18. Rock Goes The Gospel - Lynyrd Skynyrd "Simple Man"

Frontman Johnny Van Zant discussed this song in a track-by-track commentary to promote the band's 2010 CD/DVD Live From Freedom Hall. He said: "Well that's a great song and 

"Simple Man" is a heartfelt song about the mother-son relationship. This song proves that the Southern boys of Lynyrd Skynyrd were capable of stepping outside of their redneck-zone, and write meaningful lyrics.  Song has a nice acoustic rhythm section along with a usual electric-guitar solo.  Though the song was never released as a single, it still remains very popular and accordingly, has become a fixture on their live setlist. Current frontman of the band, Johnny Van Zant, has said that Simple Man "is just a great song and one that stays in the set and the crowd always goes crazy on that one. Simple man is something that I think we all live by. I think anybody out there needs to respect their mother, and the words of their mother. It's mama talking to you in that song and I think it's probably one of my favourite's if not my favourite to do live."

The theme in this son is a mother speaking to her son about the future and growing up. It's a heartfelt song on parenting and the future.

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 will help you some sunny day.
Take your time... Don't live too fast,
Troubles will come and they will pass.
Go find a woman and you'll find love,
And don't forget son,
There is someone up above.

[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?

Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need is in your soul,
And you can do this if you try.
All that I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.

[Chorus]

Boy, don't you worry.
You'll find yourself.
Follow your heart,
And nothing else.
You can do this,
If you try.
All that I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.

[Chorus]

Baby, be a simple, be a simple man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby, be a simple kind of man

A simple theme for a simple song - "Life in the future" The mother in the song is giving advice to her son about how he must live his life in the days ahead. We find other thoughts of satisfaction, happiness, love, achievement that is measured not in money but in contentment.

Paul the great apostle writes about the simple life. He says it in this way "ASPIRE TO LIVE QUIETLY" and "MIND YOUR OWN AFFAIRS" 

1 Thessalonians 4:10-12

"But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one"

In the book of proverbs in the Message bible we find these words.

Proverbs 15:16

"A simple life in the Fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches"

Proverbs 10:29

"The strength of a simple man is the way of the Lord..........The way of the Lord giveth strength to an honest person"

Lets face it most of us are caught up in the "rat race" of life. We run from one thing to the next. Work, Family, Home and back to work again. Our time is consumed by business. (Busy - ness) From time to time we feel the stress that this places on our lives and the lives of our families. If we are honest some of us who are caught up in this endless cycle do yearn for a simpler way of being. I remember talking to a person who had simplified his life and he was commenting "I got off the merry-go-round and it is great" To really live the "Simple Life" or to really become a "Simple man" or "Simple Woman" with simple desires we will have to begin to see things differently and change a few things as well. There may be things we will have to give up, there may be other things we will have to start. the "Simple Life" will effect out work, our travel. our food, our money, our community, our home. We cannot hope to live a "Simple Life" unless we are willing to change our lives to be simple. what would that look like.

Jesus in the gospels lived a simple kind of existence. "That was then" I hear you cry. Maybe so, but there are principles that we can learn from Jesus to apply to our "Simple Life"  He had time for people. (He had "time") Time is commodity that we will need to safeguard if we want to live in a simple way. He spent moments with people and with out people. Attachment and Detachment. Both incredibly important. He ate in community. To often we eat alone, or the company we have is the TV. Jesus travelled and met new people. This too is a great thing for simplicity. Jesus received and gave hospitality. We need to learn this if the simple life is what we are after. 

"Be a simple kind of Man" or woman. 

Lets be intentional about what things can go and what we need to hang on to. Here is a suggestion for you to get you on the journey. A few years ago a was so busy that I was nearing "Burnout" so the Leadership team of the church I'm pastor at suggested that I take the summer of to simplify things. I found a little Grove Booklet entitled "De-Cluttering" Click HERE to purchase it.

It was the beginning for me on this journey.