relationship, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant declares his wanderlust with, “Cause I’m as free as a bird now.” However, the song may reveal more than he realized. The lyrics end with a repeated refrain which admits, And this bird you can not change. Lord knows, I can’t change. Lord help me, I can’t change. Some freedom: he is free to do anything except be different. This highlights how humanity has radically lost the freedom of integrity. In this way, the lost really should not be described as “free.”