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.
Black Bottom Road
Van Zant Lyrics
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You don't wanna be found
Everybody knows better when the sun goes down
As the fog rolls in
You never know where you've been
Cross that line to another world
Black Bottom Road
Black Bottom Road
Well this black is cold and black is hell
You know you're there when you smell that smell
It goes on and on and on
Black Bottom Road
Ya!
Once you step outside
You hardly know you're alive
Welcome to the devil's dance, Lord you've made his day
Along side of the road
Oh it's a river that flows
It's full of rocks and bones and blood
And now your fears
And it goes nowhere, there ain't no size
Never see anybody pass by
Better hold on with all your life
All your life
Black Bottom Road
There's only one way in and one way out you know
Black Bottom Road
Well this black is cold and black is hell
You know you're there when you smell that smell
It goes on and on and on
Black Bottom Road
It Goes On and On!
And it goes nowhere, there ain't no size
Never see anybody pass by
Better hold on with all your life
All your life
Black Bottom Road
There's only one way in and one way out you know
Black Bottom Road
Well this black is cold and dark is hell
You know you're there when you smell that smell
It goes on and on and on
Black Bottom Road
Black Bottom Road
Black Bottom Road
It goes on and on
Black Bottom Road
Goes on and on!
Black Bottom Road
Well this black is cold and dark is hell
You know you're there when you smell that smell
Black Bottom Road
Oh, Goes on and on!
Black Bottom Road
'Cause time is hell
Black Bottom Road
Black Bottom Road
Black Bottom Road
Van Zant’s “Black Bottom Road” is a tale of the dangerous and otherworldly road that is a symbol of the dangers that can lurk in the hidden parts of society. Opening with a warning for its listeners to avoid the area, the song describes the terror of those who find themselves trapped in that dark abyss. This warning is given with the simultaneous acceptance of its inevitability, as “Everybody knows better when the sun goes down.” The fog that rolls in seems to further add to the mysterious and foreboding qualities of the road, which leads to a place that is “full of rocks and bones and blood” that challenges its travelers’ sanity.
The lyrics seem to suggest that the road is a metaphor for the darker side of humanity, particularly those who exist in the fringes of society. Those who live in areas like the Black Bottom Road are invisible to most of society, and forgotten. The song suggests that the road is a place that one must navigate alone, as the road is a journey that has only one way in and one way out. The listener is left with the impression that once someone crosses that line, there is no coming back. Thus, the song lingers on the idea of how easy it is for people to become trapped within these darker spaces and lose their way.
Line by Line Meaning
In the part of town
In a dangerous and notoriously bad section of town
You don't wanna be found
A place to avoid at all costs
Everybody knows better when the sun goes down
A place that is very active and dangerous at night
As the fog rolls in
A dangerous and mysterious environment
You never know where you've been
A place so disorienting as to be impossible to navigate
Cross that line to another world
Entering a mystical land
Black Bottom Road
An ominous path to take
There's only one way in and one way out you know
A path with no alternate routes and no escape
Well this black is cold and black is hell
A pitch black and unforgiving place
You know you're there when you smell that smell
A pungent odor signaling the dangers of the environment
It goes on and on and on
The path seems endless
Once you step outside
The transition to this place proves life-threatening
You hardly know you're alive
The danger of this environment is overwhelming
Welcome to the devil's dance, Lord you've made his day
Entering a sinister trap orchestrated to ensnare the unwary
Along side of the road
A place where the road and the unknown meet
Oh it's a river that flows
A metaphorical river of death and danger
It's full of rocks and bones and blood
The path is part of a mass grave
And now your fears
Facing the true terror of the unknown
There ain't no size
The path is too narrow and full of peril to accommodate anything large
Never see anybody pass by
The path is not used by anyone and is a true dead-end
Better hold on with all your life
A warning to grip tight and be prepared for what's to come
Black Bottom Road
The sinister and perilous path that lies ahead
Goes on and on!
The path seems to continue forever
'Cause time is hell
The path is so dangerous, time itself is transformed into pure agony
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CHRISTOPHER PELCER, DONALD VAN ZANT, ROBERT JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind