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.
IMAGINATION
Van Zant Lyrics
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I never shoulda let her in
I guess I must've been too friendly
Now she's out to do me in
Do me in
Is it all imagination?
Yeah it's all imagination
I hear the rain upon my window
I see the writin' on the wall
I found a letter on my pillow
How did it get there after all
After all?
Is it all imagination?
Well it's all imagination
Yeah!
What does she really want from me?
This ain't love, this ain't real
Don't need this kind of company
This could never be
Imagination!
Is it all imagination?
Well it's all imagination
Is it all?
Well it's all
Is it all imagination?
Imagination?
She tied me up with conversation
Ah Yyah!
You know I should've never let her in
She tied me up
Oh
Imagination
Imagination
The lyrics of Van Zant's song "Imagination" tell the story of the lead singer's experience with a deceptive girl who seemed to have ulterior motives for getting close to him. He is now regretting ever letting her in, and is trying to figure out if everything that has happened between them was just in his imagination. The opening lines of the song, "She tied me up with conversation, I never should've let her in," suggest that the girl was very talkative and likely very charming, perhaps manipulating him in some way.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes increasingly suspicious of her, and we see this in lines like "What does she really want from me? This ain't love, this ain't real." He is realizing that their relationship isn't genuine and that she might be playing him for some other purpose. The chorus of “Is it all imagination?” questions his perception of what is happening to him, whether the rain he’s hearing is really there or it's just in his mind. The track has a dark and slightly eerie vibe, with heavy guitar riffs and raw vocals that add to the overall theme of uncertainty and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
She tied me up with conversation
She talked and talked until I felt trapped and powerless
I never shoulda let her in
I shouldn't have allowed her to gain my trust and get close to me
I guess I must've been too friendly
I was too open and approachable, which made me vulnerable
Now she's out to do me in
She has ulterior motives and is planning to harm me
Is it all imagination?
Am I just imagining all of this or is it real?
Yeah it's all imagination
It's all in my head
I hear the rain upon my window
I sense that something bad is about to happen
I see the writin' on the wall
I can see the warning signs that I should have noticed earlier
I found a letter on my pillow
I discovered a message that confirms my fears
How did it get there after all
I am wondering how someone was able to get into my room without me knowing
Well it's all imagination
None of this is happening for real
What does she really want from me?
I am unsure about her true intentions
This ain't love, this ain't real
This is not a genuine relationship
Don't need this kind of company
I don't want to associate with someone who is so manipulative
This could never be
There's no future in this relationship
She tied me up
She ensnared me in her web of deceit
Oh Imagination
All of this is a product of my own mind
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, KAREN SCHAUBEN PUBLISHING ADMINISTRATION, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: NEVILLE KEIGHLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind