Although he wrote a number of hit songs for other artists, Johns is best remembered for the one he recorded himself, "Chevy Van", a song about a loose-loving man who picks up a woman while he's on the road, struck a chord with listeners in the sexually liberated 1970s when Johns released it mid-decade. His mellow and easy style made love that was free and easy seem natural when he sang, "We made love in my Chevy van, and that's all right with me." The singer/songwriter sold more than three million copies in 1975, and the single climbed to #5 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
After his eponymous debut album on the GRC record label (General Recording Corporation), which included "Chevy Van," the singer inked a deal in 1976 with Warner-Curb, which resulted in Johns working on the soundtrack to The Van, the first film to feature Danny DeVito. The 1982 New World Records single "Falling for You" caught the eye of Elektra, and the company took Johns on board and issued "Love Me off the Road" and "Common Man." When country artist John Conlee covered "Common Man," the single went gold and topped the charts. Conlee made the song his theme, and Johns was on his way writing songs for others.
Among those who have recorded Johns' songs are Waylon Jennings, Sammy Kershaw, and Conway Twitty. In 1985, Jennings serenaded the Statue of Liberty with Johns' "America" on a nationally broadcast event to mark the statue's restoration. The performance helped take the single gold and "America" was nominated for song of the year in country music circles. Johns' "Desperado Love" brought Twitty his final gold record. Kershaw covered the song that started it all for Johns, "Chevy Van," on his Politics Religion, and Her album in 1996.
Chevy Van
Sammy Johns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She crawled in and took control
She was tired as her mind was a-draggin'
I said get some sleep and dream of rock'n'roll
'Cause like a princess she was laying there
Moonlight dancing off her hair
She woke up and took me by the hand
Her young face was like that of an angel
Her long legs were tanned and brown
Better keep your eyes on the road, son
Better slow this vehicle down
'Cause like a princess she was laying there
Moonlight dancing off her hair
She woke up and took me by the hand
She's gonna love me in my Chevy van and that's all right with me
I put her out in a town that was so small
You could throw a rock from end to end
A dirt road main street, she walked off in bare feet
It's a shame I won't be passin' through again
'Cause like a princess she was laying there
Moonlight dancing off her hair
She woke up and took me by the hand
We made love in my Chevy van and that's all right with me
'Cause like a princess she was laying there
Moonlight dancing off her hair
She woke up and took me by the hand
We made love my in my Chevy van and that's all right with me
'Cause like a princess she was laying there
Moonlight dancing off her hair
She woke up and took me by the hand
"Chevy Van" is a classic rock song by singer-songwriter Sammy Johns, released in 1973. The song tells the story of a man who gives a girl a ride in his Chevrolet van, and ends up falling in love with her. The lyrics capture the carefree and adventurous spirit of the 1970s, painting a picture of a young couple enjoying the open road and each other's company. The girl is described as a princess, with moonlight dancing off her hair, and the man is clearly smitten with her.
The song has a simple, almost folksy melody, with a catchy chorus that repeats the phrase "That's alright with me" after each verse. The lyrics alternate between describing the girl's beauty and the thrill of their romantic encounter, and warning the driver to keep his eyes on the road and slow down. The final verse has a wistful tone, as the man drops the girl off in a small town and laments that he won't be passing through again.
Overall, "Chevy Van" is a charming and nostalgic ode to the joys of young love and adventure. It captures a moment in time when the open road was still a symbol of freedom and possibility, before the era of smartphones and GPS made it all too easy to stay connected and informed.
Line by Line Meaning
I gave a girl a ride in my wagon
I offered a lady a ride in my truck
She crawled in and took control
She got in and started to act like she was in charge
She was tired as her mind was a-draggin'
She was exhausted and seemed to be lost in thought
I said get some sleep and dream of rock'n'roll
I advised her to take a nap and imagine herself in the world of rock music
'Cause like a princess she was laying there
Because she looked like a queen lying there
Moonlight dancing off her hair
The moonlight shining on her hair, made it appear as if it was dancing
She woke up and took me by the hand
She woke up and held my hand
She's gonna love me in my Chevy van and that's all right with me
She's going to cherish me while we're inside my Chevy van, and I'm fine with that
Her young face was like that of an angel
Her face was young and beautiful, resembling that of an angel
Her long legs were tanned and brown
Her lengthy legs were tanned and had a brownish hue
Better keep your eyes on the road, son
It's advisable to keep your eyes on the road, young man
Better slow this vehicle down
It's better to decelerate the car
I put her out in a town that was so small
I dropped her off in a very tiny town
You could throw a rock from end to end
The town was so small that one could throw a stone from one end of the town to the other
A dirt road main street, she walked off in bare feet
The main street was unpaved, and she walked away barefoot
It's a shame I won't be passin' through again
It's a pity I won't be returning to the small town
We made love in my Chevy van and that's all right with me
We had sex in my Chevy van, and I'm okay with it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Sammy Johns
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robertmccann1753
Married that girl. Lost her last year to a long illness but the 52 years we had together were that best. Miss her so but the songs like this bring back the good times
@thejoker2000
So sorry man. I lost my love of my life in 2006.It never goes away. You just have to live with it. Trust me. It doesn't get better. It just gets old feeling.
@jimhoffmann
Sorry for your loss. May God Bless you.
@sundaygirl5
♥️
@jameybonaparte2803
God bless you ❤️
@Terrysoddy
So sorry for your loss . God bless you.
@lynncrawford5613
Cannot beat being a teenager in the '70's. Vietnam was over and there was a cool, soft, relaxed atmosphere. This song captures is so well.
@hbgriss
F ya!
@lynncrawford5613
@@hbgriss Why would you say that?
@r.p.mcmurphy6623
@@lynncrawford5613 Huh?