Alabama by Ira and Charles Louvin "This is our life story. Crimson red clover is the most famous thing you'll see in Alabama — hundreds of acres of it at the right time of year. They use it as a cover crop to make the land better. Cericea is a cover crop, too, a form of hay. It's a crop you would cut like soybeans or lespedeza three times a year, and it's used to feed the cows and horses. We had a sorghum mill practically all our lives. We didn't just make our own, we made it for other people and took a toll. The song talk about the 'possums and dogs barking, the highways and the loved ones waiting. It's sort of a life story of ours. They made it the Alabama state song under Governor John Paterson in 1966, right after Ira died." —Charles Louvin Alabama Alabama your beautiful sunlight Your fields of cerecea potatoes and corn Alabama your crimson red clover All mingled around the old place I was born. Alabama your hills and your valleys Your creeks with laughter as onward they flow Alabama so sweet in the springtime Sweet ferns and wild flowers and winter with snow. Alabama so sweet to my mem'ry You shine like a light on a beautiful hill Alabama in days of my childhood I labored and toiled at the old sorghum mill Alabama when red leaves are failing I roam through your pastures with fences of rail Alabama when 'possums are crawling And hound dogs are howling and wagging their tails. Alabama your beautiful highways All curved through the mountains where love ones do wait Alabama your golden rod flower; And the "Welcome home' sign hanging over the gate Alabama to me you are callin' My footsteps are haltered no longer to stray Alabama you hold all I long for You hold all I love so I'm coming today.