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Rock in uniform? Impossible. Indeed, because while in the rest of the world it was considered a genre synonymous with freedom and unrestrained rebellion, in the southern States it was a tool of reactionary incitement. Tracing back to the gray Confederate uniforms of the Confederate States, the home of country rock. I was incredulous and almost fascinated by the idea that the long-haired and drunken escapades that I proudly display as a damnation could have any connection with the order of right thinking. Enticed by the idea of being offered a chance for redemption without even having to recite mea culpa, I began collecting Lynyrd's discography. Let's say that until the plane crash that cut short the life of Van Zant, their works are all worth buying. However, we can only reasonably affirm this a posteriori. In the intentions of its authors, “Gimme Back...” (1976) was supposed to repeat the success of the previous albums. Which it did not, despite the undeniable stature of these notes. The temptation to repeat themselves once a cliché was created must have been too strong.
For those who do not know them, it is even obvious to ask what did Lynyrd really offer that was memorable apart from "Sweet Home...". The answer is that back then, it was possible to invent even just by skirting the blues. Not like today. You go to hear a jazz concert, and they deliver the perfect execution of an improvisation as if it were their original creation. This Southern rock at least does not pretend to be something it is not. "Got The Same Old Blues" and "Double Trouble" even before being rock pieces, are "lessons of feeling", centered on blistering guitar arrangements. All tracks are heavily influenced by the country from which the band seems incapable of departing. In the ballads, which in truth are not quite up to the pearls of previous albums ("Every Mother's Son" resembles a lot a replay of "Simple Man"). In the roaring verses of the title track, where all the pride of a raceless people is recited, raising its raw stereotypes to an element of common aggregation. But where the pieces truly take flight is during the solos, where the guitars prove to have wings as well as claws. Finally, the overwhelming chords of “Searchin’,” a piece very much like “Creedence Clearwater...,” must be mentioned.
I recently happened to read the story of the episode from which the band's name originates. About this Leonard Skinner, a teacher at an American high school in the sixties who persecuted his students because of their unlikely hairstyles. For people like Lynyrd, there was never a chance to redeem themselves without betraying who they are. Every uniform, even that of the gray Southerner, carries the color of a different moral order; just wipe off the dust. The same "long live the South," but rock is for deserters only.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Every Mother's Son (04:57)
(Allen Collins -- Ronnie VanZant)
Well I've been ridin' a winning horse for a long, long time
Sometimes I wonder is this the end of the line
No one should take advantage of who they are
No man has got it made
If he thinks he does, he's wrong
(chorus)
Every mother's son better hear what I say
Every mother's son will rise and fall someday
I've seen it happen so many times, so many times before
Some man got so much money he doesn't worry no more
Or he's got such a pretty woman that'll treat him fine
Well my friend has been a fool
It happens everytime
(chorus)
I'm not tryin' to preach to no one, to no one at all
I've seen so many of my good friends just rise to fall
'Cause they got so much money or a woman so fine
Well my friends have all been fools, it happens every time
(chorus)
What I say
(chorus)
What I say
Oh, every mother's son will rise and fall someday
03 Trust (04:25)
(Allen Collins -- Gary Rossington -- Ronnie VanZant)
I'd like to tell y'all a story
About a friend of mine
Who liked to drink good whiskey, oh Lord
And have a real good time
His woman, you know she left him
And stole that boy's brand new car
And ran out of town with a guitar picker
Said he gonna be a superstar
Sure you are
(Chorus)
You can't alway trust your woman
You can't always trust your best friend
Beware of the ones that you need y'all
'Cause those might be the ones that do you in
Don't talk no stuff to no slicker
Don't tell your feelings to your friend
Don't tell your woman that you love her, because
That's when your trouble begins
There are many ladies here among us
That'll stab you in the back when you ain't around
There are many, so many of your very best friends
That'll kick you in the head when you are down
Yes they will
(Chorus)
Don't you backtalk the police
'Cause its his job to put you in the jail
They'll lock you up, boy and throw away the key
And your best friend won't even go your bail
There are many slickers here among us
That are all dressed up in suits and ties
But don't you show your pain, Lord in front of them
'Cause if you do you kiss yourself goodbye, alright
(Chorus)
04 I Got the Same Old Blues (04:08)
Have you heard that rumor that's goin' around
My baby's got a man, Lord way across town
Its the same old story
Tell me where will it end
Yes I heard the news its the same old blues again
Well I wrote you a letter, must have read it wrong
Stood at the doorway and baby you was gone
Took a lot of courage
To let the telephone ring
I got the same old blues, same old blues again
Well you gave me the business, though I didn't mind
'Cause I got a lot of patience, Lord got a lot of time
Its the same old story
Tell me where will it end
I got the same old blues, same old blues again
Here come my blues
Gonna find me a mountain and gonna hide out
Ain't talkin' to you babe, Lord I ain't comin' back
Well I heard that rumor, tell where will it end
I got the same old blues, same old blues again
Have you heard that rumor that's goin' around
My baby's got a man, Lord way across town
Its the same old story
Tell me where will this end
Yes I heard the news its the same old blues again
I got the same old blues, same old blues again
I got the blues, same old blues
05 Double Trouble (02:50)
(Allen Collins -- Ronnie VanZant)
Eleven times I been busted, eleven times I been to jail
Some of the times I been there nobody could go my bail
Well it seems to me, Lord that this ol' boy just don't fit
Well I can jump in a rosebush and come out smelling like sh...
Those misters dressed in blue never done so right by me
Some of the times I was innocent but the judge said guilty
I'm not one to complain now son I tell you true
When the black cat cross your trail, Lord
It comes in misery times two
(Chorus)
Double trouble--that's what my friends all call me
(Double trouble)
I said, double trouble
T-R-O-U-B-L-E
Well I was born down in the gutter
With a temper as hot as fire
Spent ninety days on a peat farm just doin' the county's time
Well now, even mama said Son you're bad news
And it won't be too long before someone puts one through you
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
06 Roll Gypsy Roll (02:51)
(Allen Collins -- Gary Rossington -- Ronnie VanZant)
Ridin' on a greyhound, countin' those white lines
Destination I don't know and I'm feelin' like I'm dyin'
Well ten years on this road, my its took its toll
But the man with the plan says the band has got to go
I said roll gypsy roll
Lord just pick up your bags and go
Met many a woman on my way down the line
Every woman that I met I left satisfied
I made lots of money, just how much I don't know
But most of the money I done stuck up my nose
I said roll gypsy roll
Lord just pick up your bags and go
Gypsy's life's a story and its one that's never told
He's always hungry, he's always on the go
With no tomorrow, its how it seems to be
When you're moving around from town to town
Made lots of money just how much I don't know
But most of the money I done stuck up my nose
And maybe that's the reason I don't know where I'm going
I don't know
07 Searching (03:18)
I asked the wiseman one sunny day
Can you help me find my way
You're so much older and wiser too
Would you help me Mr. Wiseman
I'm feelin' blue
Oh I'm not satisfied
He said you're not doin too bad, not bad at all
You're just trying to walk son before you can crawl
You got stacks of money to sky up above
Now all you need is to find you a love
He sent me searchin' to find my love
He sent me searchin' to the Lord up above
He sent me searchin' just to find the mornin' dove
And she'll tell you where to find your love
Oh Mr. Wiseman I need to find my love
You can have anything in this God's world
But you won't be happy son 'til you find a girl
Now you can be happy boy if you try
Find a woman boy, you'll be satisfied
He sent me searchin' to find my love
He sent me searchin', I said Lord up above
He sent me searchin' just to find the mornin' dove
And she'll tell you where to find your love
He sent me searchin' to find my love
He sent me searchin', I said Lord up above
He sent me searchin' just to find the mornin' dove
And she'll tell you where to find your love
Oh Lord, he sent me searchin'
09 All I Can Do is Write About It (04:15)
Well this life that I live
has took me everywhere
There ain't no place I ain't never gone
Well it's kind of like the sayin
that you heard so many times
"Well there just ain't no place like home".
Did you ever see a She-Gator
protect her youngin?
Or fish in a river swimmin' free?
Did you ever see the beauty
of the hills of Carolina?
Or the sweetness
of the grass in Tennessee?
And Lord I can't make any changes
All I can do is write em in a song
Cuz when I can seen the concrete
a slowly creeping
Lord take me and mine before that comes
Do ya like to see a mountain stream a flowin?
Do ya like to see a youngin with his dog?
Did ya ever stop and think about
well, the air your breathing?
Well ya better listen to my song
And Lord I can't make any changes
All I can do is write em in a song
Cuz when I can see the concrete
a slowly creeping
Lord take me and mine before that comes
I'm not tryin to put down no big city
But the things they write about us is just a bore
You can take a boy out of ole' Dixieland
Lord, but you'll never take ole' Dixie from a boy
And Lord I can't make any changes
All I can do is write em in a song
Cuz when I can see the concrete
a slowly creeping
Lord take me and mine before that comes
Cuz I can see the concrete
a slowly creeping
Lord take me and mine before that comes...
RIP SAM I LOVE AND MISS YOU !!!!!!!
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