Jackson was born to Joseph Eugene Jackson and Ruth Musick in Newnan, Georgia, and has four older siblings. As a youth, Jackson listened primarily to gospel music. Otherwise he was not a major music fan. However, a friend of his introduced him to the music of Gene Watson, John Anderson and Hank Williams Jr. Jackson attended the local Elm Street Elementary and Newnan High School, starting a band after high school. After a time, he and his wife of six years, Denise Jackson, moved from Newnan to Nashville where Jackson hoped to pursue music full-time.
Jackson sang in church as a child. He, his father, mother, and four sisters lived in a small home. At one point, his bed was in the hallway for lack of room. His mother lives in the home to this day. His first job, at 12, was in a shoe store. He wrote his first song in 1983.
In Tennessee, Jackson got a job in The Nashville Network's mailroom. Denise got him connected to Glen Campbell, who helped him jumpstart his career. Jackson eventually signed with Arista.
His first album, 1989's Here in the Real World, was a major hit, as was his second (1991) album, Don't Rock the Jukebox. His 1992 album, A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'Bout Love) was a success, spawning five major singles. Also in 1992, Randy Travis charted three singles co-written by Jackson: "Forever Together", "Better Class of Losers", and "I'd Surrender All". Conversely, Travis co-wrote Jackson's single "She's Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)".
In 1994 Jackson left his management company, Ten Ten Management, which had overseen his career up to that point, and switched to Gary Overton.
It was around this time that Jackson began also gaining fame for his song-writing skills. Other country music artists who have charted with songs co-written by Jackson, including Clay Walker ("If I Could Make a Living"), Chely Wright ("Till I Was Loved By You")[5] and Faith Hill ("I Can't Do That Anymore").
His first album, 1990's Here in the Real World, was a major hit, as was his second (1991) album, Don't Rock the Jukebox. His 1992 release, A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'Bout Love) was a smash success, spawning five major singles with "Chattahoochee" being the most enduring and successful. After a few more hit albums, Jackson again rocketed to fame with "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)," a song about the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which became a hit single and briefly propelled him into the mainstream spotlight; the song was even the subject of parody on the popular animated series South Park, in the episode A Ladder To Heaven.
The Long Way To Go Songfacts states that on January 20, 2011 Alan Jackson and his record label, Sony, parted ways after over 20 years. Three months later a new joint venture between Capitol's EMI Records Nashville and ACR (Alan's Country Records) was announced. His debut single from the new deal was Long Way To Go, which was shipped to Country radio on June 13, 2011.
Although Jackson has been characterized as a "hat act", his influences go deep into the roots of country music and his songs have been recorded by some of the greats like Charley Pride, who recorded "Here In The Real World". He has sung with George Jones on the award-winning "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair". His sense of humor comes through in "Gone Country" with the satirical description of the wannabes who cynically jumped on the country music bandwagon in the 1990s: "Everybody's gone country/Yeah we've gone country/The whole world's gone country."
He has been credited for popularizing a Neotraditional Country sound.
Chasin' That Neon Rainbow
Alan Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was rockin' in the cradle to the cryin' of a steel guitar
Mama used to sing to me, she taught me that sweet harmony
Now she worries 'cause she never thought I'd ever really take it this far
Singin' in the bars and
Chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
'Cause all I've ever wanted is to pick this guitar and sing
I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
An atlas and a coffee cup, five pickers in an old Dodge truck
Headin' down to Houston for a show on Saturday night
Well, this overhead is killin' me, half the time I sing for free
But when the crowd's into it Lord, it makes this thing I'm doing seem right
Standin' in the spotlight
Chasin' that neon rainbow, I'm livin' that honky tonk dream
'Cause all I've ever wanted is to pick this guitar and sing
Just tryin' to be somebody, just wanna be heard and seen
I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
Daddy's got a radio, he won it thirty years ago
He said "Son, I just know we're gonna hear you singin' on it someday"
Well, I made it up to Music Row, and Lordy, don't the wheels turn slow
Still I wouldn't trade a minute and I wouldn't have it any other way
Just show me to the stage
I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, I'm livin' that honky tonk dream
'Cause all I've ever wanted is to pick this guitar and sing
Just tryin' to be somebody, just wanna be heard and seen
I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
Oh, I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
"Chasin' That Neon Rainbow" is a song about a young man's dream to be a country music artist. The man grew up listening to country music on his dad's radio and listening to his mom sing. He learned how to harmonize, and now he's chasing his dream by singing in bars and chasing a neon rainbow. The song speaks to the struggles that many aspiring musicians face. The man in the song sings for free, travels long distances, and spends tireless hours trying to make it big, but he never gives up.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy won a radio, he tuned it to a country show
My dad won a radio thirty years ago and found a country music show to tune in to.
I was rockin' in the cradle to the cryin' of a steel guitar
As a baby, I heard the steel guitar in the background while I was rocked in my cradle.
Mama used to sing to me, she taught me that sweet harmony
My mom would sing to me and teach me how to harmonize and appreciate music.
Now she worries 'cause she never thought I'd ever really take it this far
Despite my mom's encouragement, she is now worried because she never thought I'd pursue music to this extent.
Singin' in the bars and
I have been singing in various bars and venues,
Chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
As I pursue my musical dreams, I am chasing the neon lights of the bars and living a honky tonk lifestyle.
'Cause all I've ever wanted is to pick this guitar and sing
My true passion has always been to play guitar and sing for others.
Just tryin' to be somebody, just wanna be heard and seen
I am striving to make a name for myself in the music industry and be recognized by others.
An atlas and a coffee cup, five pickers in an old Dodge truck
I am often on the road with my bandmates, traveling in a beat-up old truck with my atlas and coffee cup in tow.
Headin' down to Houston for a show on Saturday night
We are headed towards Houston for a gig on a Saturday night.
Well, this overhead is killin' me, half the time I sing for free
The costs of touring can be overwhelming, and many times I end up performing for little or no money.
But when the crowd's into it Lord, it makes this thing I'm doing seem right
However, when the audience is enthusiastic and enjoying my music, it makes all the struggles worth it.
Standin' in the spotlight
Being in the spotlight on stage is a special moment for me.
I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, I'm livin' that honky tonk dream
My pursuit of my musical dreams means I am constantly chasing the neon lights of the bars and living a honky tonk lifestyle.
Daddy's got a radio, he won it thirty years ago
My dad still has the same radio he won thirty years ago when he first started listening to country music.
He said "Son, I just know we're gonna hear you singin' on it someday"
My dad always believed that someday my music would be played on that radio.
Well, I made it up to Music Row, and Lordy, don't the wheels turn slow
Despite the slow pace of the music industry, I finally made it to Nashville's Music Row to pursue my dreams.
Still I wouldn't trade a minute and I wouldn't have it any other way
Despite the hardships, I wouldn't trade my music career for anything else.
Just show me to the stage
All I want is to perform on the stage and share my music with others.
Oh, I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
In the end, my pursuit of musical success means that I am still chasing the neon lights of the bars and living a honky tonk lifestyle.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alan Jackson, Jim Mcbride
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nicholasb2131
Daddy won a radio, he tuned it to a country show
I was rocking in the cradle to the crying of a steel guitar
Mama used to sing to me
She taught me that sweet harmony
Now she worries 'cause she never thought I'd ever really take it this far
Singing in the bars and chasing that neon rainbow
Living that honky-tonk dream
'Cause all I've ever wanted is to pick this guitar and sing
Just trying to be somebody
Just wanna be heard and seen
I'm chasing that neon rainbow
Living that honky-tonk dream
An atlas and a coffee cup
Five pickers in an old Dodge truck
Heading down to Houston for a show on Saturday night
Well, his overhead is killing me, half the time I sing for free
When the crowd's into it, lord it makes this thing I'm doing seem right
Standing in the spotlight and chasing that neon rainbow
I'm-a living that honky-tonk dream
'Cause all I've ever wanted is to pick this guitar and sing
Just trying to be somebody
Just wanna be heard and seen
I'm chasing that neon rainbow
Living that honky-tonk dream
Daddy's got a radio
He won it 30 years ago
He said, "Son I just know we're going to hear you singing on it some day"
Well, I made it up to Music Row
Lord, don't the wheels turn slow?
Still, I wouldn't trade a minute and I wouldn't have it any other way
Just show me to the stage, I'm chasing that neon rainbow
I'm-a living that honky-tonk dream
'Cause all I've ever wanted is to pick this guitar and sing
Just trying to be somebody
Just wanna be heard and seen
I'm chasing that neon rainbow
Living that honky-tonk dream
Oh, I'm chasing that neon rainbow
Living that honky-tonk dream
@feardabeard7635
Who is here with me in 2024?
@jonboy8175
Ask us in 10 years, we'll still be here!
@jacobharper9763
Ask in 50 years if I’m still on this earth I’m still here
@hunterdearborn6569
Me
@patriciacoats8214
I’ve loved Allen Jackson every since the first time I heard him
@roberteugeneconner5616
I used to say, if I hear an Alan Jackson song first thing in the morning, it's gonna be a Good day.
@HAD951
Alan Jackson = GREATEST COUNTRY SINGER EVER!!
@ni-31
Amen!!
@sheransullivan3853
I have to put Toby Keith up there too
@jonboy8175
Why can't today's country be as good? I miss these days.