'Waltz Over Alabama': Auburn native Ernie Rowell’s song, video about his home state

The state of Alabama, its people and places, have been the theme of songs over the past century.

Stars Fell on Alabama
Sweet Home Alabama
My Home’s in Alabama
Alabama Jubilee
O Susanna (I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee)
Yea Alabama
Alabama (We will Aye Be True to Thee)
University of Alabama alma mater
Too many others to list.

Now, we can add another Alabama song to the list. “Waltz Over Alabama” was written and recorded by long-time singer/songwriter Ernie Rowell. He produced a video to introduce the song and his purpose in penning it:

Born and raised in Auburn, he pays tribute to what makes Alabama special — from “the mountains northeast to the south Gulf Coast beach” — and the many artists who’ve contributed so much to America’s music culture.

Ernie Rowell earned a B.S. from Auburn University and after graduation, moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music. His songs have been recorded by artists Kenny Rogers, George Jones, Mel Tillis, Ricky van Shelton and Gene Watson. He worked as bass player/front man for country superstars George Jones, Ray Price and Mel Tillis before concentrating on songwriting and music publishing in his most recent chapter.

Waltz Over Alabama touches many parts and people of the state:

I love to smell the Camelia blossoms
And see cotton fields white as snow
Where mem'ries are made that won't be forgotten
In the land where the long leaf pines grow
Now we've waltzed in Kentucky and through Tennessee
But, just take my hand, there's much more to see

As we waltz over Alabama
From the mountains northeast
To the south gulf coast beach
Hear the War Eagle cries
And the sounds of Roll Tide
With the song of the yellowhammer
As we waltz over Alabama

Everyone loves Hank William's music
And the Commodores sure made their mark
Up in Muscle Shoals the Swampers made magic
Backing up all of those stars
Jeanne Pruett, Vern Gosdin, Freddie Hart, Sonny James
And who can forget the boys from Ft. Payne

As we waltz over Alabama
From the mountains northeast
To the south gulf coast beach
Hear the War Eagle cries
And the sounds of Roll Tide
Willie Mays and Hank The Hammer
Born and raised in Alabama

The Louvin's, the Delmore's, Toni Tenille and Emmylou
The great Dinah Washington was queen of the blues
Jimmy Buffet, Lionel Richie, and the smooth Nat King Cole
Clarence Carter, Wilson Picket, and Percy Sledge
Sure laid down some soul

As we waltz over Alabama
From the mountains northeast
To the south gulf coast beach
Hear the War Eagle cries
And the sounds of Roll Tide
With the song of the yellowhammer
As we waltz over Ala
— Waltz over Alabama

Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com .

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