You Got That Right

Album: Street Survivors (1977)
Charted: 69
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, Skynyrd make it clear they won't be settling down anytime soon - they've got that "traveling bone" and a thirst for adventure. It's a similar sentiment to "Free Bird," but without the metaphor.
  • The title is a phrase popular in the American South as a defiant affirmation:

    "You were out drinking last night, weren't you?"

    "You got that right."
  • This was written by lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines, who joined the band in 1976. The two share lead vocals on the song, making it, along with the Gaines-sung "Ain't No Good Life" (also from Street Survivors) the only Lynyrd Skynyrd releases (not counting demos) to feature a lead vocalist other than Van Zant during his lifetime. Both Gaines and Van Zant were killed when the band's plane crashed on October 20, 1977, just three days after Street Survivors was released. Gaines' sister Cassie, a backup singer for Skynyrd, was also killed in the crash.
  • This is a great example of the contributions Steve Gaines made to the group. After replacing guitarist Ed King, he made a huge impact on their songwriting. Street Survivors was his only album with the band, but he wrote or co-wrote half the songs: "You Got That Right" and "I Never Dreamed" with Van Zant, and "Ain't No Good Life" and "I Know A Little" on his own.

    According to Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington, Gaines inspired them to up their game, as was a top-notch guitarist and writer.
  • This was released months after the plane crash that claimed the lives of Gaines and Van Zant. It peaked at #69 US (settle down, Beavis) on April 29, 1978, six months after the crash. It was the last single from Street Survivors and the last Skynyrd song to make the Hot 100.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.