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.
Standing In The Darkness
Van Zant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for the light I fear I am too weak
Who is he and why was he here?
I guess I'll never know until my time is near
I'm standing in the darkness all alone
I'm standing in the darkness
Death has come too soon
I stand for the jury now
Waiting for the golden gates to appear
The light is shining now
And you never felt so near
I'm standing in the darkness all alone, oh
I'm standing in the darkness
Death has come too soon, oh
Standing in the darkness all alone
I'm standing in the darkness
The Lord has come too soon, oh
The lyrics of Van Zant’s “Standing in the Darkness” describe the singer's state of mind as he faces the reality of his own mortality. In the opening lines, the singer expresses his fear of death and the unknown, describing the fear of the dark and wondering who the man in the dark may be. The singer highlights his vulnerability and doubts his own strength in the face of death, suggesting that he is waiting for a sign of hope or a guiding light to help him through.
The chorus reinforces the singer's sense of isolation and loneliness, as he stands alone in the darkness. The phrase "death has come too soon" may suggest that the singer feels he has not yet had enough time to live his life fully before facing the prospect of death. The second verse presents a more hopeful tone, as the singer imagines himself standing in judgment before the "golden gates" of heaven. The "light is shining now," and the singer feels a sense of closeness to the divine.
Overall, the song expresses a sense of fear and uncertainty about death, but also affirms the idea that there is a possibility of hope and redemption beyond it. It is a powerful meditation on the human condition and the perennial mystery of what lies beyond this life.
Line by Line Meaning
The man in the dark is who I seek
I'm searching for someone who exists in the shadows, beyond my reach
Waiting for the light I fear I am too weak
I'm anticipating an end to this darkness, but worry that I don't have the strength to get there
Who is he and why was he here?
I don't know the identity or purpose of the person I'm seeking
I guess I'll never know until my time is near
I suspect that I won't find answers until I'm nearing the end of my own life
I'm standing in the darkness all alone
I find myself isolated in a place of uncertainty and fear
Death has come too soon
The end of life has arrived unexpectedly, before I am ready for it
I stand for the jury now
I am being held accountable for my actions, judged by others
Waiting for the golden gates to appear
I am hoping for a positive outcome or salvation, eagerly awaiting its arrival
The light is shining now
The awaited positive outcome has arrived
And you never felt so near
It is close enough to touch or embrace.
The Lord has come too soon, oh
The arrival of God or a higher power has come unexpectedly, before the singer was ready
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHNNY VAN ZANT, ROBERT GAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Reidy 70
That solo is just pure feel..👊 R.I.P Ronnie..😌
Badlyz
The first time I heard this track after listening to the entire discography of Lynyrd Skynyrd. I needed something similar to the early Skynyrd period and the choice fell on Johnny's band.
Magnificent work.
sküll düggery
the lead guitar is pretty cool if you can take the song until then.