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.
That Scares Me
Van Zant Lyrics
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Of a field goal kicker from LSU
I never broke a sweat, hell, it was just a bet
Now, I've climbed mountains and jumped from planes
Even played chicken with a couple trains
Lord, I've been a fool, I still kept my cool
Starts to pound thinkin' 'bout
The day my son starts askin' me
All about my history
The things I don't want him to know
The sex, the drugs and rock n' roll
Or the first time I watched my daughter
Climb in some boy's car as I holler
Honey, don't be late?
I swallow hard while they drive away
How sad my life without my wife would be
Now that scares me
This mornin' while I combed my hair
I found a few stray grays in there
And I laughed out loud, I guess I ain't that proud
Some people are afraid to die
But me and Jesus get along alright
I'll be okay 'cause my Judgment Day will be
The day my son starts askin' me
All about my history
The things I don't want him to know
The sex, the drugs, and rock n' roll
On the night I walked my daughter
Down the aisle in a stiff white collar
Just to hear them say
"Who gives this girl away"
And leave her standin' while I find my seat
Now that scares me
The things I don't want them to know
The sex, the drugs, and rock n' roll
And the day they call another house their home
I'm hopin' they find everything that they need
How sad my life without my wife would be
Now that scares me, oh, that scares me
The Van Zant song "That Scares Me" is a poignant contemplation of the bittersweet realities of parenthood and mortality. The song starts by referencing a bet the singer once made on a field goal kicker from LSU, unafraid and unfazed by the potential loss. However, as life progresses and he faces more significant challenges, such as jumping from planes and playing "chicken" with trains, he realizes that the prospect of facing his own history and the complexities of parenthood is a much more significant trial.
The lyrics of the chorus recount the singer's fears of the day when his children will ask about his past, a history that he does not necessarily want them to know. The theme of sex, drugs, and rock and roll all play a role in the singer's apprehension, along with memories of watching his daughter climb into a boy's car and giving her away at her wedding. The singer is also fearful of the prospect of being alone, without the love and companionship of his wife.
The song is both a contemplation of the joys and sorrows of parenthood, as well as a meditation on the inevitability of death. The singer's fears of his children learning about his past mistakes and the prospect of being alone are universal fears for parents and people in general, and the song captures a sense of the bittersweet nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I had a fortune ridin' on the shoe
Of a field goal kicker from LSU
I never broke a sweat, hell, it was just a bet
I once made a bet on a shoe of a field goal kicker but did not worry about it as it didn't really matter to me
Now, I've climbed mountains and jumped from planes
Even played chicken with a couple trains
Lord, I've been a fool, I still kept my cool
I have done some adventurous things in my life and taken risks, but I remained calm even when it was foolish of me
I don't mind admittin' this heart of mine
Starts to pound thinkin' 'bout
The day my son starts askin' me
All about my history
The things I don't want him to know
The sex, the drugs and rock n' roll
Thinking about my son asking me about my life makes me nervous as there are some aspects, such as my past experiences with sex, drugs, and rock n' roll, that I am not proud of and do not want him to know
Or the first time I watched my daughter
Climb in some boy's car as I holler
Honey, don't be late?
I swallow hard while they drive away
How sad my life without my wife would be
Now that scares me
It worries me when my daughter is with boys as I worry about her safety and future, and the thought of life without my wife makes me sad and scared
This mornin' while I combed my hair
I found a few stray grays in there
And I laughed out loud, I guess I ain't that proud
I noticed some gray hairs while grooming and although it made me feel less proud of my physical appearance, I was able to find humor in it and laugh it off
Some people are afraid to die
But me and Jesus get along alright
I'll be okay 'cause my Judgment Day will be
While some people are afraid of death, I am not as I have faith in Jesus and believe that judgment day will be fine for me
On the night I walked my daughter
Down the aisle in a stiff white collar
Just to hear them say
"Who gives this girl away"
And leave her standin' while I find my seat
Now that scares me
The thought of giving away my daughter during her wedding and leaving her standing alone while I find my seat scares me
The things I don't want them to know
The sex, the drugs, and rock n' roll
And the day they call another house their home
I'm hopin' they find everything that they need
How sad my life without my wife would be
Now that scares me, oh, that scares me
I am scared of my children finding out about my past and about them moving out of the house and building their own home, and I hope that they are happy and find everything they need in life. The thought of not having my wife in my life also scares me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ASHLEY GORLEY, GEORGE TEREN, RIVERS RUTHERFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
donnieu53
I haven't heard a bad song on your last albums. You got right with the Man. :)
Andrew Poopypants
This song makes me cry everytime
douglas henderson
I hear you
Dashun Monk
This is me and Tyson.
Mike Vincent
You need some really cool videos...