Southern Rock Giants Johnny and Donnie Van Zant Premier Pro-DeSantis “Sweet Florida”
“Down in sweet, sweet Florida our governor is red, white and blue”
If you grew up in the South, Southern rock was a mainstay. Kids were driving around, windows down, speakers blasting Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 Special songs like “Freebird,” “Hold On Loosely,” and “Sweet Home Alabama.”
Florida boys, the Van Zants (Ronnie, Johnny, and Donnie) created some of the best lyrics, vocals, and music of the 70’s and 80’s, songs you will still hear covered in bars and honky-tonks across the state and across the South.
So it was with great interest that I clicked on the Fox News’ article entitled, “‘Sweet Florida’: Van Zant brothers dedicate new song to Gov. Ron DeSantis.”
It’s more of a campaign song than a dedication, but it’s wonderful if you like Southern rock (and DeSantis).
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is being rewarded for his leadership through an exclusive song dedication by music legends the Van Zant brothers.
“Sweet Florida” highlights DeSantis’ efforts to keep Florida free, written by Johnny Van Zant, lead vocalist of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and his brother Donnie Van Zant of 38 Special.
“We got to thank Governor DeSantis for standing and believing for what he believes…he’s been a great governor for us,” Johnny told “Fox & Friends” Friday.
The Van Zant brothers were born in Jacksonville and emphasized that DeSantis stands for everything that they believe in.
The lyrics by Johnny and Donnie Van Zant reflect their perspectives of the Florida governor as they show their utmost support for DeSantis.
“He stands up for what he believes. So don’t come down here trying to change things we’re doing all right in the Sunshine State. Stay out of our business. Leave our governor alone. Down in sweet, sweet Florida our governor is red, white and blue…he’s shooting us straight, telling us the truth.”
Apparently, DeSantis suggested to the Van Zant brothers that he would love to hear something like “Sweet Home Alabama” about Florida.
Fox News continues:
“We really wrote it…in a couple of hours, and we recorded it on an iPhone and sent it to the governor,” Van Zant explained. “We’ve never done that before…and we took a chance.”
DeSantis suggested a song about his state modeled on the Lynyrd Skynyrd hit “Sweet Home Alabama.”
The Van Zant brothers ran with that idea and created “Sweet Florida,” to thank DeSantis for his leadership in the Sunshine State.
. . . .
“Sweet Florida” is available on Spotify, Apple Music and the music video is posted on sweetfloridasong.com.
Here’s the video:
One of my favorite lyrics: “You can take it to the bank, he don’t care what Brandon thinks at the White House.”
DeSantis tweeted:
Thanks to Johnny & Donnie Van Zant. I have a feeling this might be the song of the summer…https://t.co/FzrPTkCfs9 pic.twitter.com/k6rk48tzq8
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) April 1, 2022
“Down in Sweet Florida” lyrics (via Florida’s Conservative Voice):
The press don’t like him
But he sure does get my business
He stands up for what he believes
So don’t come down here trying to change things
We’re doing alright
In the Sunshine State
Stay out of our business
Leave our gov alone
Down in Sweet Florida
Our governor is red, white, and blue
Down in Sweet Florida
He’s shootin’ us straight and telling us the truth
You can take it to the bank
He don’t care what Brandon thinks at the White House
Yeah, he’s fighting for the right to keep our state free
Well, he’s taken on the swamp and he’s callin’ out Doctor Fauci
He’s the only one fighting for you and me
Down in Sweet Florida
Our governor, he’s red, white, and blue
Down in Sweet Florida
He’s shootin’ us straight and telling us the truth
Well, we ain’t been locked down
We still have our freedom
We can still see our friends and family
Oh, our kids are in school
And we can go to church on Sunday
And it’s all because DeSantis knows how to lead
Down in Sweet Florida
Our governor, he’s red, white, and blue
Down in Sweet Florida
He’s shootin’ us straight and telling us the truth
Down in Sweet, Sweet, Sweet Florida
Our governor, he’s red, white, and blue
Down in Sweet Florida
He’s shootin’ us straight and telling us the truth
Down in Sweet Florida
He’s kicking it up
Standing them down in Florida
He’s a military man
With the courage to withstand them all
Yeah, we’re free down in Florida
Our governor is red, white, and blue
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Comments
Sweet Florida.
Sounds just right.
We are so lucky to still be free down here.
Take that, Kneel Young.
Well, I heard it yesterday. I’m glad they have stood up for Florida and DeSantis
We need a whole lot more than f this
But it’s no Sweet How Alabama
DeSantis has blossomed as a remarkable governor. As my congressman, his tenure was at best sub par. As a governor and having a family have made him less stiff, more at ease, and absolutely committed to Conservative causes.
I think we’re looking at a future president.
I think so, too. Now he just needs to get off Twitter and build up another, safer social media outlet. He will be kicked of Twitter, probably sooner rather than later.
What y’all need to remember is the piss poor choices we Floridians will be left with should DeSantis toss his hat in the ring. So please understand we feel a bit miserly about sharing him and want him for ourselves.
As a free Floridian, I am hoping against hope that DeSantis sticks around for another term as our governor. He’s young and has time to build on his amazing successes here in “sweet Florida.”
I think the advice he’s being given, though, may be off-target. DeSantis is not some kind of “this is your one and only shot” loser like Chris Christie (who had one chance to win the WH and passed on it). DeSantis is the real deal, and he’s definitely on track to become president some day.
Personally, I think he runs in 2024, and the battle against Trump will be epic. I also think that our Marxist media will do a 180 and make Trump look good again, because they would fear DeSantis more — Trump’s readiness to fight, plus the discipline.
If a Trump/DeSantis battle should happen, you can kiss the conservative cause goodbye
Desantis is young enough that he could easily wait until 2028 and let Trump have it in 2024, taking another round as Florida’s governor and further solidifying his credentials as well as helping Florida become redder, better able to handle whatever the left throws at the state. I don’t know how old his kids are but waiting until 2028 also gives them more time to grow up outside of the meat grinder that is national politics & running for the Presidency.
Trump should not run again..
I know some of you will find that down-vote worthy but he doesn’t poll well enough to win any more.
Regardless of your personal feelings, please recognize the bigger end game here!
He won’t run against Trump. He doesn’t have to, and it would be a mistake. He is young and the real deal. He can wait.
Congressman Michael Waltz is someone to watch.
Florida is worth celebrating
My late husband was a Florida native and Lynyrd Skynrd fan. I know he is up there with a big smile hearing this.
Actually, Molly Hatchet would have been the more appropriate band as they were from Florida, and the Dems are certainly flirtin’ with disaster in the midterms.
No need to only have one.
Heh, the first concert I ever went to was a Molly Hatchet concert. Someone got shivved there, and I wasn’t allowed to go to another concert for years. I did like their music, though, but I don’t really get your point here. The Van Zants are Florida boys, from Jacksonville.
healthguyfsu in reply to Eric R.. | April 4, 2022 at 11:59 am
Trump should not run again..
I know some of you will find that down-vote worthy but he doesn’t poll well enough to win any more.
Regardless of your personal feelings, please recognize the bigger end game here!
Agreed. He did his job. He kicked the door down, unmasked the deep state and pretty much pulled the ruling class’ pants down. Time for someone else to take the lead and run through that door.
This is my feeling, too. Trump forged the path, but he didn’t get the job done and is just too toxic with squishies who would otherwise support a Republican. We can do better than Trump, but we couldn’t have done better without him.
Either way, though, if he wins the 2024 primary, I’m voting for him for a third time. He was so good on policy that I can’t see how anyone with a conservative bone in their body wouldn’t.