Two songs. Two artists. Same title. Very different attitudes.
I was a teenager in the late 70’s. I saw the Charlie Daniels Band twice in concert. I was (and still am) a huge fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Both bands have songs I like with the same title: “Simple Man”. I saw a video on CDB’s “Simple Man” the other day. I was torn when listening to the song. While I share Charlie Daniels’ emotion, I also sensed that there has to be a third way to dealing with the issues confronting America, today.
Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” presents the man I wish my son to become. It gives a hope of becoming someone positive in the world, as opposed to someone on the defensive.
Become your best today; become better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!
“Simple Man” (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
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’ll help you some sunny day”
“Oh, take your time, don’t live too fast
Troubles will come and they will pass
You’ll find a woman and you’ll find love
And don’t forget, son, there is someone up above”
“And be a simple kind of man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, 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, oh baby, if you try
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied”
“And be a simple kind of man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won’t you do this for me, son, if you can”
Oh yes, I will
“Boy, don’t you worry, you’ll find yourself
Follow your heart and nothing else
And you can do this, oh baby, if you try
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied”
“And be a simple kind of man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won’t you do this for me, son, if you can”
Baby, be a simple, be a simple man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby, be a simple kind of man
Writers: Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Robert Rossington
“Simple Man” (Charlie Daniels Band)
I ain’t nothin’ but a simple man
They call me a redneck I reckon that I am
But there’s things going on
That make me mad down to the core.
I have to work like a dog to make ends meet
There’s crooked politicians and crime in the street
And I’m madder’n hell and I ain’t gonna take it no more.
We tell our kids to just say no
Then some panty waist judge lets a drug dealer go
Slaps him on the wrist and then he turns him back out on the town.
Now if I had my way with people sellin’ dope
I’d take a big tall tree and a short piece of rope
I’d hang ’em up high and let ’em swing ’til the sun goes down
Well, you know what’s wrong with the world today
People done gone and put their Bible’s away
They’re living by the law of the jungle not the law of the land
The good book says it so I know it’s the truth
An eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth
You better watch where you go and remember where you been
That’s the way I see it I’m a Simple Man.
Now I’m the kinda man that’d not harm a mouse
But if I catch somebody breakin’ in my house
I’ve got twelve gauge shotgun waiting on the other side
So don’t go pushing me against my will
I don’t want to have to fight you but I dern sure will
So if you don’t want trouble then you’d better just pass me on by
As far as I’m concerned there ain’t no excuse
For the raping and the killing and the child abuse
And I’ve got a way to put an end to all that mess
Just take them rascals out in the swamp
Put ’em on their knees and tie ’em to a stump
Let the rattlers and the bugs and the alligators do the rest
You know what’s wrong with the world today
People done gone and put their Bible’s away
They’re living by the law of the jungle not the law of the land
The Good Book says it so I know it’s the truth
An eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth
You better watch where you go and remember where you been
That’s the way I see it I’m a Simple Man
Writers: Charlie Daniels, William J. DiGregorio, John Louis Gavin, Charles Fred Edwards