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.
I'm a Fighter
Van Zant Lyrics
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I'm a fighter, Oh oh a face without a name
I'm a fighter, and I'm just holdin' ground
I'm a fighter, and I'm never goin' down
I was walkin', but I found me a ride
Yes I was born, on the wrong side
I've been pushed, pushed around so long it's hard to see
There's just one thing, it's gonna do to me
Just one more chance to rock'n'roll
A will to survive, will stay alive
With you by my side I'm alive, oh yeah I'm alive
I'm a fighter, when my face shows my game
I'm a fighter, Oh oh a face without a name
I'm a fighter, and I'm just holdin' ground
I'm a fighter, and I'm never goin' down
I'm never like a loser, no confidence
I said I'm just a user, of common sense
Oh oh oh Just one more chance yeah, to pay the toll Just one more chance to rock'n'roll
A will to survive, will stay alive
With you by my side I'm alive, oh yeah I'm alive
Oh oh oh Just one more chance yeah, to pay the toll Just one more chance to rock'n'roll
A will to survive, will stay alive
With you by my side I'm alive, oh yeah I'm alive
I'm a fighter, when my face shows my game
I'm a fighter, Oh oh a face without a name
I'm a fighter, and I'm just holdin' ground
I'm a fighter, and I'm never goin' down
I'm a fighter, I'm a fighter
I'm a fighter, I'm a fighter
I'm a fighter, and I'm just holdin' ground
I'm a fighter, and I'm never goin' down
I'm a fighter, no! no!
I'm a fighter, I ain't never goin' down
Van Zant's song "I'm a Fighter" is about resilience, determination and survival in the face of adversity. The lyrics speak of a person who has faced a lot of challenges and has been pushed around for too long but is not willing to give up. The singer sees himself as a fighter and the challenges he faces are part of his game. The line 'I'm a fighter when my face shows my game' means that his face reflects the struggles he has been through and he's ready to fight some more. The line 'I'm a fighter, and I'm just holdin' ground' means that even though he's not making any progress, he's not losing ground either. In the end, the singer gets one more chance to prove himself and he's confident that he'll make it.
The chorus line 'I'm a fighter, Oh oh a face without a name' suggests that the singer is not seeking fame or recognition but rather, just wants to survive and thrive. The line 'I was born on the wrong side' implies that he comes from a disadvantaged background and has not had an easy life. However, regardless of this, he's still fighting for his goals and dreams. The song highlights the resilience and determination that people need to have in order to overcome obstacles in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a fighter, when my face shows my game
I show my fighting spirit through my expressions and demeanor
I'm a fighter, Oh oh a face without a name
I am determined to succeed despite the odds and lack of recognition
I'm a fighter, and I'm just holdin' ground
I am standing firm and not giving up in the face of adversity
I'm a fighter, and I'm never goin' down
I refuse to let setbacks defeat me
I was walkin', but I found me a ride
I was once lost, but I have found direction and purpose
Yes I was born, on the wrong side
I come from a disadvantaged background
I've been pushed, pushed around so long it's hard to see
I have faced constant challenges and obstacles that have made it hard for me to see a clear path forward
There's just one thing, it's gonna do to me
I am determined to overcome my challenges and succeed
Just one more chance yeah, to pay the toll
I am hoping for one more opportunity to succeed
Just one more chance to rock'n'roll
I am eager for a chance to prove myself
A will to survive, will stay alive
I have the determination to survive and overcome obstacles
With you by my side I'm alive, oh yeah I'm alive
I am grateful for the support of those who believe in me
I'm never like a loser, no confidence
Despite setbacks, I maintain a confident attitude and refuse to be defeated
I said I'm just a user, of common sense
I rely on practicality and rational thinking to guide me
I'm a fighter, no! no!
I will never give up or surrender
I'm a fighter, I ain't never goin' down
I will keep fighting and persevering until I reach my goals
Contributed by Addison S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.