There was this youg pastor at our local church last year doing a year's placement from Texas.

As he was a guitarist without a car, my friends and I used to take him round to the local folk clubs round Nottingham - England that is.

Anyway at one of the local joints there was this floorsinger who never felt the night was quite complete without his rendition of Neil Young's Southern Man.

I'm not the most sensitive of guys (as many here will attest) but after about six months I said to the young clergyman - don't you find that song offensive? You're a Southern Man, and you don't hit people with bullwhips, or lynch anybody...Its a bit like someone keep singing at me, you stupid fenian Bastard. I probably would react, if I were you....

The young guy smiled and said, there was no offence intended - not here tonight. And anyway have you not heard the rebuttal of Neil Young in the first verse of Sweet Home Alabama?

I've got to admit I hadn't heard the rebuttal - still haven't. Could any American friends clarify what he was talking about?