Play It All Night Long – Warren Zevon

Warren Zevon, one of my all time favorites, discussed before briefly during my live music week a while back on the blog.

“Play It All Night Long‘s” satirical nature is probably what is so attractive about the song, opening with the bold statement –

Grandpa pissed his pants again
He don’t give a damn

The chorus is infectious

“Sweet home Alabama”
Play that dead band’s song
Turn those speakers up full blast
Play it all night long

I see a lot of people on the internet viewing this as a slight towards Skynyrd. I disagree; I view it more as an homage or, at the very least, an acknowledgment of one of the great songs of the South. If it’s being critical of anything, it’s a slight towards the tradition of radio stations overplaying the hell out of so many great songs, to the point of annoyance. It also seems a good many people view this song as some deep and thought-out anti-Southern metaphor. Warren himself stated that he wrote the song “really fast” while he was high, and I think his intention was humor above anything else. It frustrates me sometimes when critics look too hard into things. It’s a great, fun song. If it’s viewed as a satirical look at the South, so be it, but I don’t think the intention was some grandiose criticism that so many on the internet want it to be.

Also linking a great cover by the Truckers, love Shonna’s backing vocals.

Audio – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W07dFdGadE

Live – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIEh65pxqqQ

DBT cover – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PZuuExyKxs