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.
Hard Lucky Story
Van Zant Lyrics
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Can't call in sick or his family won't survive
And though they pray there's bills still to pay
Workin' man, there's got to be another way
Everybody's got the same old hard luck story
It's just a hard luck, hard luck story
Oil companies say there's nothin' left in the well
They take our money and live high on the hog
Help us Mr. President or ain't that your job
It's just another hard luck, hard luck story
It's just another hard luck, hard luck story
Wake up in the morning, you can taste the air
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Lord, it just ain't fair
They tell us this and they tell us that
But, it all melts down to the same old fact
It's just another in a long line
Of hard luck stories
It's a hard luck, hard luck story
It's a hard luck, hard luck story
Van Zant's song "Hard Lucky Story" tells the story of a working man who is struggling to make ends meet despite working hard every day. The lyrics depict the harsh reality of the times in which we live in which many people are struggling to survive. The man cannot afford to call in sick, as he needs to provide for his family, but bills keep piling up despite his hard work. The song also touches on the issue of oil companies taking advantage of people and the need for government intervention to help those who are struggling.
The repeated line "Everybody's got the same old hard luck story" emphasizes the theme of the song, which is the pervasiveness of struggle and hardship in modern society. No matter who you are or where you come from, everyone has a story of hard luck. The song also touches on the theme of disillusionment with the government and the feeling of helplessness that comes when those in power don't seem to be doing anything to help those who need it.
Overall, "Hard Lucky Story" is a poignant and relatable song that speaks to the struggles that many people face in their everyday lives. It's a call to action for those in power to do more to help those who are struggling and to recognize the realities of life for working-class individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
Workin' man, workin' nine to five
A person who works a regular nine to five job.
Can't call in sick or his family won't survive
The worker cannot take days off without risking their family's well-being.
And though they pray there's bills still to pay
Even though the worker prays for relief, they still have bills to pay.
Workin' man, there's got to be another way
The worker is hoping for an alternative solution to their current work situation.
Everybody's got the same old hard luck story
Many people are struggling with similar financial hardships.
The times we live in are confusin' as hell
The current era is very difficult to understand or navigate.
Oil companies say there's nothin' left in the well
Oil companies claim that oil reserves are dwindling.
They take our money and live high on the hog
Oil companies profit from their consumers' expenses.
Help us Mr. President or ain't that your job
The artist is requesting assistance from the government, specifically the President.
Wake up in the morning, you can taste the air
The air quality is so poor that it can be tasted in the morning.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Lord, it just ain't fair
The singer is pointing out environmental injustices in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
They tell us this and they tell us that
The government and other entities give conflicting information.
But, it all melts down to the same old fact
Despite the conflicting information, the singer believes that the root issue is still the same.
It's just another in a long line
The situation is not unique, but rather one of many similar occurrences.
Of hard luck stories
Many people are experiencing financial and other types of hardship.
It's a hard luck, hard luck story
The artist is emphasizing the hardship of their situation.
It's a hard luck, hard luck story
The artist reiterates the difficulty of their circumstances.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ERICK LUNDGREN, JOHNN VAN ZANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind