southernfriedmagazine.com - CHARLIE DANIELS ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LYNYRD SKYNYRD PLANE CRASH

Ed. - We are honored that the incomparable Charlie Daniels has written his thoughts on the 30th anniversary of the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash here for Southern Fried Magazine.

Lynyrd Skynyrd
I was in St. Louis with a sold out house about thirty minutes
from going on stage when somebody told me about the
plane crashing.
I didn’t know whether to believe it or not and I asked a dj
friend of mine to check it out and I had the band come into
the dressing room where we had a moment of silent prayer.
When we went down to go on stage for the show, just before
we walked on stage, I found out that the rumor was true and
that there had been some fatalities but they weren’t
releasing the names.
Which meant we went on stage, knowing that some of our
friends had been killed but we didn’t have any idea which
ones of them.
I don’t know how long we played that night but I do know that
we took comfort in the only thing we had, the music.
It was early the next morning before we found out who had
been killed and Ronnie was among them.
My closure came in the form of a few lines I wrote in a hotel
room in Phoenix.
A brief candle both ends burning
A weary mile a bus wheel turning
A friend to share the lonely times
A handshake and a sip of wine
So say it proud and let it ring
That we’re all part of everything
The present, future and the past
Fly on proud bird you’re free at last

Charlie Daniels