1 A stereotype is an oversimplified and fixed idea of what a particular group of people are like or do. 2  Stereotypes take into account characteristics, personality types, or behaviors. A stereotype is an oversimplified and fixed idea of what a particular group of people are like or do. 2  Stereotypes take into account characteristics, personality types, or behaviors.
When Allen first showed the song to Ronnie Van Zant, he scoffed at it, saying it had too many words.. Later Van Zant had an idea for a melody, asked Allen to play him the song again, and Free Bird was born.
Gene Odom, who was Lynyrd Skynyrd's security manager, explained in his book Lynyrd Skynyrd: Remembering The Free Birds Of Southern Rock, that this song came about when Allen Collins' wife asked him the question, If I leave here tomorrow would you still remember me..