Van Zant Album

Written by Bobby Pinson and Billy Joe Walker

That Friday night seemed just like any other Friday night,
Jimmy wasn't gonna play.
Sittin' on the bench chompin' at the bit, knowin' he was better.
Five, six, goin' on 6a.
A man went down, Jimmy went in:
Third an' long, first an' ten.
Crowd went wild: "Touchdown."
Jimmy said: "I came to win."

If you're gonna go, go all the way.
If you're gonna stay, stay in your ground.
If you can't run with the big dogs, big dog,
Let me walk you out.
If you can't lead, let me buy you.
If you won't follow, get out the way:
You're takin' up space.

Shelly had her Daddy's money waitin',
All she had to do was share his chair.
She had a dream that he didn't wanna chase her.
She was a night-school millionaire.
She worked two jobs to pay her way:
Stayed up late to make the grade.
Graduated, super-cool hearted.
PhD the hard way.

If you're gonna go, go all the way.
If you're gonna stay, stay in your ground.
If you can't run with the big dogs, big dog,
Let me walk you out.
If you can't lead, let me buy you.
If you won't follow, get out the way:
You're takin' up space.

Instrumental Break.

Life's too short to live in caution.
Life's too long not to live it all.

Oh, if you're gonna go, go all the way.
If you're gonna stay, stay in your ground.
If you can't run with the big dogs, big dog,
Let me walk you out.
If you can't lead, let me buy you.
If you won't follow, get out the way:
You're takin' up space.
Oh, you're takin' up space.

Written by Tony Mullins, Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman

Shoulda seen the look on the face of the boss of the second shift,
When I threw my hard hat at him,
An' suggested the box where he could stick it.
I walked downstairs an told 'em I was leavin' Bethlehem,
Like I'd seen the Saviour, had tears in my eyes,
Holdin' my hands up an' shoutin': "Amen."

'Cause there ain't nobody gonna tell me what to do.
I spent most of my life a-wrapped up tight,
In somebody else's hand-me-down old shoes.
Startin' today, I'm someone I'd be proud to know:
You might tell me where to go,
But there ain't nobody gonna tell me what to do.

We buried Daddy just like week at the church to save his soul.
Man, he dreamed of pilot's wings:
Spent his whole life diggin' coal.
I got a guitar under my bed, but I've been too scared to fly.
But that's enough of that stuff, I'm packin' up my truck:
They can just kiss my butt goodbye.

'Cause there ain't nobody gonna tell me what to do.
I spent most of my life a-wrapped up tight,
In somebody else's hand-me-down old shoes.
Startin' today, I'm someone I'd be proud to know:
You might tell me where to go,
But there ain't nobody gonna tell me what to do.

Instrumental Break.

'Cause there ain't nobody gonna tell me what to do.
(Ain't nobody gonna tell me what to do.)
I spent most of my life wrapped up tight,
In somebody else's hand-me-down old shoes.
Startin' today, I'm someone I'd be proud to know:
You might tell me where to go,
But there ain't nobody gonna tell me what to do.

Written by Tom Hambridge, Bob Johnson and Donnie Van Zant

I was raised on the west side shanty town.
I didn't get up till the sun went down.
When your back's against the wall, you better get tough,
An' learn real quick how to swing an' duck.'

I was born in the suite all for the sunshine,
Good lookin' women, back woods an' moonshine.
Learned more about life on the streets than in the school.
Sweet Mama didn't raise no fool,.
That's right.

Some folks cheat 'n some folks lie,
But I can judge a man by the look in his eye.
Don't hand me jack, try to call it cool.
I know the difference 'tween sh*t an' shiner.

I was born in the suite all for the sunshine,
Good lookin' women, back woods an' moonshine.
Learned more about life on the streets than in the school.
Sweet Mama didn't raise no fool.

Instrumental Break.

Talkin' about Mama,
Oh sweet Mama.

Mama was no angel, but she taught me right from wrong.
She knew ev'ry single word, an' ev'ry note, and ev'ry song.
She taught me how to gamble and how to roll a dice.
"If it makes you feel good, do a darn thing twice."

I was born in the suite all for the sunshine,
Good lookin' women, back woods an' moonshine.
Learned more about life on the streets than in the school.
My sweet Mama didn't raise no fool.

I was born in the suite all for the sunshine,
Good lookin' women, back woods an' moonshine.
Learned more about life on the streets than in the school.
My sweet Mama didn't raise no fool.
Yeeow!

Talkin' about:
(My sweet Mama,)
(Mama didn't raise no fool.)
Na, na, na.
(Talkin' about my sweet Mama,
(Mama didn't raise no fool.)
That's my sweet Mama.
(Talkin' about my sweet Mama,
(Mama didn't raise no fool.)

Written by Kip Raines and Jeffrey Steele

Well, Grandaddy was a hillbilly scholar, blue collar of a man.
He came from the school where you didn't need nothin',
If you couldn't make it with your own two hands.
He was backwoods, backwards, used words like:
"No Sir," "Yes, Ma'am," "By God," "Be darned,"
"Hell yeah, I'm American."
And all the years he walked this earth,
I swear all he did was work.
He said: "The devil dreams on an idle horse,
"So you listen to me squirt.

"Don't get too high on a bottle,
"And get right with the Man.
"Fight your fights, find a grace,
"And all the things that you can change,
"And help somebody if you can."

Now Granny said: Sonny, stick to your guns,
"If you believe in something, no matter what,
"'Cause it's better to be hated for who you are,
"Than be loved for who you're not.
She was five feet of concrete
New York born an' raised on a slick city street.
She'd cold-stare you down, stand her ground,
Still kickin' and screamin' at 93.
I remember just how frail she looked in that hospital bed:
Takin' her last few breaths of life, smilin' as she said:

"Don't get too high on a bottle,
"Just a little sip ev'ry now and then.
"Fight your fights, find a grace,
"And all the things that you can change,
"And help somebody if you can.
"And get right with the Man.

Instrumental Break.
(C'mon now.)

"I never let a cowboy make the coffee."
Yeah, thats what Granny always said to my Grandad.
And he'd say: "Never tell a joke that ain't that funny more than once."
"And if you wanna hear God laugh, tell Him your plans.

"Don't get too high on a bottle,
"Get right with the Man, son.
"Fight your fights, find a grace,
"And all the things that you can change,
"And help somebody if you can.
"And get right with the Man."

Yeah.
(Get too high.)
(Help somebody if you can.)

Written by Tom Hambridge, Jeffrey Steele, Donnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant.

I swear I gave up drinkin';
Sometimes I have no choice,
After singin' hard, six nights straight,
A little sip sure helps my voice.
Don't get me wrong, I love these songs,
An' I know I've got it made.
Sometimes my mind starts driftin',
When I'm up here on the stage.

To that last half-mile of dirt road,
An' that oak tree on the hill.
To those dogs out, barkin' in the yard,
An' that tractor in the field.
An' them kids up on the front porch,
Screamin': "Mamma, Daddy's home!"
When I'm out here, I'm just thinkin',
About the things I miss the most.

Yeah, the hardest bthing I have to do,
Is hang up this telephone.
There's so much left to talk about,
An' I been gone so long.
So put them kids on one more time,
Before they go to sleep.
And, baby, no, no matter where I go,
All that I can see,

Is that last half-mile of dirt road,
An' that oak tree on the hill.
To those dogs out, barkin' in the yard,
An' that tractor in the field.
An' them kids up on the front porch,
Screamin': "Mamma, Daddy's home!"
When I'm out here, I'm just thinkin',
About the things I miss the most.

The things I miss the most.
The things I miss the most.
An' it's killin'me:
I hate to leave this family that you've given me,
God only knows, I hate to go,
So hold me close and let me let you know,
About the things I miss the most.

Instrumental Break.

People always ask me,
After every show,
"Of all the places that you've ever been,
"What's your favorite place to go?"

It's that last half-mile of dirt road,
An' that oak tree on the hill.
An' those dogs out, barkin' in the yard,
An' that ol' tractor in the field.
An' them kids up on the front porch,
Screamin': "Mamma, Daddy's home!"
When I'm out here, I'm just thinkin',
'Bout the things I miss the most.

While I'm out here, I'm just thinkin',
About the things I miss the most.

Written by Tom Hambridge, Jeffrey Steele, Donnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant

Mmmmm, Yeah.

I was a freckle-faced kid with a buck tooth grin.
I was cuttin' her grass when she asked me in.
Learned everything that I needed to learn,
When I was sixteen, know what I mean.
Whoo, ooh, ooh, grew up fast.
Fin'lly found somethin' I was really good at.
When it comes to love,
I know what I'm talkin' about.

I know my history, but good lovin' gets me.
It ain't no mystery, just kiss me: kiss me, baby.
I never learned my lesson: I'm pretty good at guessin'.
I been down that road a time or two or three:
I know my history.
Come a little closer, let me show you what it's all about.
Oh, I know my history, baby.

You can second guess me all night long,
Make yourself believe that it's all wrong.
Sooner or later, girl,
You're gonna see you can trust me.
Once again there, whoo, ooh, ooh, step into school:
Let me show you a thing or two:
When it comes to love,
I know what I'm talkin' about.

I know my history, but good lovin' gets me.
It ain't no mystery, just kiss me: kiss me, baby.
I never learned my lesson: I'm pretty good at guessin'.
I been down that road a time or two or three:
I know my history.

Don't worry 'bout tomorrow, come along girl.
Got his own road on a right cool world.
Take my hand, it's just you an' me.
Tonight's the night we're makin' history.

Instrumental Break.
(A little, little history.)
(Whoo, ooh, ooh.)

I know my history, yeah, good lovin' gets me.
It ain't no mystery, just kiss me: (Kiss me.)
Come a little closer, let me show you what it's all about.

Written by Tom Hambridge, Jeffrey Steele, Donnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant.

I been lost in the darkness for so long,
I can't see the life.
I been strung out, burned out, left out,
An' hung out to dry.
So I say to myself that I wanna get better:
Hidin' from the truth, I can't last forever.

Jesus, help me;
Obviously, I can't help myself:
I've got nobody else.
Send me an angel: someone to strangle,
That old demon that's hauntin' me there on the shelf.
I can't help myself.

An' my excuses are so old an' tired:
Hell, I forget 'em.
I keep fallin', an' crawlin', an' drownin'
Down here on the bottom.
Yeah, I've pushed back my brothers, said goodbye to my friends:
When you get in this deep, the hell never ends.

Jesus, help me;
Obviously, I can't help myself:
I've got nobody else.
Send me an angel: someone to strangle,
That old demon that's hauntin' me there on the shelf.
I can't help myself.

Gimme a reason to live an' show me a sign.
I'm on the edge goin' out of my mind.
I'm down on my knees: I'm beggin' you please,
Make me somebody else: I can't help myself.

Instrumental Break.
(No!)

I need something stronger:
Pour it all over me.

Send me an angel: someone to strangle,
That old demon:
'Cause you know that I never will.
I can't help myself.

Written by Rivers Rutherford, Donnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant.

Whoo!

I got a spot in the country.
I got a dog in the yard.
I got a beat-up Chevy:
Rust kinda rough but she starts.
I got my Grandaddy's shotgun:
I can shoot pretty good.
I got a nice little garden of weeds,
Tucked back up in the wood.

An' I'm doin all right, livin' my life:
You got yours an' I got mine.
Yeah, it may not look like much to you,
But it's simple an' it suits me fine.
Yeah, the sound of the rain an' a lonely old train:
Listen to that engine whine.
'Cause I am what I am an' I sleep good at night,
An' I'm doin' alright.

I got a front porch for pickin',
I got a National guitar.
I got some lightnin' for sippin':
I've had about a jar.
I got a pretty old lady,
She's good at stretchin' a dime.
In this little corner a-heaven mister,
We have a helluva time.

An' I'm doin all right, livin' my life:
You got yours an' I got mine.
Yeah, it may not look like much to you,
But it's simple an' it suits me fine.
Yeah, the sound of the rain an' a lonely old train:
Listen to that engine whine.
Yeah, I am what I am an' I don't give a damn,
An' I'm doin' alright.

Instrumental Break.

All the rats in the city,
Are livin' out of a box.
They look down their nose, at my life, I suppose,
An' I just laugh my country ass off.

Yeah, I'm doin all right, livin' my life:
You got yours an' I got mine.
Yeah, it may not look like much to you,
But it's simple an' it suits me fine.
Yeah, the sound of the rain an' a lonely old train:
Listen to that engine whine.
'Cause I am what I am an' I sleep good at night,
An' I'm doin' alright.
Yeah, I'm doin' alright.

Written by Al Anderson and Rivers Rutherford

I've tried Tequiila, tried Mary-Jane.
It got me no-where, it just drove me insane.
Single dumb an' stupid, baby, wasn't I a fool?
Ain't nothin' better than lovin' you.
Hey!

I've meditated on a single drop of rain.
Heard one hand clappin': there was silence in my brain.
It showed me somethin', baby, I already knew:
Ain't nothin' better than lovin' you.

I been high a time or two.
Those days are done:
Now, you're the one I'm turned on to. (Whoo!)
I know, now, what I'm gonna do.
The master-plan for this old man is:
Lovin' you, lovin' you, lovin' you.

God made your body, baby: he built it well.
If He made somethin' better then he kept it for himself.
When we get to Heaven, girl, I bet he'll tell you too:
Ain't nothin' better than lovin' you.

I been high a time or two.
Those days are done:
Now, you're the one I'm turned on to.
I know, now, what I'm gonna do.
The master-plan for this old man is:
Lovin' you, lovin' you, lovin' you.

Instrumental Break.

After tryin' everything,
I found my life's Venus.

I been high a time or two.
Those days are done:
Now, you're the one I'm turned on to.
I know now, what I'm gonna do.
The master-plan for this old man is:
Lovin' you, lovin' you, lovin' you.

I been high, yeah, a time or two.
Those days are done:
Now, you're the one, girl, I'm turned on to.
I know, now, what I'm gonna do.
The master-plan for this old man is:
Lovin' you, lovin' you,
Oh, lovin' you.

Written by Bob Johnston, Michael Lunn, Donnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant

Ah, tell 'em about it Darlin'.
Here we go.

She's a waitress at her corner,
Always dancin' nine-to-five.
Well, she ain't no supermodel,
But I'm here to tell you, she's fine, (Ha, ha.)
She's so fine, Johnny.
She's like the classic girl next door,
There's somethin' 'bout her walk:
There's somethin' that goes off inside,
Each time she starts to talk.

Plain Jane,
Oh, I love her name.
She drives me insane.
She's my plain Jane.

She always gets my business,
I can't wait to ring her bell.
(Ah, I bet you can't Donnie.)
She puts a quarter in the jukebox:
Says she don't kiss an' tell.
Is that right, brother.
The way she wears that dress, (Yeah.)
It's time that I confess:
The music starts an' my heart stops,
An' I become a mess.

Plain Jane,
Oh, I love her name.
She drives me insane.
She's my plain Jane.

Nothin' fancy: she's just got everything.
She's so addicting; she's so amazing:
Can't think of anything.

Do, do, do do.
(Whoa, talk to me, plain Jane.)
Do, do, do do, do, do.
Whoa, yeah,
C'mon.

Plain Jane,
Oh, I love her name.
She drives me insane.
She's my plain Jane. (Jane, Jane.)

Plain Jane,
Oh, I love her name.
She drives me insane.
She said just call me plain Jane.
(That's right, buddy."

Plain Jane,
She's my plain Jane.
She's my plain Jane.
She's my plain, (Jane)
Whoo, she's my plain Jane.

Written by Blair Daly, Donnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant

I've seen the devil,
Stared him straight in the eyes.
Danced in his fire on my darkest nights.
Laid in his garden an' I drank his wine.
Slept with temptation to laugh at salvation:
It almost saved me alive.

Oh, I've been there done that, had my thrill:
Ain't goin' back again.
I was the life of every party,
It nearly did me in.
I was the baddest man you've ever seen,
Lord, I wrote the book on sin.
Yeah, I been down that road,
I ain't goin' back again.

I caused more damage than a hurricane.
I broke your heart an' didn't feel a thing. (I walked.)
Then walked away and cursed your name in vain. (Cursed your name.)
But with you as my witness,
You gave me forgiveness,
Now I've got a second chance.

Oh, I've been there done that, had my thrill:
Ain't goin' back again.
I was the life of every party,
It nearly did me in.
I was the baddest man that you've ever seen,
Lord, I wrote the book on sin.
Yeah, I been down that road.

He's knockin' at my door,
Ain't walkin' round here no more.
Been there, done that,
Ain't goin' back again, no!

Instrumental Break.

I was the baddest mother that you've ever seen,
Lord, I wrote the book on sin.
Been there, done that,
Ain't goin' back again.

I was the life of every party,
It nearly did me in.
I was the baddest man that you've ever seen,
Lord, I wrote the book on sin.
Yeah, I been down that road.
I ain't goin' back again,
Oh, no!

Been there, done that.
I was the life of the party, yeah.
(Been there, done that.)