Lyrics of and My Thoughts on "Was I Right or Wrong"

(comments in italics)

This is not one of Skynyrd's most well-known songs but in my opinion it is one of their most memorable and stirring.  The story Ronnie tells is very moving.  While I believe both of his parents outlived him, Ronnie was always out to impress his father and felt that he never really could do so.  The song begins with a chilly introduction, with minor guitar arpeggios setting up the tale:

Like a restless leave    leave=leaf, Ronnie often sacrificed grammar for rhyming or lyricism
In the autumn breeze
Once, I was a tumbleweed.
Like a rolling stone   Allusion to another rock song here?  hard to tell
Cold and all alone
living for the day my dream would come.

Never cared for school   All of Skynyrd's members dropped out of school for their music.
Or any golden rule,
And Papa always used to 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 song.

Then one sunny day
The man, he looked my way.
And everything that I dreamed of, it was real.
Money, girls and cars
Big long cigars
And I caught the first plane home so Papa could see.

Powerful guitar chords and drum fill signaling a dramatic change, then the chorus:

Chorus:
When I went home
To show 'em they was wrong
All that I found was two tombstones
Somebody tell me please was I right or wrong?
Oh such a sad song,
First I got lost, then I got found
But the ones that I love are in the ground.
Papa I only wish you could see me now!

Take a listen Papa!

Heavy guitar solos in the midst of Ronnie exclaiming "I learned how to play my guitar!" and "Gonna be a superstar!"  In my opinion this parts sounds a lot like "Gimme Three Steps."  Then he says "Play it for Mama now" and a higher guitar comes in.  The ladies come in singing the chorus in the background, then it quiets down and it's Ronnie's turn again:

If there's any way
That you could 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.

Chorus