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.
Sweet Mama
Van Zant Lyrics
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I didn't get up until the sun went down
When your back's against the wall
You better get tough
You learn real quick how to swing and duck.
Chorus:
I was born in the sweet hot Florida sunshine
Learned more about life on the streets then in the school
My sweet mama didn't raise no fool. (That's right.)
Some folks cheat and some folks lie
But I cant judge a man from the look in his eye
Don't hand me Jack and try to call it cola
I know the difference between shit and shinola.
Chorus:
I was born in the sweet hot Florida sunshine
Good lookin' women backwoods and moonshine
Learned more about life on the streets then in the school
My sweet mama didn't raise no fool. (That's right.)
(I'm talking about mama, oh sweet mama.)
Mama was no angel but she taught me right from wrong
She knew every single word and every single note of every song
She taught me how to gamble, how to role the dice
If it makes you fell good do it don't think twice.
Chorus:
I was born in the sweet hot Florida sunshine
Good lookin' women backwoods and moonshine
Learned more about life on the streets then in the school
My sweet mama didn't raise no fool. (That's right.)
Chorus:
I was born in the sweet hot Florida sunshine
Good lookin' women backwoods and moonshine
Learned more about life on the streets then in the school
My sweet mama didn't raise no fool. (That's right.)
Talkin' about my sweet mama
Mama didn't raise no fool...
The song "Sweet Mama" by Van Zant is all about the singer's upbringing in a westside shanty town in Florida. The lyrics describe how he had to learn how to toughen up quickly in order to survive in a tough environment. The chorus emphasizes his pride in being from Florida, with its hot sun, attractive women, and moonshine. He mentions that he learned more life lessons on the streets than he did in school, but that his "sweet mama" didn't raise him to be a fool.
The verses focus on the singer's no-nonsense attitude towards people who try to deceive him. He mentions that he can tell the difference between "shit and shinola" (a reference to a type of shoe polish), and that he won't be fooled by people who try to pass off Jack Daniels as Coca-Cola. He also praises his mother for teaching him right from wrong, and for introducing him to music and gambling. Throughout the song, the singer exudes a sense of pride in his upbringing and his ability to navigate a tough world.
Line by Line Meaning
I was raised on the westside shanty town
I grew up in a poor neighborhood with makeshift housing
I didn't get up until the sun went down
I usually slept in late in the day
When your back's against the wall
You better get tough
You learn real quick how to swing and duck.
In my community, violence was common and I had to learn how to fight to survive
I was born in the sweet hot Florida sunshine
Good lookin' women backwoods and moonshine
Learned more about life on the streets then in the school
My sweet mama didn't raise no fool. (That's right.)
Growing up in Florida exposed me to wild parties, dangerous situations, and risky behavior, but I learned valuable life lessons through these experiences and my mother instilled in me good judgement.
Some folks cheat and some folks lie
But I cant judge a man from the look in his eye
Don't hand me Jack and try to call it cola
I know the difference between shit and shinola.
I don't trust people easily, but I won't judge someone solely on appearances. I also can't be fooled easily and can distinguish between truth and lies.
Mama was no angel but she taught me right from wrong
She knew every single word and every single note of every song
She taught me how to gamble, how to roll the dice
If it makes you feel good do it don't think twice.
My mother may have had flaws, but she was my moral compass and taught me important life skills such as gambling (a metaphor for taking risks in life) and enjoying life to the fullest.
Talkin' about my sweet mama
Mama didn't raise no fool...
I'm proud of my upbringing and my mother's influence on my character.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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