Album: God & Guns (2009)

License This Song 

Songfacts®:

• "God & Guns" is the title track from Lynyrd Skynyrd's 12th studio album. The song title is a reference to a speech President Obama gave in San Francisco where he referred to Americans who "cling to guns or religion."
  
  Vocalist Johnny Van Zant admitted to Billboard magazine that this track is likely to strike people as politically incorrect, but self-censorship has never been in Lynyrd Skynyrd's vocabulary. He said: "We were just in Europe and [with] everybody that was the first question: 'What is the meaning of this 'God & Guns?' We believe in God and I think that Rickey [Medlocke, guitarist] says it best: 'Any religion that you believe in you should be able to pray to it.' For me, personally, it is Jesus Christ and the Lord above."Van Zant added that he doesn't own any handguns, but supports the rights of others to do so. "It is a scary world out there and believe me that if someone were to try to come into my house, I want to be able to protect myself," he said. "We are not saying that every idiot out there should own a gun-and there should be better background checks on guns. Not everybody should have the right."
• God & Guns debuted at #18 on Billboard 200, Lynyrd Skynyrd highest-charting studio effort since Street Survivors reached #5 in 1977.

Comments: 11

• Carsen from Tamarac FlRonnie Van Zant was against guns wasn't he? I don't disagree with the song, but I feel like its just disrespectful to the name Lynard Skynard.
• V from Springfield, MissouriI got to see them at Downstream casino a couple years ago, and remember when Johnny talked about needing to gather up all the guns and throw them in the ocean after they played Saturday Night Special. Was kinda confused after hearing this song, but it’s been cool to learn more about them and their song writing process! Thanks for the read!
• Bob From Missouri from RobertsvilleGreat song !! I personally think this song is spot-on. I agree with everything they say. I have been a true blue Skynyrd fan since day 1...my only beef was the lyrics from "Saturday night special". Given that...I did enjoy the song, just didn't agree with it. Now...for all you liberals that don't like this one.....JUST DON'T LISTEN TO IT !...Either you like the band or you don't....if you don't...then listen to something else and quit your crying !!!
• Ward from Marble Hill, MoIt's pretty clear that Esskayess is a Wayne LaPierre groupie.
• Harold from Nyc, NyIn the words of Ronnie Van Zant:
  Hand guns are made for killin'
  Ain't no good for nothin' else
  And if you like your whiskey
  You might even shoot yourself
  So why don't we dump 'em people
  To the bottom of the sea
  Before some fool come around here
  Wanna shoot either you or me.
• R from Fulton, NyI'm a Mass. Yankee son, liberal western Mass. I think its not debatable if we should have guns. I hope everyone that wants/needs one has one. tat said, whats with the god crap? Your god is a personal thing, I don't share my personal (but raping,people eating habits) with others, why the fork do folks think anyone wants to hear their religious views? Guns are a constitutional issue that I'm 100% in favour of. When your god makes it into my government, I'm not on yer side. Yer not on the side of the const.
• Esskayess from Dallas, TxPretty obvious whose asses Todd in Austin is kissing.
• Jim from Sf (bay Area), CaI never wanted Skynyrd to play anything new at their concerts but their new CD is so darn good that I'm looking forward to hearing the new stuff wnen I see them next month. I know I'll miss Billy on the keys but they still put on a smokin' show. GOD AND GUNS!! I highly recommend this CD. LOVE IT! **** stars (out of five).
• Jim from Sf (bay Area), CaEXCELLENT song from their new AWESOME CD! God and Guns is Skynyrd's best CD release since re-forming in '87 People who cry about the gun title are silly liberals who need to grow up. The guys in Skynyrd are no loger in their 20s and maybe they didn't even share Ronnie Van Zant's opinion on hand guns even back when Saturday Night Special was a new song. Back then they had nothing to protect except their guitars and amps but today is a different and waaaay more dangerous world and they now have family to protect. With growth comes change. Deal with it.
• Andy from Calgary, AbThis isn't my Skynyrd. Ronnie wrote a song about hand-gun control with legit points. This - to me - is nothing more than pandering to the majority of their audience. Come back, Ronnie. We need you!
• Todd from Austin, TxI listen to this song and I'm disappointed. I come to the realization that Johnny Van Zant can't even hold a candle to his saint of a brother, Ronnie (may he RIP). Ronnie was the pure artist. His songs weren't limited to the redneck audience; they appealed to rednecks, city dwellers, whites, non-whites: pretty much everybody. But this song is a simplistic, jingoistic response to the truth vocalized by Obama. Obama clarified what he meant in the "bitter" speech about how middle-class folks in a lot of places felt so ignored by politicians that they would just turn to things they could count on - like religion and guns. And in his clarification, Obama said that turning to religion and guns is a NATURAL response, that he didn't blame them for it, and that he wanted to become president to fight for those middle-class folks. I miss the old Lynyrd Skynyrd, not the new one who's sold out and appeared on that Neocon shill Hannity's show (and practically kissed his ass). Forget this album folks - it's worth 0 stars out of 5. Stick to all the Lynyrd Skynyrd songs of the Ronnie Van Zant era.

More Songfacts:

AngieThe Rolling Stones

"Angie" was the only ballad by The Rolling Stones to hit #1 in America.

American PieDon McLean

The only cover of "American Pie" to chart is by Madonna, whose 2000 version was a minor hit in America but went to #1 in the UK.

Papa Don't PreachMadonna

Madonna didn't write "Papa Don't Preach," which deals with abortion. What drew her to the song was the singer standing up to male authority.

Girl, You'll Be A Woman SoonNeil Diamond

Neil Diamond got a big boost in 1994 when Urge Overkill's cover of his song 'Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon" was used in the movie Pulp Fiction. His catalog sales ramped up, and suddenly he was cool.

Whip ItDevo

Devo got the idea for their "Whip It" video from an article about a guy who owned a dude ranch and charged people to watch him remove his wife's clothes with a bullwhip.

Dancing In The DarkBruce Springsteen

Before she was famous on Friends, Courteney Cox danced on stage with Bruce Springsteen in his "Dancing In The Dark" video.

Editor's Picks

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Rock Revenge SongsMusic Quiz

John Lennon, Paul Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd are some of the artists who have written revenge songs. Do you know who they wrote them about?

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.