"Sweet Southern Comfort" is a song written by

Rodney Clawson Rodney Dale Clawson (born in Gruver, Texas, United States) is an American country music songwriter. Clawson has written singles recorded by Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Faith Hill, George Strait and Luke Bryan, among others. Biography Cla ...

and Brad Crisler, and recorded by American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

artist Buddy Jewell. It was released in October 2003 as the second single from his album '' Buddy Jewell''. It peaked at No. 3 on the United States Hot Country Singles & Tracks in 2004, as did his previous single " Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey's Song)" in 2003. It also peaked at No. 40 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

Content

The song tells of a small town man comparing small towns in the Southern U.S. to his hometown. Although his town is never mentioned it is implied that it is also in the Southern U.S. It mentions many Southern U.S. states such as "Carolina",

Mississippi Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...

Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

, and

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

Music video

The music video was directed by Eric Welch. It was released November 8, 2003. Filmed entirely in sepia tone, it begins and ends with Jewell on the phone with presumably his wife, telling her that he misses her while on the road and can't wait to come home. As the song plays, Jewell is seen performing outside a barn, while various depictions of a simpler time in the Southern US are shown. It was filmed in San Antonio, TX (which is one of the places mentioned in the song).

Chart positions

"Sweet Southern Comfort" debuted at number 47 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of November 1, 2003.

Year-end charts

Arkansas version

Jewell released a remix version with changed lyrics in the third chorus adding “Woo Pig Sooie sure gets to me. Go Hogs Go!” in reference to the Arkansas Razorbacks. The lyrics replaced “Sleepy sweet home Alabama, Roll Tide Roll” which still remains in the first chorus of the released “Arkansas Version”.

20th anniversary version

In 2023, Jewell released a remix version which featured guest vocals from

Clint Black Clint Patrick Black (born February 4, 1962) is an American country music singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and record producer. Signed to RCA Nashville in 1989, Black's debut album '' Killin' Time'' produced four straight number one singles ...

The Bellamy Brothers The Bellamy Brothers are an American pop and country music duo from Darby, Florida. The duo consists of brothers David Milton Bellamy (born September 16, 1950) and Homer Howard Bellamy (born February 2, 1946). The duo had considerable musical s ...

, and

Marty Raybon Marlon "Marty" Raybon (born December 8, 1959) is an American country music artist. He is known primarily for his role as the lead singer of the country band Shenandoah, a role which he held from 1985 to 1997, until he rejoined the band in 2014 ...

for the song's 20th anniversary.

References

{{Buddy Jewell 2003 singles Buddy Jewell songs Clint Black songs The Bellamy Brothers songs Marty Raybon songs Vocal collaborations Songs about the American South Songs written by Rodney Clawson Songs written by Brad Crisler Song recordings produced by Clint Black Columbia Records singles 2003 songs