These words were inspired by a real experience of Skynyrd guitarist and songwriter Allen Collins. He expresses that he does not want to hurt her, but there are too many things he wants to do before committing to a relationship. The lyrics tell the story of a man leaving a woman because he cannot bring himself to settle down with her. While the band occasionally dedicated the song to Allman during performances, “Free Bird” was actually written years before his death. The guitar riffs at the end are reminiscent of Allman’s, causing people to believe it was about him. When “Free Bird” was released, some fans speculated that it was a tribute to Duane Allman, the Allman Brothers Band guitarist who passed away in 1971.
