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.
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Alan Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All our sins and griefs to bear
And what a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer
The song "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" by Alan Jackson talks about the relationship that humanity can have with Jesus Christ, who is depicted as the ultimate friend that can bear all our sins and griefs. The lyrics suggest that we should take advantage of this unique privilege by carrying everything to God in prayer. The song talks about the peace that is often forfeited by those who fail to realize the power of prayer, and how this missing out causes us to bear needless pain.
The song goes on to urge us to never be discouraged by the trials and temptations we face in life but instead take everything to God in prayer. It speaks to anyone who may be going through any sort of trouble, reminding them that they can always find comfort in God's love and in the friendship that Jesus offers. Alan Jackson's rendition of "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" is a beautiful and powerful reminder of the power that prayer can have in our lives and the value of a faithful friend like Jesus.
Line by Line Meaning
What a friend we have in Jesus
Jesus is our loyal friend and companion
All our sins and griefs to bear
Jesus is willing to take on the weight of our sins and sorrows
And what a privilege to carry
It is a great honor and benefit to be able to bring all of our concerns to God
Everything to God in prayer
We should bring all of our worries and troubles to God in prayer
Oh, what peace we often forfeit
We often give up our peace of mind by not praying to God
Oh, what needless pain we bear
We suffer through unnecessary pain because we do not talk to God about our problems
All because we do not carry
Our worries and difficulties are not alleviated because we do not bring them to God
Everything to God in prayer
We need to talk to God about all of our hardships and struggles
Have we trials and temptations?
Do we experience hardships and are we tempted to make poor choices?
Is there trouble anywhere?
Is there turmoil in our lives or in the world around us?
We should never be discouraged
We should never lose hope or give up
Take it to the Lord in prayer
We should bring our burdens to God and ask for His help
Can we find a friend so faithful
Is there any other companion as loyal and trustworthy as Jesus?
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus is willing to take on all of our grief and pain
Jesus knows our every weakness
Jesus understands our shortcomings and limitations
Take it to the Lord in prayer
We should always turn to God and ask for His help during difficult times.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Converse, Joseph Scriven
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vitoriazdias
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
@ohokohok3291
Poem: " The "corona less Land".
1. The "corona" less Land,
That's my Lord's promised Land.
He continuously knocks at your
Door of your heart, By the GOSPEL..
2. Listen oh man... the wild cry
at the cross at Calvary..
Your sins and my sins
hanged Him on that Cross!
3. Not in " cross," but only in Savior Jesus
get the Salvation, Preached by
St.Peter, St.Paul and all Apostles..
4. Oh! in this shortness of life, we undergo many
tribulations, pains, sicknesses and death
by "corona," enemies, curses and calamities..
5. The 'Day', Lord shall wipe away
the tears, is not far away,
make us remember with gladness...
6. And we get comfort in "His Chest"
and the waves of joy and gladness
will arise on that "Day"...
7. The "Word of Christ," gives us comfort,
make us to walk uprightly,
till the "Last Trumpet Victorious Sound'...
8. The Holy Saints on earth together request:
"Amen, Lord Jesus Christ come soon..
"As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So does our souls thirst for our "Living God,"
for His "Glorious Appearance".....
* * * * * *
lo18@rediffmail.com
@ohokohok3291
Poem: " The "corona less Land".
1. The "corona" less Land,
That's my Lord's promised Land.
He continuously knocks at your
Door of your heart, By the GOSPEL..
2. Listen oh man... the wild cry
at the cross at Calvary..
Your sins and my sins
hanged Him on that Cross!
3. Not in " cross," but only in Savior Jesus
get the Salvation, Preached by
St.Peter, St.Paul and all Apostles..
4. Oh! in this shortness of life, we undergo many
tribulations, pains, sicknesses and death
by "corona," enemies, curses and calamities..
5. The 'Day', Lord shall wipe away
the tears, is not far away,
make us remember with gladness...
6. And we get comfort in "His Chest"
and the waves of joy and gladness
will arise on that "Day"...
7. The "Word of Christ," gives us comfort,
make us to walk uprightly,
till the "Last Trumpet Victorious Sound'...
8. The Holy Saints on earth together request:
"Amen, Lord Jesus Christ come soon..
"As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So does our souls thirst for our "Living God,"
for His "Glorious Appearance".....
* * * * * *
lo18@rediffmail.com
@marianadeniran2432
Lord, I’m so broken on this day. I hope to come back here testifying to the uplifting power of this song soon when I’m completely healed…
Oh what peace we often forfeit,
Oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
@Washyakin
I pray that Jesus will have mercy on you and guide you to a place of peace.
@khwezimadlala
Hope you are okay doll ❤
@lincolnneb
Peace be with you.
@rhondaboncutter5812
I can remember singing this song at church ever since I was a child! I was born in 1953! Life has been hard at times, but with God's help I made it this far! God Bless and be with you all!
@karenvanderwall669
My grandma sang many gospel songs, including this one..Love the old church songs..born 1954
@debrickachilli7386
God and therapy!!
@deborahdenton9980
God Bless you too Rhonda 😀😇
@larryfisher5796
I'm 77years old and remember singing this song at first Baptist Church in Marshall town IA.GOD IS ALWAYS THERE FOR US .In my 77 years of life I have my shares of ups and downs he has alway shower me the way.
@elizabethwallace3418
Thank you, Rhonda. It was my Mother's favorite song(Amazing Grace, too)