Gimme Three Steps
{{Refimprove|date=June 2021}}
{{short description|1973 single by Lynyrd Skynyrd}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Gimme Three Steps
| cover = Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gimme Three Steps.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Lynyrd Skynyrd
| album = (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)
| B-side = Mr. Banker
| released = November 1973
| format =
| recorded = March 29, 1973
| studio = Studio One, Doraville, Georgia
| venue =
| genre = Southern rock
| length = 3:17 (single version), 4:26 (album version)
| label = MCA
| writer = Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins
| producer = Al Kooper
| prev_title = I've Been Your Fool
| prev_year = 1971
| next_title = Don't Ask Me No Questions (remix)
| next_year = 1974
| misc = {{External music video|header=Live video|
{{YouTube|qAXjnPcZId0|"Gimme Three Steps"}}}}
}}
"Gimme Three Steps" is a song by American southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released from the band's debut album, (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) (1973). It was written by bandmates Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant.
The single release contains the song "Mr. Banker" as a B-side.
Background
Band member Gary Rossington based the lyrics on a real-life experience Ronnie Van Zant had at a bar in Jacksonville, Florida, having a gun pulled on him for dancing with another man's woman.{{cite web|url=http://wiki.scorehero.com/LoadingScreens/ |title=ScoreHero Wiki: Loading Screens |publisher=Wiki.scorehero.com |access-date=2020-10-13}}{{Better source|date=April 2022}} While the narrator dances with a girl named Linda Lou at a bar called The Jug, a man (either the girl's boyfriend or husband) armed with a .44 revolver enters and catches them, angrily believing her to be cheating and threatening the narrator's life. The narrator protests that he has not even kissed Linda Lou and begs the man to give him a head start out of the bar: "Won't you give me three steps / Gimme three steps, mister / Gimme three steps towards the door? / Gimme three steps / Gimme three steps, mister / And you'll never see me no more." When the man turns to shout at Linda Lou, the narrator takes advantage of the distraction and runs out.{{cite web|url=http://www.lynyrdskynyrdhistory.com/lyrics/70-77/pronounc/sonc.html |title=Gimme Three Steps |publisher=Lynyrdskynyrdhistory.com |access-date=2020-10-13}}
Of the live single released in 1977, Cash Box said it is "a traditional rock and roller, featuring some tight harmony vocals and the obligatory high-distortion guitar solo."{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=February 26, 1977|page=22|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2021-12-26|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1977/CB-1977-02-26.pdf}} Record World said that "the triple pronged guitar attack and Ronnie Van Zant's vocal have never sounded better."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=February 26, 1977|accessdate=2023-02-16|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/77/RW-1977-02-26.pdf}}
Personnel
= Lynyrd Skynyrd =
- Ronnie Van Zant - vocals
- Gary Rossington - lead guitar
- Allen Collins - guitar
- Ed King - bass
- Bob Burns - drums
- Billy Powell - keyboards
Notes
{{reflist}}
{{Lynyrd Skynyrd}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Song recordings produced by Al Kooper
Category:Songs written by Allen Collins
Category:Songs written by Ronnie Van Zant