Chevy Van by Sammy Johns

Album: Sammy Johns (1973)

Charted: 5

License This Song

lyrics

Songfacts®:

North Carolina native Sammy Johns was playing guitar by age 9 and formed his own band, the Devilles, as a teenager. He scored his first solo record deal in 1973, after moving to Atlanta, releasing his self-titled debut album that same year.
Although Johns wrote a number of hit songs for other artists, most notably "America," recorded by Waylon Jennings, "Common Man" by John Conlee and "Desperado Love" for Conway Twitty, he is best remembered for this tune, which drove up to #5 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, earning him a gold disc. The song struck a chord with listeners in the sexually liberated early 1970s detailing a one night stand in the back of the loose-living male protagonist's Chevrolet Van.
The song features on the soundtrack to The Van, the first movie to feature Danny DeVito.
Other artists that have covered this song include Eric Church, Waylon Jennings and Sammy Kershaw.
Johns passed away on January 4, 2013 at Gaston Memorial Hospital in Gastonia, North Carolina at the age of 66.

Comments: 8

Jeff from Minnesota1982. Her name was Amy. No last name. Dropped her off in in a small town outside of El Paso, TX. Used custom van we called them Braggin' Wagons. I paid $2000 for that crap can. Wish I still had it. My favorite memory from my youth.
Carolyn King from Carlisle PennsylvaniaBrenda Cunningham said she took a little offense with the line, "I put her out in a town that was so small..." It implies he kinda kicked her out."
I thought he MET this girl in a town that was so small you could throw a rock from end to end. He was just passing through. They did their Thing, and she went back to her town and he rode off into the sunset. Nobody kicked out of anywhere. Just living the young travelling man 1970's kind of life.
Brenda Cunningham from Ocala, FlLove this song, always have. I do take a little offense with the line, "I put her out in a town that was so small..." It implies he kinda kicked her out. Would have sounded better to have phrased it, "I let her out...".
Phil Fischer from BellevueSong has a special meaning for me too, I had a buddy that had an old 70s Chevy van and even though I grew up in the 80s in the 90s we still roll around in it all the time in the back roads of Alaska passing through many small towns and occasionally we would get lucky and score some weird girls of course their legs weren’t tanned and to be completely transparent they didn’t really look like a princess lying there in tree he back of the van but what the hell you’re 16 years old it was great. I think about those times when the song comes on the radio
David from Pascagoula, MississippiThis song is a very special song to me because quite simply, I lost my virginity to a woman almost twice my age, I was 18, she was 32, in my parents 1974 Chevy van. I bought this album the year it was released, parents bought the Van a year later, not having a clue that this song would end up being a reality for me in almost way, except I met her in a bar, and then took her for ride in my wagon. That night was 42 years ago, and I remember it like it was last night. I just wish I still had the Van!
Donnie from Sugarloaf Song about my youth
Mark from PhiladelphiaGreat song that for me really paints a picture of the 70's.
Tony from San DiegoWhat an unbelievably sexy song. The groove is so sultry. Sorry to hear of Sammy's passing.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Cleveland RocksIan Hunter

"Cleveland Rocks" was written by an Englishman. Ian Hunter wrote the song after touring America in the late '70s and finding that Cleveland was by far the most receptive city to his brand of Glam Rock.

Pinball WizardThe Who

Pete Townshend wrote The Who's "Pinball Wizard" to coax a good review for the Tommy album out of a rock critic who loved pinball. It worked.

Family AffairMary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige introduced three new words with her hit "Family Affair": hateration, holleration and dancerie.

Man On the MoonR.E.M.

"Man On The Moon" by R.E.M. is about the comedian Andy Kaufman, who often seemed like he was from another planet.

ContagiousThe Isley Brothers

The Isley Brother's song, "Contagious," peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100. This meant that the band of brothers became the first group to score a Top 50 hit in six consecutive decades on the chart.

The CaveMumford & Sons

"The Cave" by Mumford & Sons is based on the philosophy of Plato and his work called "Allegory of the Cave."