Simple Man -- 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 will help you some sunny day"

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 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"

"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"

(**)  

"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"

(**) 

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

Rossington came up with a chord progression, and Van Zant wrote the lyrics based on advice the women had given them over the years. They wrote it in approximately an hour. Though the lyrics state, "Sit beside me, my only son," Ronnie was not the only son.   

                                          

    Simple Man  ,   Shinedown