By all accounts, the famous lyrical war of words between Neil Young and Lynyrd Skynyrd was more like a spirited debate between respectful friends than an actual feud.

Young's songs 'Alabama' and 'Southern Man' took aim at the South's checkered race relations past, with references to slave ownership and cross burning. Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant seemingly felt Young was painting too many good people with the same old, bad brush, and responded with the now famous "don't need him around anyhow" line in 1974's 'Sweet Home Alabama.' However, both repeatedly declared their respect for the other, and Young even played 'Alabama' in concert at least once.

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