"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"

Virgil Kane is the name
And I served on the Danville train
'Till Stoneman's cavalry came
And tore up the tracks again

In the winter of '65
We were hungry, just barely alive
By May the 10th, Richmond had fell
It's a time I remember, oh so well

The night they drove old Dixie down
And the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the people were singing
They went, "Na, na, la, na, na, la"

Back with my wife in Tennessee
When one day she called to me
"Virgil, quick, come see,
There goes Robert E. Lee!"

Now, I don't mind chopping wood
And I don't care if the money's no good
You take what you need
And you leave the rest
But they should never
Have taken the very best

The night they drove old Dixie down
And the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And all the people were singing
They went, "Na, na, la, na, na, la"

Like my father before me
I will work the land
And like my brother above me
Who took a rebel stand

He was just 18, proud and brave
But a Yankee laid him in his grave
I swear by the mud below my feet
You can't raise a Kane back up
When he's in defeat

The night they drove old Dixie down
And the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And all the people were singing
They went, "Na, na, la, na, na, la"

The night they drove old Dixie down
And all the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the people were singing
They went, "Na, na, la, na, na, la"

Who is JC Calderon?