"Free Bird"

"Free Bird" was first recorded in 1972 but Allen Collins, Lynyrd Skyntrd's guitarist, worked on it on and off for the previous two years. The song was later dedicated to Duane Allman after his death in a motorcycle accident. The speaker of the song explains to a girl that he cannot settle down and he must leave. Through his explanation, The speaker conveys the idea that one must surrender freedom in order to make a commitment. He does this by continually referring to himself as a bird. He says, "and this bird you cannot change. And this bird you cannot change," meaning that he is and always will be a bird ready to take flight, unable to make a commitment. He also says, "baby, it's been a sweet love, yeah, Though this feeling I can't change". The speaker clearly has feelings for the girl he plans to leave, but his true, free, birdlike, nature causes him to leave her. Although the speaker cannot change his nature, the line, "Lord, help me, I can't change," seems to suggest that he would like to, allowing him to stay with the girl whom he refers to.