Johnny recorded as a member of the 1980's southern rock band The Johnny Van Zant Band which released albums in 1980, 1981 and 1982. The band shortened its name to Van Zant for the release of its fourth album in 1985, the eponymous Van Zant, which saw some chart success with "You've Got to Believe in Love" and "I'm a Fighter". However, this band was not the same as the current version of Van Zant and did not include brother Donnie.
Johnny released another album under his full name in 1990, but spent most of his time in that period singing for the Lynyrd Skynyrd reunion group. He joined up with Donnie, and they revived the Van Zant name to release an album in 1998, which led to a follow up album in 2001. They have also released two albums to the country music format: 2005's Get Right with the Man and 2007's My Kind of Country. Overall, the group has had two singles on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks charts (the prior incarnation of Van Zant also had two), and six on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
05 Right Side Up
Van Zant Lyrics
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There I stood the livin' dead
When I saw the face so familiar
Hoverin' like a voice over my head
It took me back to that October
I was playing to the crowd
I was suddenly stone cold sober
When I heard a voice calling out loud
Boy you're headed down the road that leads nowhere
There's only one direction you can turn, only love can take
you there
Right Side Up
Feel it from the inside
Hot side out
When you're on the downslide
Don't be afraid
Of prayin to love
Hot side out, or Right side up
Well I ain't here to preach no sermon
But for me it was the truth
When the wind would crack and the thunder roared
Lord I thought that I was bulletproof
I was headed down the road to nowhere
There's only one direction you can turn, only love can take
you there
Right Side Up
Feel it from the inside
Hot side out
When you're on the downslide
Round and round
Down and out
Don't tell me that's what you're all about
Right Side Up
Feel it in your heartbeat
Don't back down
Walking down the right street
Don't be afraid
Of prayin to love
Hot side out, or Right side up
Once you get straight, you're headed in the right direction
You can see it clearly for the first time
Think you finally got the right side up
Oh things are looking up
I was headed down the road to nowhere
There's only one direction you can turn, only love can take
you
Love can take you
Love can take you there
(Right Side Up)
Feel it from the inside
(Hot side out)
When you're on the downslide
Round and round
Down and out
Don't tell me that's what you're all about
Right Side Up
Feel it in your heartbeat
Don't back down
Walking down the right street
Don't be afraid
Of prayin to love
Hot side out, or Right side up
Oh right side up
(Feel it in your heartbeat)
Right side up
(Walking down the right street)
Right side up
Oh right side up
Right side up
Right side up
Right side up
Right side up
Right side up
Right side up
In Van Zant's song "Right Side Up," the singer is reflecting on a difficult moment in his life. As he gazes into the mirror, he sees a reflection of himself as a living dead person. Suddenly, he hears a voice that takes him back to a time when he was playing for a crowd in October, and he realized he was sober. The voice cautions him that he is headed down the road to nowhere and that the only way to escape this path is to turn to love. The singer encourages his listeners not to be afraid to pray to love, urging them to feel it in their heartbeat and walk down the right street.
The song's lyrics examine the idea of redemption and the power of love to change a person's course in life. The voice in the song serves as a symbol of hope for the singer, who recognizes that he needs to change his ways and find a new path in life. Through love, he is able to turn his life around and find his way back to a better existence.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a bad day in the mirror
I was feeling off, when I saw myself in the mirror
There I stood the livin' dead
I had lost my spark and passion for life
When I saw the face so familiar
I recognized the face that stared back at me
Hoverin' like a voice over my head
I felt like my own thoughts and doubts were hovering over me like a voice
It took me back to that October
I was transported back to a specific time and place
I was playing to the crowd
I was performing for an audience
I was suddenly stone cold sober
I became aware and alert in a sobering way
When I heard a voice calling out loud
I heard a voice that stood out and demanded attention
Boy you're headed down the road that leads nowhere
You're going in a direction that won't lead to happiness or fulfillment
There's only one direction you can turn, only love can take you there
Love is the only way to turn and head in a positive direction
Right Side Up
Stand tall and feel positive
Feel it from the inside
Sense the positivity internally
Hot side out
Exude passion and energy
When you're on the downslide
When you feel like you're struggling or losing hope
Don't be afraid
Don't be scared to face challenges or fears
Of prayin to love
Don't hesitate to seek love as a solution or path forward
Round and round
Circling and stuck in a negative pattern
Down and out
Feeling down and hopeless
Don't tell me that's what you're all about
Choose to be more positive and don't stick with negativity
Feel it in your heartbeat
Sense the positive energy pulsing through your body
Don't back down
Don't give up or retreat
Walking down the right street
Going down the right path
Once you get straight, you're headed in the right direction
Once you have clarity, you'll know which direction to go
You can see it clearly for the first time
You suddenly have a clear or focused view
Think you finally got the right side up
You feel like you're standing tall and in a positive place
Oh things are looking up
Overall, things are getting better
Love can take you
Love can provide the direction and positivity you need
Feel it in your heartbeat
Sense the positive energy pulsing through your body
Walking down the right street
Going down the right path
Oh right side up
Feeling tall, confident, and positive
Right side up
Stand tall and feel positive
Right side up
Stand tall and feel positive
Right side up
Stand tall and feel positive
Right side up
Stand tall and feel positive
Right side up
Stand tall and feel positive
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DONNIE VAN ZANDT, JAMES PETERIK, ROBERT JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind