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ATC's Lyrical Discussion: Week 3


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So here's this weeks lyrics.

"Was I Right or Wrong" - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Like a restless leaf in the autumn breeze

Once I was a tumble weed

Like a rollin' stone, cold and all alone

Living for the day my dream would come

I never cared for school or any golden rules

Papa used to always say I was a useless fool

So I left my home to show them thay was wrong

And headed out on the road singing my song

Then one sunny day, the man, he looked my way

And everything that I dreamed of, it was real

Money, girls and cars; and big long cigars

And I caught the first plane home so papa would see

When I went home to show 'em they was wrong

All that I found was two tombstones

Somebody tell me please was I right or wrong

Oh, such a sad song

First I got lost, then I got found

But the ones that I love are in the ground

Papa I only wish you could see me now

Take a listen papa

Whoo, I learned how to play my guitar

Gonna be a superstar

First I got lost, then I got found

The ones I love are in the ground

Won't you tell me please was I right or wrong

If there's any way you can hear what I say

Papa, I never meant to do you wrong

All the money, girls and cars

And all the words and all the cigars

Papa, I just want you to know they couldn't take your place

When I went home to show 'em they was wrong

All that I found was two tombstones

Somebody tell me please was I right or wrong

Oh, such a sad song

First I got lost, then I got found

But the ones that I love are in the ground

Somebody tell me please was I right or wrong

Okay yeah, it's Skynyrd, but it's a song that I doubt many have heard. And it's such a wonderful song.

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Songfact:

- This song was originally recorded during the Muscle Shoals sessions from 1972 - 1973.

- It was unreleased until the album "First... and Last" which allowed the listeners to hear the remaining songs recorded at Muscle Shoals during that time period.

One of the greatest things about these lyrics is that it really shows the writing talent that lied within Ronnie Van Zant. It tells such a sad story. A child lost in life gains his dreams and sets out into the world... only to return to a family that is now gone. He didn't get the chance to say good-bye because his dreams took him away from the world that was still around him. Just goes to show you that chasing your dreams isn't always the smartest idea.

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  • 35 years later...

I have not heard that song either but the lyrics are very good and showed promise of things that were not to be. I will never forget where I was and what i was doing when i heard their plane had crashed - just like JFK, RFK, MLK and Elvis. A moment frozen in time.

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This is one of my favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd songs and I can't figure out why they didn't release it when it was originally recorded.

One of my favorites too, Addicted. And I don't understand why it wasn't released back then either. I love how it starts with riffs, gets subdued, and then builds back up again.

Lyrically, it's the ultimate "money can't buy happiness" story. It's wild to think that Ronnie Van Zant wrote this before Skynyrd even had a record deal!

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It's really a hard thing to think that most people associate Skynyrd with only Freebird and Sweet Home Alabama when they have written so many beautiful and powerful songs that don't get enough play. Songs like...

Was I Right or Wrong

Things Goin' On

Ballad of Curtis Loew

Mr. Banker (another unreleased song that is phenomenal)

Simple Man

Ain't No Good Life

Am I Losin'

Take Your Time (another unreleased song that is great to listen to)

Skynyrd has written many great songs that just don't get enough credit for being written. I blame most of it on their untimely plane crash. I think Skynyrd could have been HUGE if it weren't for that plane crash.

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