http://www.rockhall.com/
One of my all time favorite bands, Lynyrd Skynyrd*, will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2006. This is a long overdue honor. Skynyrd set the gold standard not only for southern rock but for rock in general. Two of my least favorite Skynyrd songs are probably the two everyone knows: Sweet Home Alabama & Free Bird (if I leave here tomorrow...). I've always been partial to their lesser known songs and especially the Gimme Back My Bullets album.
While it's widely acknowledged that Gary Rossington & Allen Collins were great guitarists, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant never got a whole lot of attention as a songwriter, yet it was the lyrics that hooked me. Skynyrd's reputation was that of hard-drinking, hard partying wild Southern boys, but alot of their songs were about such weighty topics as gun control (Saturday Night Special), the enviroment (All I Can Do Is Write About It), anti-drug (Needle & The Spoon, That Smell) -- not your typical "redneck" fare. I liked that the songs had a message but not delievered in a preachy way.
I'm glad to see that the Rock Hall is finally acknowledging their contributions.
Simple Man
(gary rossington - ronnie vanzant)
Mama told me when I was young
Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say.
And if you do this
It will help you some sunny day.
Take your time... don’t live too fast,
Troubles will come and they will pass.
Go find a woman and you’ll find love,
And don’t forget son,
There is someone up above.
(chorus)
And be a simple kind of man.
Be something you love and understand.
Be a simple kind of man.
Won’t you do this for me son,
If you can?
Forget your lust for the rich man’s gold
All that you need is in your soul,
And you can do this if you try.
All that I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.
(chorus)
Boy, don’t you worry... you’ll find yourself.
Follow you heart and nothing else.
And you can do this if you try.
All I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.
* I am totally referring to the original Lynyrd Skynyrd, not the re-incarnated version.
