Do you have that one song that never fails to send a chill down your spine? Whether it’s Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain,” Led Zeppelin’s “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You,” or Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb,” we all have our personal classics that hit us in just the right way. And sometimes, there’s that one track that has everyone around you feeling the goosebumps.
Lynyrd Skynyrd has just that song, and American Songwriter magazine recently highlighted it in one of their lists. Published on March 12, “3 Rock Songs That Still Give Us Chills, Decades After They Were First Released” features the Southern rock band’s “Simple Man.” This slow-building track packs plenty of drama and a powerful message. It gives the listener a sense of scope, instantly marking itself as something iconic.
Released in 1973, “Simple Man” opens with Gary Rossington’s guitar solo before Bob Burns takes the drums and original lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant begins with the heartfelt lyrics: “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 one sunny day.”
Written during a period of grief and loss following the deaths of Van Zant’s grandmother and Rossington’s mother, this song was born from the wisdom and life lessons passed down to them. “We just put down in a song what our mama or grandma had said to us,” Rossington explained in a 1993 interview. “They really wrote it, we just played it.”
While “Simple Man” was never released as a single, it found its place in Lynyrd Skynyrd’s debut album, (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd), which peaked at No. 27 on the U.S. Billboard 200. Alongside hits like “I Ain’t the One” and “Gimme Three Steps,” the album solidified Lynyrd Skynyrd as a powerhouse in Southern rock.
The band faced tragedy in 1977 when Rossington was in a car crash and Van Zant, along with other members, lost their lives in a plane crash. Despite this, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s enduring legacy lives on, with “Simple Man” continuing to capture the hearts of listeners.
Even after countless covers by artists like Shinedown, Deftones, and Hank Williams Jr., and a memorable rendition by The Voice contestant Sawyer Fredericks, “Simple Man” remains a timeless classic for Lynyrd Skynyrd. As American Songwriter notes, the song’s impact shows no signs of fading anytime soon.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.