That Smell

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That Smell is a song by the Southern Rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Written by vocalist Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Allen Collins, it was originally released in 1977 on the album "Street Survivors". At the time the song was written, the band had been drinking and doing many different drugs. (Ronnie Van Zant had said that he started drinking heavily to relieve the pressure of performing in front of large audiences). After an attempt to sober up ended in guitarist Gary Rossington getting drunk and high and crashing his new car into a tree, Van Zant was inspired to write a song about the consequences of drugs and alcohol. The song's opening lines:

"Whiskey bottles, and brand new cars, oak tree you're in my way. There's too much coke, and too much smoke, look what's going on inside you."

Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines (Steve's sister) were killed in a plane crash shortly after the Street Survivors tour began.