SIMPLE MAN
Song Facts
“Simple Man” is the fourth track on Lynyrd
Skynyrd’s Debut Album released on August
13th 1973.
Song was written by the lead singer at time,
the late Ron Van Zant, and lead guitarist Gary
Rossington.
Zant lost a mother during the time of the
debut album’s recording and Rossington lost a
grandmother as a boy and together they
wrote the song in their memory, using their
mothers’ combined wisdom for the context of
the song.
Verse 1
“Mama told me, when I was young
Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely, to what I say
And if you do this, it’ll help you some
sunny day
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, And even
when he is old he will not depart from it. (NASB)
Barnes’s Notes on Proverbs 22:6
Train - Initiate, and so, educate.
The way he should go – Or, according to the tenor
of his way, i. e., the path especially belonging to,
especially fitted for, the individual's character.
The proverb enjoins the closest possible study of
each child's temperament and the adaptation of
"his way of life" to that.
(Mama told me, when I was young
Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely, to what I say)
Proverbs 14:26
Whoever fears (reveres) the Lord has a secure
fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge
(NIV)
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but
bring them up in the discipline and instruction of
the Lord. (NASB)
Verse 2
Oh, take your time, don’t live too fast
Troubles will come, and they will pass
Go find a woman, you’ll find love
And don’t forget son, there is
Someone up above
(Oh, Take Your Time, Don’t Live Too Fast)
Proverbs 27:1
Don't brashly announce what you're going to do
tomorrow; you don't know the first thing
about tomorrow. (Message)
Matthew 6:34
“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow
will care for itself. Each day has enough
trouble of its own. (NASB)
(Troubles Will Come, And They Will Pass)
Proverbs 11:8
The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the
wicked cometh in his stead. (KJV)
Greek Breakdown:
Thera [Noun Feminine] (Thera – Thay’ Rah)
A hunting of wild beasts to destroy them.
Metaphor: Preparing destruction for men.
KJV/NASB Septuagint Translation - Trap
(Troubles Will Come, And They Will Pass)
Proverbs 11:8
The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and
the wicked cometh in his stead. (KJV)
Hebrew Breakdown:
Tsarah [Noun Feminine] (Tsaw-raw’) – Straits,
distress, trouble, vexer, rival wife
(Troubles Will Come, And They Will Pass)
Adam Clarke - Biblical Theologian
Proverbs 11:8
“The wicked cometh in his stead – Often God
makes this distinction; in public calamities and in
sudden accidents he rescues the righteous, and
leaves the wicked, who has filled up the measure
of his iniquities, to be seized by the hand of
death. Justice, then, does its own work; for
mercy has been rejected.”
Short Summary: Sin On To Death
(Troubles Will Come, And They Will Pass)
Proverbs 12:21
There shall no evil happen to the just: but the
wicked shall be filled with mischief. (KJV)
Hebrew Breakdown
Aven [Noun Masculine] (Aw-ven’) – Trouble,
sorrow, wickedness, idolatry.
Troubles Will Come, And They Will Pass)
Adam Clarke - Biblical Theologian
Proverbs 12:21
“There shall no evil happen to the just - No, for
all things work together for good to them that
love God. Whatever occurs to a righteous
man God turns to his advantage. But, on the
other hand, the wicked are filled with
mischief: they are hurt, grieved, and
wounded, by every occurrence; and nothing
turns to their profit.”
(Go Find A Woman, You’ll Find Love)
Proverbs 31:10
A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman—
who is he who can find her? She is far more
precious than jewels and her value is far
above rubies or pearls. (Amplified)
Proverbs 18:22
He who finds a [true] wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord. (Amplified)
(And don’t forget son, there is
Someone up above)
Job 8:9-13
For we were born but yesterday and know nothing.
Our days on earth are as fleeting as a shadow.
But those who came before us will teach you.
They will teach you the wisdom of old.
Can papyrus reeds grow tall without a marsh? Can
marsh grass flourish without water? While they
are still flowering, not ready to be cut, they begin
to wither more quickly than grass. The same
happens to all who forget God. The hopes of the
godless evaporate. (NLV)
(And don’t forget son, there is
Someone up above)
Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone
who intends to come with me has to let me lead.
You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run
from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll
show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Selfsacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself,
your true self. What kind of deal is it to get
everything you want but lose yourself? What
could you ever trade your soul for? (Message)
Chorus
And be a simple kind of man
Be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won’t you do this for me son if you
can?
(And be a simple kind of man
Be something you love and understand)
Proverbs 19:8
He who gains Wisdom loves his own life; he
who keeps understanding shall prosper
and find good. (Amplified)
Psalm 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the
soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple. (NASB)
Verse 3
Forget your lust for the rich man’s gold
All that you need is in your soul
And you can do this, oh baby, if you try
All that I want for you my son, is to be
satisfied
(Forget your lust for the rich man’s gold)
Proverbs 16:16
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above
silver.
Proverbs 27:20
Sheol (Hell) and Abaddon (Destuction) are
never satisfied, Nor are the (lustful) eyes of
man ever satisfied.
(All that you need is in your soul)
Proverbs 24:14
Know that wisdom is thus for your soul;
If you find it, then there will be a future,
And your hope will not be cut off. (NASB)
Matthew 11:29
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I
am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. (NASB)
(And you can do this, oh baby, if you try)
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge Him, And He will make
your paths straight.
(All that I want for you my son, is to
be satisfied)
Proverbs 12:14
A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his
words, And the deeds of a man’s hands will
return to him.
Proverbs 19:23
The fear of the Lord leads to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.
Verse 4
Boy, don’t you worry, you’ll find yourself
Follow your heart, and nothing else
And you can do this, oh baby, if you try
All that I want for you my son, is to be
satisfied
(Boy, don’t you worry, you’ll find yourself)
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also
has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a
divinely implanted sense of a purpose working
through the ages which nothing under the sun but
God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find
out what God has done from the beginning to the
end. (Amplified)
Proverbs 21:21
He who earnestly seeks after and craves
righteousness, mercy, and loving-kindness will find
life in addition to righteousness (uprightness and
right standing with God) and honor. (Amplified)
(Follow your heart, and nothing else)
Proverbs 3:1-3
My son, do not forget my teaching, But let
your heart keep my commandments; For
length of days and years of life And peace
they will add to you. Do not let kindness
and truth leave you; Bind them around
your neck, Write them on the tablet of
your heart. (NASB)