Mama told me when I was young
Lynyrd Skynyrd (lyrics by Ronnie Van Zant and Garry Rossington)
“Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say
And if you do this it’ll help you
Some sunny day”
Oh, yeah
Lynyrd Skynyrd, an American rock band, has left an indelible mark on music history. Formed in Jacksonville, Florida, the group initially went by various names, including “My Backyard,” “The Noble Five,” and “One Percent,” before finally settling on the iconic moniker “Lynyrd Skynyrd” in 1969.
The original lineup featured Ronnie Van Zant as the lead vocalist, Gary Rossington on guitar, Allen Collins also on guitar, Larry Junstrom handling bass guitar duties, and Bob Burns on drums. After years of touring under different names and enduring several lineup changes, the band released their debut album, (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd), in 1973.
This album marked the beginning of their meteoric rise to fame. With hits like “Sweet Home Alabama” and the epic ballad “Free Bird,” Lynyrd Skynyrd became synonymous with Southern rock.
Tragically, their journey was cut short when a plane crash in 1977 claimed the lives of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines, while leaving the rest of the band seriously injured. Despite this devastating setback, Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed in 1987 for a reunion tour, with Johnny Van Zant (Ronnie’s brother) taking over as lead vocalist.
TODAY’S MOTEVENTUROUS REACTION
Being a pretty big fan of both “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird”, it seemed like a natural choice to seek out a song by the group I hadn’t heard yet. “Simple Man” fit that order nicely. In doing a bit of research, I found that although it didn’t appear to be a single release, it nonetheless is the third most popular song by the group on Spotify. The version of the song I react to today is actually Johnny Van Zant on lead vocals.
TRENDING IN ’73
First, let’s take a look at the music that was making waves in August of 1973, when “Simple Man” was released as part of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s debut album. Here are the top 5 singles from the Billboard Hot 100 chart at the time in the U.S.
In summary, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s enduring legacy includes induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and sales of over 28 million records in the United States
“Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd is a classic rock anthem that has left a lasting impact on listeners. The song imparts wisdom from a mother to her young son, emphasizing living honestly, with love and care. It became a tribute to the band’s late lead vocalist, Ronnie Van Zant, and remains one of their most beloved tracks. The heartfelt lyrics encourage taking life at a steady pace, valuing relationships, and remembering that there’s someone watching over us.
“Well that’s a great song and something that I think we all live by. I think anybody out there needs to respect their mother, and the words of their mother. It’s mama talking to you in that song and I think it’s probably one of my favorite’s if not my favorite to do live. It’s just a great song and that one stays in the set and the crowd always goes crazy on that one.”
Johnny Van Zant
Do you have a favorite song by Lynyrd Skynyrd? Feel free to share yours in the comments below!
Subscribe below to be notified when we post new content. You’ll receive an email asking to verify your request. Once that is done, you’re all set. Welcome to Moteventure!
Listen, Like & Tell Us What You Think
With that being said, let’s jump over to our YOUTUBE CHANNEL, check out our video, hit the bell icon and subscribe to our channel. Feel free to drop a comment or suggestion for our next reaction video (you can also comment here if that’s more convenient)!
CHECK OUT PAST BLOG ENTRIES BELOW FOR MORE GREAT ARTICLES AND INFORMATION:
MOTEVENTURE 