Sweet Mama (Lay Your Burdens Down)

Album: Win, Lose Or Draw (1975)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was written by Billy Joe Shaver, a friend of Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts. Besides old blues songs, it's the only song the band recorded they did not write themselves.
  • This was a difficult time for the Allman Brothers. After the deaths of Duane Allman and Berry Oakley, it was tough to keep the band together, especially after Gregg Allman married Cher. They put this album together when they were doing a series of fundraiser concerts for Jimmy Carter, who went on to win the election and become president of the United States. Like the band, Carter is from Georgia.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

16 Songs With a Heartbeat

16 Songs With a HeartbeatSong Writing

We've heard of artists putting their hearts into their music, but some take it literally.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Judas Priest

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.

Butch Vig

Butch VigSongwriter Interviews

The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.