In a state of vertigo this morning, feeling my way along hoping the words come.

Yesterday while concentrating to write an entry for another day, I discovered that a few weeks ago my aunt passed away.  I was not aware she was ill.  I visited with her a year ago in North Carolina.  She was the next oldest to my mother, one of seven sisters.  Three of the McLamb sisters are left.  My aunt was 89.  She was an extraordinary individual.

I look around me, and there are few left ahead of me.  Every new absence, is a gap in the line.  The seeming randomness of another loss presses me to assess anew.  If my mother were still living what would she say to me?

This song is in the spirit of my mood today.  Background notes disclose the lyrics were written upon the occasion of the death of the grandmother of Ronnie Van Zant.  Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Simple Man

By Lynyrd Skynyrd

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”

“Oh, take your time, don’t live too fast
Troubles will come and they will pass
You’ll find a woman and you’ll find love
And don’t forget, son, there is someone up above”

“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, oh baby, if you try
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied”

“And be a simple kind of man
Oh, 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”

Oh, yes, I will

“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”

“And be a simple kind of man
Oh, 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?”

“Baby, be a simple, be a simple man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby, be a simple kind of simple man
Oh, won’t you do this for me, son, if you can?”

Lyrics by Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington