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.
In The Garden
Alan Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses
And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
I'd stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me is falling
But He bids me go, through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling
And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
The lyrics of Alan Jackson's song "In The Garden" paint a picture of a personal, intimate relationship with God. The opening line, "I come to the garden alone," sets the scene of a quiet and peaceful environment where the singer can be alone with his thoughts and with God. The image of the dew still on the roses adds to the sense of freshness and purity.
As the singer spends time in the garden, he hears "the voice of God" speaking to him. This could represent the voice of God through prayer, meditation, or other forms of communication. The "Son of God" revealing himself to the singer also suggests a strong connection with Jesus Christ.
The chorus of the song repeats the idea of the singer walking and talking with God, and feeling a sense of joy that is unique and unmatched. The final verse, however, brings a shift in mood as the singer is called away from the garden by a "voice of woe." Despite this, the strong relationship with God that has been established through spending time in the garden remains.
Overall, Alan Jackson's "In The Garden" paints a picture of a spiritual relationship that is personal, intimate, and life-giving.
Line by Line Meaning
I come to the garden alone
I come alone to this garden to be with Him
While the dew is still on the roses
Early in the morning when nature is fresh and new
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
And then I hear a voice that sounds divine
The Son of God discloses
The voice of the Son of God, revealing His divine essence
And He walks with me and He talks with me
God's spirit is with me at all times, guiding me
And He tells me I am His own
He assures me that I am part of His family
And the joy we share as we tarry there
The happiness we share while we remain in that place of spiritual tranquility
None other has ever known
No one else has ever experienced divine joy like this
I'd stay in the garden with Him
I would be content to stay in the garden with God forever
Though the night around me is falling
Even as the darkness of the world encroaches upon me
But He bids me go, through the voice of woe
God's voice compels me to leave my place of peace
His voice to me is calling
God is calling to me, asking me to follow Him
And the joy we share as we tarry there
The happiness we share while we remain in that place of spiritual tranquility
None other has ever known
No one else has ever experienced divine joy like this
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Integrity Music, Anthem Entertainment
Written by: C. Austin Miles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hannsstevenvillahermosa9217
In The Garden (Lyrics)
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The son of God discloses
And he walks with me
And he talks with me
And he tells me I am his own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
I'd stay in the garden with him
Though the night around me is falling
But he bids me go
Through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling
And he walks with me
And he talks with me
And he tells me I am his own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
@7Kate7
I can't listen to this song without my eyes filling up with tears. Three years ago I lost my grandfather, he was 99. He was an atheist until 3 years before he died. One day he began singing this song and the Old Rugged Cross around his house. After YEARS of my mom, grandmother, and the rest of us praying for him, God saved him! His heart softened and he became a believer in the end. AMAZING. He was a very hardened man. WW2 Veteran who came from a pretty rough upbringing. The day he died there was a strong presence in the house. Everyone felt it, even our few non believer family members. My grandfather is in Heaven right now. Thank you Lord! In the end he was a totally changed man and we could all see it.
@JPDC624
Kate Timmons yay! Praise the Lord! Maybe he has met my mom, saved 3 months before she passed at 81!
@robbinwelch355
Amen AMENNNNN
@SoldierPoet
Amen!
@novascotia3678
아멘! Amen! Praise the Lord!
@joycebrower8822
Thank you for sharing from your heart this sweet memory! ❤
@j.r.dewyer7163
My mom just passed away a couple days ago. This was her favorite hymn. And AJ does it as well as I've ever heard. You can smile with tears runn down your cheeks whe Alan sings it 😊
@peteryoung5147
Look up Dwight’s version at Buck Owens funeral, very powerful. Sorry for your loss
@kathrynsypher9135
This has always been one of my favorite hymns. So sweet and comforting! Well done, Mr, Jackson!
@Alaneugenejacksonn
Thanks for the continuous love and support Kathy ❤️