Album: Skynyrd's First And... Last (1978)

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• Like a restless leaf in the autumn breeze
  Once, I was a tumbleweed
  Like a rolling stone, cold and all alone
  Livin' for the day my dream would come
  
  Never cared for school or any golden rules
  Papa used to always say I was a useless fool
  So I left my home to show 'em they was wrong
  And headed out on the road, singin' my songs
  
  Then one sunny day, the man, he looked my way
  And everything that I dreamed of, it was real
  Money, girls, and cars and big long cigars
  And I caught the first plane home so papa would see
  
  When I went home to show 'em they was wrong
  All that I found was just two tombstones
  Somebody tell me, please, was I right or wrong?
  Lord, it's such a sad song
  
  At first I got lost, then I got found
  But the ones that I loved were in the ground
  Papa, I only wish you could see me now
  Take a listen papa, ooh, I learned how to play my guitar
  Gonna be a superstar
  Play one for mama now
  
  First I got lost, then I got found
  Ones that I loved are in the ground
  Won't you tell me please was I right or wrong
  
  If there's any way that you can hear what I say
  Papa, I never meant to do you wrong
  All the money, girls, and cars and all the world's long cigars
  Papa, I just want you to know
  They couldn't take your place
  
  When I went home to show 'em they was wrong
  All that I found was just two tombstones
  Somebody tell me please, was I right or wrong?
  Lord, it's such a sad song
  At first (first) I got lost (lost), then I got found (found)
  But the ones that I loved were in the ground (in the ground)
  Somebody tell me, please, was I right or wrong? Writer/s: Gary Robert Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
  Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 10

• Db Cooper from Oakland, CaI grew up listening to these albums. Was almost 16 the fateful day of 10/20/77. Had already seen Skynyrd twice. New Years Eve of 1976 and July 4th of 1977.
  Anyhow, I spent until the age of 38 in & outta the joint because of my love for heroin.
  Finally at 38, without any usable veins left, I got clean and grew a business doing electrical work. A trade I learned in San Quentin. I really grew up. However.... by then my mom & dad were both dead, and they never saw this DB Cooper.
  One day driving home from a job I put this song on and it hit me HARD.
  "When I got home to show 'em they was wrong, all I found was these 2 tombstones..."
  Love you, dad! You miserable drunk prick. I love you.
• JohnhThis is a beautiful and under-rated song
• Kim From OhioMy interpretation is very similar, yet I went a bit deeper. "Somebody tell me please was I right or wrong"-he'll never know if he was either one, at least in the eyes of his family. Lifetime existential question. I , too, picked right up on the "Gimme Three Steps chord progression in the instrumental. Just a friggin' beautiful song.
• Joe from OhioI’ve been a skynyrd fan for a while but this song was always kind of hidden and lesser known. It might have become my favorite skynyrd song and one of my favorites period.
  
  “First I got lost, then I got found / But the ones that I loved were in the ground / somebody tell me please was I right or wrong?”
  
  There is so much emotional pain and heartache in this line it’s amazing. Listened to this after my grandmother’s funeral. The line relates to me in tying to get your life back on track but realizing years have gone by and things will never be the same. You can never regain the lost years and sometimes the ones you love the most you lose when you throw away time.
  
  This song also deals with a difficult relationship with one’s parents, but still loving them deep down and seeking their approval. “Papa used to say I was a useless fool.” Yet later he wishes he could see his father again. Partly out of vindication, but also I believe partly because his parents would be proud of him, and he wishes they could see his success. “Papa I never meant to do you wrong.”
  
  A song about a fading youth, and longing to make things right when it’s too late. It haunts me but also comforts me.
• Tracy Douglas from AlabamaThis is my favorite song. Love it
• Billy from CaDefinitely one of my favorites...
• Kelsey from Lincoln, NeThe demo version of this song is the best. Love it!!
• Alan from Rochester, NyHauntingly beautiful.
  The interpolation of an instrumental from "Gimme Three Steps" (at least that's what it sounded like) was interesting.
  I wonder, why did Van Zandt's character end up being surprised by / unaware of his parents' passing?
• Jeanette from Mcgrady, NcThis is a funky tune, and I mean that in the absolute greatest possible way. Skynyrd had such a wide variety of sounds, it is mind blowing.
• Brandon from Morristown, TnThis song is beatiful but deep.Its one of my favorite Skynyrd songs.

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