Simple
Man
The personal
appreciation of literature by people around the globe, past, present, and
future, can be contributed to making a connection to a character or a scene set
so vividly you feel as if you’re experiencing it first hand, among many other reasons.
Point being, simple words can elicit emotions that bring us back to reading the
same book, poem, or even listening to the same song time and time again. Great
significance is therefore attached to our favorite pieces because we want to
remember that day we first read the passage or heard the power behind the words
coming out of the speakers. Often times certain works will and have gained
immense followings that transcend generations, and the roots of affection for
them only grow from this.
One such iconic
piece is from the lineup of one of the first and most iconic southern rock
bands since the invention of the amplifier. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s, Simple Man was
written about a specific interaction that a band member had with his own
mother, but the interaction is one that we have all most likely shared with one
or both of our parents. This effort to convey the strong emotion felt by a
young boy is written rather simplistically, but I find this to be the genius of
the piece and I’ll explain why.
Following the
famous opening bars, the first two lines are delivered by writer and lead
singer Ronnie Van Zant “Mama told me when I was young ‘come sit beside me, my
only son” and the first thing to jump out is the apparent seriousness of
whatever situation is about to go down.
The verse is then finished up with an equally serious bid by his mother
as she states “And if you listen closely to what I say, and if you do this
it’ll help you some sunny day”. I took immediate interest in the use of “some
sunny day” instead of what I feel would be a more typical statement in these
types of conversations like ‘when times are tough’. I took that specific
wording to mean that she doesn’t want him to only their conversation when
things are really tough, but just to heed her advice even when he’s successful
and happy.
So the figurative
table is set for this important conversation and now it’s time to get into the actual
advice that she has prepared her son for. “Oh, take your time, don’t live too
fast” is the first offering and this is her trying to tell the boy not to go
off and go to school, get a job, get married, buy a house, have kids just
because that’s what your supposed to do, but rather to slow down and actually
experience life and all of it’s beautiful possibilities. “Troubles will come,
and they will pass”, I interpret her meaning don’t let a slump knock you out of
the race for good, I also think that she was making a testament to his character,
saying that he’s bound for good things even though he may face some trials
along the way. This line was immediately followed by an even more outright flow
of support in the form of “you’ll find a woman and you’ll find love”, which I
feel could either mean you’ll find a woman you love, or that he will find a
woman, as well as other things and activities that you love. And the cherry on
top of this verse is the way it’s wrapped up with a suggestion of a place you
could look for strength in the rougher times, “And don’t forget son, there is
someone up above”.
I’ll gloss over
the chorus because not much is said beyond his mother reminding him to be a
simple man if he can manage to do so; She really, really doesn’t want him to
forget the advice he’s receiving. However, the fourth verse begins with another
praise to her son’s character through “Forget your lust, for the rich man’s
gold. All that you need is in your soul” which I decipher as don’t worry about
the things you don’t have, because you have inside of you character traits that
outmatch any monetary value. At this point, we’ve left the station on the
praise train, the last statement was followed by “And you can do this, oh baby,
if you try” which is yet another show of her confidence in her boy’s ability to
do well in life. Then she tells the boy “All I want for you, my son, is to be
satisfied” meaning no matter how successful he is or how much money he makes,
as long as he’s satisfied with what he’s done and where he ends up with his
life, she’s happy, which is another show of her abounding love for her child.
Only the first two lines change between the third and the final verses before
the closing chorus, and as a beautiful closing, she wraps up her whole lecture
with the simple and understanding phrase “Boy, don’t worry, you’ll find
yourself. Follow your heart, lord, and nothing else”.
In closing, the
minimalistic phrase structure and specific word use results in the ability for
the reader to immerse him or herself in the exact scenario being described through
the lyrics. While it certainly helps that this is a conversation that has been
had with what has to be a significant majority of people, the subject itself
won’t necessarily feel the personal connection to it unless it’s delivered in a
way that takes them back to that sit-down. So the final message we can draw
from Lynyrd Skynyrd is to just live your life by following your heart, stopping
to smell the roses, and keeping your chin up and yourself satisfied in your own
eyes, no matter how your situation may appear.
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