Henry Paul of "The Outlaws" and "Blackhawk" fame has become a friend and mentor of sorts to me over the past few years. This song was written by he and The Outlaws' lead guitarist, Billy Crain. When Henry played it for me with just an acoustic guitar and his legendary voice, the story spoke to me and I knew it belonged on my new album. Henry was gratious enough to allow me to record it and to, as he put it, "make it my own". Thank you Hank ... "I'm proud to be a part of something" you helped me create!
I’m proud to be a part of something that started long ago
A southern band of brothers bound together by the road
We came from Georgia, Florida, Carolina, and Tennessee
With old guitars, tattoos and scars strait from the heart of Dixie
And our Rebel Pride
-- Chorus --
It’s about pride … it’s about who we are
It’s-knowing where we’ve been and how we’ve come so far
From the colors that we fly … down to all the reasons why
They can’t take away who-we-know we are inside
Cause it’s about pride
The walls of the Fillmore East … still echo with the sound
Midnight Rider memories … forever haunt this town
From “Fire on the Mountain” … to the voice of “Can’t You See?”
The reason “Sweet Home Alabama” … means so much to me
-- Chorus & Tag --
Cause it’s about pride … it’s about who we are
-- Instrumental Break --
Like a faded southern uniform … our hair has turned to grey
And we played for all our heroes … that we lost along the way
But the spirit of the faithful … never let the music die
There’s a brand new generation … to-carry-on our battle cry
And our Rebel pride
-- Chorus & Tag --
Ohh … and if you wonder why the Rebel flag still flies