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.
You Never Know
Alan Jackson Lyrics
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String your blonde hair and a 20 inch waist
Caught my eye like a little red car
She shook my hand and she grabbed my heart
Lord, you never know, no, you never know
You never know when love's gonna walk right through that door
Perfect little bottom like a rollercoaster ride
Waiting on her table with her lazy anchor on
Big tip, later, lord she let me drive her home
You never know, no, you never know
You never know when love's gonna walk right through that door
You never know, you never know
I was down in Atlanta on a Sunday afternoon
Backed into a Honda with a woman dressed in blue
First she wasn't happy but the chemistry began
Two Daiquiri's later, lord, we're walking hand in hand
You never know, no, you never know
You never know when love's gonna walk right through that door
So the moral to the story is you better be aware
Love might hit you 'fore you ever know it's there
So keep your motor running and keep it in gear
Listen real close she might just whisper in your ear
Hey, you never know, no, you never know
You never know when love's gonna walk right through that door
No, you never know, ah, you never know
You never know when love's gonna walk right through that door
You never know when love's gonna walk right through that door
Alan Jackson's country song "You Never Know" focuses on the idea that you'll never know when love will come your way. The song has three different scenarios or stories that show how love can take you by surprise. In the first story, a girl with freckles on her face captures the singer's heart even though he wasn't expecting to feel anything. In the second story, the singer meets a girl at a restaurant. She has a "perfect little bottom" and lets him drive her home after she waited on his table. Finally, in the third story, the singer meets a woman after they are both involved in a small accident. They end up drinking daiquiris and walking hand in hand. Throughout the song, the chorus emphasizes that you never know when love is going to walk right through the door.
The song emphasizes the idea that love can take us by surprise, and we should always be on the lookout for it. It also emphasizes the importance of being open to the unexpected and taking chances. The singer acknowledges that you might not be looking for love, but it can still come your way when you least expect it. The song encourages us to keep our "motor running" and be ready for love when it does come.
Line by Line Meaning
You can let a gal with freckles on her face
String your blonde hair and a 20 inch waist
Don't judge a book by its cover. Someone who may not fit societal standards of beauty may capture your heart with a personality that shines brighter than their looks.
Caught my eye like a little red car
She shook my hand and she grabbed my heart
Love can come unexpectedly and hit you like a ton of bricks. It's a feeling that can't be controlled or predicted.
Brunette hair and big brown eyes
Perfect little bottom like a rollercoaster ride
Waiting on her table with her lazy anchor on
Big tip, later, lord she let me drive her home
Attraction can come in all forms and sizes. Sometimes chemistry with someone can start from a simple interaction like being waited on at a restaurant.
I was down in Atlanta on a Sunday afternoon
Backed into a Honda with a woman dressed in blue
First she wasn't happy but the chemistry began
Two Daiquiri's later, lord, we're walking hand in hand
A chance encounter can turn into something more. Even a simple accident can lead to a meaningful connection.
So the moral to the story is you better be aware
Love might hit you 'fore you ever know it's there
So keep your motor running and keep it in gear
Listen real close she might just whisper in your ear
Love waits for no one. It's important to keep an open mind and heart because love can happen when you least expect it. Stay alert and aware of the moments and interactions that could lead to something more.
Hey, you never know, no, you never know
You never know when love's gonna walk right through that door
No, you never know, ah, you never know
You never know when love's gonna walk right through that door
You never know when love's gonna walk right through that door
Love is unpredictable and can happen at any time. It can walk through the door when you least expect it, so it's important to keep an open mind and heart.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TROY BARRINGTON MCLEAN, KEVIN BLAIR, O'NEIL EDWARDS, JEROME JACKSON, PAUL CROSSDALE, LOWELL DUNBAR, STEVEN MARSDEN, ROBBIE SHAKESPEARE, ALAN JACKSON
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