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.
Things That Matter
Alan Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sits down on the porch and waits
And hopes her daddy won't be long
One more call, one more meetin'
Afternoon turns into evenin'
Still he ain't made it home
Things that matter
Another place someone slams a door
Says, "I don't love you anymore"
Looks like another sleepless night
Tossin' turnin' on the couch
He wonders if they'll work it out
It's all about bein' happy or bein' right
The things that matter
And things that don't
We only get so many trips around the sun
Some things matter, some things don't
It's up to you to choose which ones
We only get so many trips around the sun
Some things matter some things don't
It's up to you to choose which ones
So, tonight as I close my eyes
I pray, "Lord help me realize"
Something I already know
There's things that matter
And things that don't
A little girl puts on her skates,
Sits down on the porch and waits
And hopes her daddy won't be long
The lyrics of Alan Jackson's "Things That Matter" are about the choices we make in life and the things that truly matter in the end. The song begins by describing a little girl who is waiting for her father to come home, hoping that he won't be too late. The father in question is perhaps too preoccupied with his work and is always late, leaving his daughter waiting and disappointed. The next verse describes a couple on the verge of breaking up, each choosing between being happy or being right.
The chorus emphasizes the theme of the song, reminding us that in life, we have to choose between what matters and what doesn't. The repetition of the line "we only get so many trips around the sun" provides a sense of urgency, reminding us that time is limited and we must choose wisely. The song ends with a prayer for enlightenment and a repeat of the opening verse, emphasizing the need for us to understand what truly matters in life.
Overall, the song conveys a powerful message about the importance of prioritizing our lives and choosing wisely. We must ask ourselves, what truly matters in the end? Is it material wealth, power, or status? Or is it the love of family, friends and the moments we share with them?
Line by Line Meaning
A little girl puts on her skates, Sits down on the porch and waits And hopes her daddy won't be long
A young girl eagerly waits for her father to come home so they can spend time together, hoping he won't be delayed by work.
One more call, one more meetin' Afternoon turns into evenin' Still he ain't made it home
The father's work obligations keep him away from his daughter, with phone calls and meetings consuming the afternoon and evening, leaving the little girl alone and waiting.
Another place someone slams a door Says, 'I don't love you anymore' Looks like another sleepless night Tossin' turnin' on the couch He wonders if they'll work it out It's all about bein' happy or bein' right
In another situation, a couple argues with one partner declaring they don't love the other anymore, leading to restless nights filled with doubt and the question of whether to prioritize happiness or being right in the argument.
We only get so many trips around the sun Some things matter, some things don't It's up to you to choose which ones
As life is short, it's important to decide what matters and what doesn't, knowing not everything is equally significant and making choices about priorities is crucial.
So, tonight as I close my eyes I pray, 'Lord help me realize' Something I already know There's things that matter And things that don't
Reflecting on what's truly important, the singer prays for guidance in recognizing which things truly matter, and which don't, although he already has some knowledge about the differences between them.
We only get so many trips around the sun Some things matter some things don't It's up to you to choose which ones
Once again affirming that life is short, it's reiterated that people are responsible for selecting which things are important, with the recognition that every person's choices will differ.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Michael White, Robert Keith Stegall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ignas Legend
Love this song
Jordan Olivia
Legend!!!! His songs will forever have a place in my Heart
Lora Armstong
@Alan Jackson thanks but I just have a CD player already have a big collection of your music thanks love it
Lesa Armstrong Rose
@Alan Jackson I already have a big collection through the years of your country music stories thanks
Jennifer Dijames
Sure Sweetheart. Anything for Alan Jackson. After all. You're the man. And I love you. 😘💜💖💝😍
Alan Jackson
Thanks so much for your lovely support and your compliment towards my music and all . You are free to contact my secretary and make a request for my complete albums ..
Weiner Wagon
Same!! ❤️
Ralph O'Neal
Amazing album!!! Thanks Alan for keeping country music real!!!
Weiner Wagon
Alan Jackson is one of a kind! Always loved his “real world” songs!
Peyton marceaux
@Will Smith because it's private