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.
Things I Miss The Most
Van Zant Lyrics
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Sometimes I have no choice,
After singin' hard, six nights straight,
A little sip sure helps my voice.
Don't get me wrong, I love these songs,
An' I know I've got it made.
Sometimes my mind starts driftin',
When I'm up here on the stage.
An' that oak tree on the hill.
To those dogs out, barkin' in the yard,
An' that tractor in the field.
An' them kids up on the front porch,
Screamin': "Mamma, Daddy's home!"
When I'm out here, I'm just thinkin',
About the things I miss the most.
Yeah, the hardest thing I have to do,
Is hang up this telephone.
There's so much left to talk about,
An' I been gone so long.
So put them kids on one more time,
Before they go to sleep.
And, baby, no, no matter where I go,
All that I can see,
Is that last half-mile of dirt road,
An' that oak tree on the hill.
To those dogs out, barkin' in the yard,
An' that tractor in the field.
An' them kids up on the front porch,
Screamin': "Mamma, Daddy's home!"
When I'm out here, I'm just thinkin',
About the things I miss the most.
The things I miss the most.
The things I miss the most.
An' it's killin'me:
I hate to leave this family that you've given me,
God only knows, I hate to go,
So hold me close and let me let you know,
About the things I miss the most.
People always ask me,
After every show,
"Of all the places that you've ever been,
"What's your favorite place to go?"
It's that last half-mile of dirt road,
An' that oak tree on the hill.
An' those dogs out, barkin' in the yard,
An' that ol' tractor in the field.
An' them kids up on the front porch,
Screamin': "Mamma, Daddy's home!"
When I'm out here, I'm just thinkin',
'Bout the things I miss the most.
While I'm out here, I'm just thinkin',
About the things I miss the most.
The song 'Things I Miss the Most' by Van Zant is a tribute to the singer's family and home. The lyrics describe the struggle of being on the road for extended periods while pursuing their dreams but missing the simple joys of home. The first verse describes how sometimes, after six nights of singing, a little sip of whiskey can soothe the voice. The singer goes on to profess his love for his songs but often finds his mind wandering back home to the dirt road, oak tree on the hill, dogs barking in the yard, and even the tractor in the field. He misses his family, especially the kids screaming "Mamma, Daddy's home!" from the front porch.
Van Zant expresses how hanging up the phone and leaving his family is the hardest thing he has to do, and putting the kids on one last time before they go to sleep is vital. He urges his partner to hold him close and let him know about the things he misses the most. The bridge describes how people always ask him about his favorite place to visit, but all he can think about is his home with the last half-mile of dirt road, oak tree on the hill, dogs barking in the yard, and the ol' tractor in the field. He concludes that while on tour, he's always thinking about the things he misses the most.
Overall, the song's sentiment is bittersweet, describing the pain of leaving family behind to follow one's dreams but also acknowledging the beauty of having loved ones to miss. It serves as an ode to the things that make a home unique and special, even if they seem mundane to others.
Line by Line Meaning
I swear I gave up drinkin';
I used to drink a lot, but now I try not to, except when I need it to soothe my voice.
Sometimes I have no choice,
I don't drink every day, only when it's necessary for my singing.
After singin' hard, six nights straight,
I perform six nights in a row, and it takes a toll on my voice.
A little sip sure helps my voice.
Drinking alcohol in moderation helps to soothe my singing voice.
Don't get me wrong, I love these songs,
I enjoy performing music and am grateful for my success.
An' I know I've got it made.
I realize I'm fortunate to have accomplished what I have in my music career.
Sometimes my mind starts driftin',
Occasionally, my thoughts wander while I'm on stage.
When I'm up here on the stage.
I'm performing onstage during these moments.
To that last half-mile of dirt road,
I reminisce about the memory of that last part of the rough road.
An' that oak tree on the hill.
I remember the old oak tree that stands on the hill in my hometown.
To those dogs out, barkin' in the yard,
I miss the sound of my dogs barking in my yard.
An' that tractor in the field.
I recall the sight of my tractor in the field.
An' them kids up on the front porch,
I think about my kids waiting for me on the front porch.
Screamin': "Mamma, Daddy's home!"
I can hear my kids yelling excitedly that their mom and dad are finally home.
When I'm out here, I'm just thinkin',
During my time on stage, I'm often reflecting on my past.
About the things I miss the most.
I'm missing the simple things in life that meant so much to me.
Yeah, the hardest thing I have to do,
It's difficult for me to end phone calls with my family.
Is hang up this telephone.
I hate to end my conversations with my loved ones.
There's so much left to talk about,
I always feel like there's still much to discuss before ending our calls.
An' I been gone so long.
Being away from home for long periods makes it hard to stay connected.
So put them kids on one more time,
Please let me talk to my children one more time before bed.
Before they go to sleep.
I don't want to miss saying goodnight to my kids.
And, baby, no, no matter where I go,
No matter where my career takes me, my memories of home are always with me.
All that I can see,
In my mind, I remember the images and sounds of my home and family.
Is that last half-mile of dirt road,
My mind's eye remembers the last part of the road I traveled on to return home.
An' that oak tree on the hill.
I remember the old oak tree standing on the hill in my hometown.
The things I miss the most.
I am nostalgic for the small things that make up the fabric of my everyday life.
An' it's killin' me:
It's emotionally daunting to be away from my family for long stretches of time.
I hate to leave this family
It's difficult for me to say goodbye to my family.
That you've given me,
I am grateful for the family I have at home.
God only knows, I hate to go,
It's hard for me to leave when I know there is so much to miss at home.
So hold me close and let me let you know,
Please comfort me and let me express my feelings before I have to leave.
About the things I miss the most.
I am missing the simple things in life that meant so much to me.
People always ask me,
After my performances, people frequently ask me questions.
After every show,
This questioning typically happens after every show I do.
"Of all the places that you've ever been,
People ask me about my favorite places I've visited.
"What's your favorite place to go?"
Specifically, audiences want to know where my favorite place to go is.
While I'm out here, I'm just thinkin',
When away from home, I often spend my time in my thoughts.
Bout the things I miss the most.
During these moments of reflection, I reminisce about the things I am missing most.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DONNIE VAN ZANT, JEFFREY STEELE, JOHNNY ROY VAN ZANT, THOMAS JAY HAMBRIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind