Today’s song of the day is “Gimme Three Steps,” by the famous American Rock Band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Fun Facts

• When the band was formed in 1964, its name was “My Backyard.” They then changed their name three times until 1970 and the forever famous Lynyrd Skynyrd.

• The name of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd is inspired by the gym teacher of guitarist Gary Rossington, Leonard Skinner. He was openly hostile to the Hippie fashion and tried to force Gary to cut his hair. So he proposed to his band to adopt the name of Leonard Skinner modified as a sign of mockery and derision.

• In 1977, the lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, the lead guitarist Steve Gaines, as well as their manager Dean Kilpatrick died in a plane crash. The other members of the group survived but were severely injured. This tragic event caused the band to stop activities until 1987 when Ronnie Van Zant’s little brother, Johnny, took the role of the lead singer. They started a big farewell tour in 2018.

• The song “Gimme Three Steps” is inspired by a real-life encounter Ronnie Van Zant experienced at The Pastime, a motorcycle bar in Jacksonville. He was pulled over for dancing with another man’s lady, prompting him to write the lyrics on his way home.

Lyrics:

(LyricFind)

 

I was cutting the rug

Down at place called The Jug

With a girl named Linda Lou

When in walked a man

With a gun in his hand

And he was looking for you know who

He said, “Hey there, fellow

With the hair colored yellow

Whatcha tryin’ to prove?

‘Cause that’s my woman there

And I’m a man who cares

And this might be all for you

I said, excuse me

I was scared and fearing for my life

I was shaking like a leaf on a tree

‘Cause he was lean, mean

Big and bad, Lord

Pointin’ that gun on me

“Oh, wait a minute, mister

I didn’t even kiss her

Don’t want no trouble with you

And I know you don’t owe me

But I wish you’d let me

Ask one favor from you”

“Oh, won’t you

Gimme three steps, gimme three steps, mister

Gimme three steps toward the door?

Gimme three steps, gimme three steps, mister

And you’ll never see me no more”

For, sure

Well the crowd cleared away

And I began to pray

And the water fell on the floor

And I’m telling you, son

Well, it ain’t no fun

Staring straight down a forty-four

Well, he turned and screamed at Linda Lou

And that’s the break I was looking for

Well, you could hear me screaming a mile away

I was headed out toward the door

“Oh, won’t you

Gimme three steps, gimme three steps, mister

Gimme three steps toward the door?

Gimme three steps, gimme three steps, mister

And you’ll never see me no more”

Show me the back door