That Smell
Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

Whiskey bottles, and brand new cars
Oak tree you're in my way
There's too much coke and too much smoke
Look what's going on inside you

Ooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell
Ooh that smell


The smell of death surrounds you

Angel of darkness is upon you
Stuck a needle in your arm
So take another toke, have a blow for your nose
And one more drink fool, will drown you

Ooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell
Ooh that smell
The smell of death surrounds you

Now they call you Prince Charming
Can't speak a word when you're full of 'ludes
Say you'll be all right come tomorrow
But tomorrow might not be here for you

Ooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell
Ooh that smell
The smell of death surrounds you

Hey, you're a fool, you
Go on stick them needles in your arm

I know I been there before

One little problem that confronts you
Got a monkey on your back
Just one more fix, Lord might do the trick
One hell of a price for you to get your kicks

Ooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell
Ooh that smell
The smell of death surrounds you
Ooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell
Ooh that smell
The smell of death surrounds you

Hey, you're a fool, you

Go on stick those needles in your arm
You're just a fool, just a fool, just a fool

Overall Meaning

The song "That Smell" by Lynyrd Skynyrd can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the dangers of drug addiction. The opening lyrics set the tone for the song, as the speaker describes a scene of excess and danger: whiskey bottles, brand new cars, too much coke and too much smoke. The oak tree "in my way" may symbolize a barrier to this lifestyle or a warning sign that the speaker isn't seeing. The repetition of the phrase "that smell" creates a feeling of dread and foreboding, suggesting that something bad is coming.


As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the "smell" is the smell of death, brought on by drug addiction. The second verse introduces the image of the "angel of darkness," perhaps representing the fear and despair that come with addiction. The speaker pleads with the addict to stop, but they continue to indulge in drugs and alcohol. The line "Say you'll be all right come tomorrow / But tomorrow might not be here for you" is particularly haunting, suggesting that the addict is in denial about the severity of their problem.


The final verse features harsh condemnation for the addict: "Hey, you're a fool, you / Go on stick them needles in your arm / I know I been there before." This line reveals that the speaker has struggled with addiction as well, but has managed to escape it. The addict, however, is still in the grip of their addiction and unable to pull themselves out.


Overall, "That Smell" is a powerful and cautionary song that warns against the dangers of addiction. Its vivid imagery and repetition of the phrase "that smell" create a sense of unease and danger, while its condemnation of drug use makes a bold statement about the importance of staying clean.


Line by Line Meaning

Whiskey bottles, and brand new cars
Excess and indulgence, like whiskey and brand new cars, are distracting you from true happiness and fulfillment.


Oak tree you're in my way
You feel blocked and unable to move forward by the obstacles in your life, like the oak tree in your path.


There's too much coke and too much smoke
You're surrounded by substances and harmful habits that are clouding your judgment and damaging your body and mind.


Look what's going on inside you
The chaos and destruction in your life are taking a toll on your mental and physical health.


Ooh that smell
The stench of death and decay is palpable in your life and surroundings.


Can't you smell that smell
You're in denial about the destruction and danger around you.


The smell of death surrounds you
Your life is filled with a sense of dread and doom, and you're constantly surrounded by danger and destruction.


Angel of darkness is upon you
You're being consumed by darkness and despair, represented metaphorically by an angel of darkness.


Stuck a needle in your arm
You're caught up in a cycle of addiction and self-destructive behavior, like injecting drugs into your arm.


So take another toke, have a blow for your nose
You continue to indulge in harmful habits like smoking and snorting drugs to numb your pain and avoid reality.


And one more drink fool, will drown you
Alcohol is another crutch you use to cope, but it's only dragging you further down and increasing your likelihood of harm or death.


Now they call you Prince Charming
Despite your destructive behavior, some people still see you as attractive and charming.


Can't speak a word when you're full of 'ludes
You're so consumed by drugs that you can't even communicate clearly or coherently.


Say you'll be all right come tomorrow
You're in denial about the severity of your problems and continue to put off dealing with them, hoping they'll magically go away.


But tomorrow might not be here for you
Your self-destructive habits may cut your life short, and there may not be a tomorrow for you to make things right.


Hey, you're a fool, you
You're being called out for your foolishness and self-destructive behavior.


Go on stick them needles in your arm
The speaker is using sarcasm to illustrate how destructive and harmful your addiction is, and how cavalier you are about it.


I know I been there before
The speaker empathizes with your struggle because they've been in the same situation before themselves.


One little problem that confronts you
One small issue, like a monkey on your back, can quickly spiral into something much more dangerous and destructive if left unaddressed.


Got a monkey on your back
You're weighed down by an addiction or a problem that looms large over your life and psyche.


Just one more fix, Lord might do the trick
You cling to the idea that one more hit or indulgence might be all you need to feel happy and fulfilled again, despite the damage it's causing.


One hell of a price for you to get your kicks
The consequences of your actions and habits are dire and ultimately not worth the fleeting sense of pleasure they bring you.


Hey, you're a fool, you
The speaker reiterates that you're acting foolishly and destructively.


You're just a fool, just a fool, just a fool
The repetition emphasizes the speaker's frustration and despair about your situation, and how entrenched and resistant to change you are.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Incognitive Distortion

@Best House All 3 guitar players get a turn playing lead.

1st solo 0:03 Gary Rossington
2nd solo 0:55 Steve Gaines
3rd solo 2:23 Steve Gaines
4th solo 2:40 Allen Collins
5th solo 3:08 Gary Rossington
6th solo 4:17 Gary Rossington
7th solo 4:36 Allen Collins
8th solo’s 4:50 Allen and Steve
5:05 Allen and Steve
5:14 Gary and Allen



All comments from YouTube:

briantravelman

I know most people love Sweet Home and Free Bird 'cuz they're so iconic, but I think this will always be my favorite Skynyrd song!

Antonio Petisce

Needle and the spoon 😎

reggietheist

Agreed, followed by simple man!

Gregg Johnson

So agreed Brian 💯

Doc Holiday

@Scooter George gimme three steps top 5 for sure,thank you for your service ,prior comment edited.

Scooter George

That's your personal favorite. I get that now. Mine is "Gimme three steps" because, in part, some idiot pulled a gun on me once. And it's "Scooter." This is a reference to the A-4 Skyhawk, AKA Scooter, that I worked on in the Navy.

20 More Replies...

Lucas Shelton

This song just goes to show how advanced Lynyrd Skynyrd had became at this point in their career. It single handedly proved how deadly the 3 guitar army was. This is one of the greatest guitar songs in existence. The way the guitars attacked and corresponded with each other is almost unbelievable. Steve Gaines was such an amazing tribute to the band. Not only did he bring insane talent, but I think he inspired Gary and Allen in a way they had never been inspired before. The chops Collins and Gaines lays down in this song are second to none. And Rossingtons tone still reins as one of the greatest guitar tones of his time. One word, talent.

Paul Burgess

You've said pretty much exactly what I would've wanted to say. :)

Jody Bogdanovich

​@Jazzadrin The last sentence made me think you were describing a good bourbon . . . 🥃 😉

35 More Replies...

Gerald Roth

I’m 70 and still crank this up loud, drives my wife crazy.

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