Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Gimme Three Steps”: Barroom Trouble and Southern Rock Glory
Before “Free Bird” soared and before “Sweet Home Alabama” became an anthem, Lynyrd Skynyrd gave the world a gritty, blues-rock tale of quick feet and quicker wit — “Gimme Three Steps.” Released in 1973 on their debut album (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd), the song captured the band’s raw storytelling chops, swaggering guitar work, and down-home authenticity.
With its fast-paced rhythm and comical lyrics about a real-life near-death experience, “Gimme Three Steps” showed that Skynyrd wasn’t just about guitar fireworks — they could spin a tale too.
The Story Behind the Song: A True-Life Escape
Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant wrote “Gimme Three Steps” based on a real incident that happened to him in a Jacksonville, Florida bar called The Little Brown Jug. As the story goes, Van Zant was dancing with a woman who neglected to mention she had a jealous, gun-toting boyfriend.
“I was cuttin’ a rug down at a place called The Jug / With a girl named Linda Lou…”
When her angry man walked in and pointed a .44 in Van Zant’s direction, his only thought was survival. So he calmly asked for “three steps toward the door.” The man let him walk — and the moment later became one of the band’s most entertaining and enduring songs.
The Music: Southern Rock with a Shot of Humor
From the moment it kicks in, “Gimme Three Steps” rides a tight, infectious groove led by:
- Gary Rossington and Allen Collins’ twin guitar attack – full of twang, swing, and fire
- Billy Powell’s honky-tonk piano adding a barroom bounce
- Bob Burns’ punchy drumming keeping the song locked in
- Van Zant’s vocals, full of grit, charm, and storytelling charisma
It’s a perfect blend of blues-rock energy and Southern flavor, with enough humor to make it accessible and enough attitude to make it classic Skynyrd.
Lyrical Gold: Blues, Guns, and Southern Manners
“Gimme Three Steps” stands out in Skynyrd’s catalog for its lighthearted tone and cinematic lyrics. It’s essentially a mini-movie told in under four minutes — a bar, a girl, a gun, and a fast exit.
“And I said mister, I don’t even know her! / But I know I’d better get outta here…”
It’s funny, but it’s also smart songwriting — vivid imagery, Southern dialect, and a perfect use of rhythm to match the song’s escalating tension.
Reception and Legacy
Though never released as a major chart hit, “Gimme Three Steps” became a fan favorite and a concert staple. Over the years, it has:
- Been included in countless Southern rock compilations and classic rock playlists
- Remained a highlight of Skynyrd’s live shows, often extended with a jam section
- Become one of the band’s most instantly recognizable riffs, often learned by guitar players cutting their teeth on Southern rock
Its reputation has only grown with time, thanks to its energy, humor, and storytelling spirit.
Final Thoughts
“Gimme Three Steps” is Lynyrd Skynyrd at their most charmingly rebellious — not a protest song, not a ballad, but a slice of real-life danger set to three-chord Southern gold. It’s got wit, bite, and a beat that won’t quit, and it reminds us why Skynyrd was more than just a band — they were storytellers of the American South.
It’s a tale of survival.
A dance with trouble.
And one of the best “get outta Dodge” songs ever written.
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