Cristy Lane is best remembered for her 1979 single "One Day at a Time," a g… Read Full Bio ↴Cristy Lane is best remembered for her 1979 single "One Day at a Time," a gospel song that blended Protestant fervor with the language of self-help in a seamless, heartfelt whole. She is also noteworthy as one of the builders of the Branson, MO, live-entertainment phenomenon. Lane was born Eleanor Johnston to a family of 12 in Peoria, IL. Married before she was 20, she had three children by 1964. Her husband, Lee Stoller, a salesman, encouraged her to sing professionally, but she was painfully shy. After some tentative attempts, she landed several nightclub appearances and then a guest slot on Chicago's WLS Barn Dance radio program in 1968. She took her stage name from that of a Peoria DJ, Chris Lane.Several early attempts to break into country music in Nashville came to nothing, and Lane struggled with the pressures of the performing career her husband was urging upon her. She attempted to commit suicide twice in the late '60s, once after a difficult 1969 tour of Vietnam, organized by Stoller during which Lane performed 120 shows and was involved in a helicopter crash that left her stranded in the midst of a battle. Lane and Stoller returned to Peoria and opened a pair of nightclubs that featured Lane as the marquee attraction. In 1972, the Stoller family moved to a Nashville suburb and continued its attempts to get Lane's career off the ground. The reaction from established label executives ranged from indifference to sexual come-ons for Lane, and finally Stoller formed his own label, LS, in the mid-'70s. He was tireless in promoting Lane's career, and his efforts were rewarded when the label's debut single, "Tryin' to Forget About You," and its follow-up, "Sweet Deceiver," made the charts in 1977. That year she also made it to the Top Ten and the Top 20 with "Let Me Down Easy" and "Shake Me, I Rattle," respectively. Lane scored three more hits the following year and in 1979 was named New Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. During the awards ceremony Lane sang "I Just Can't Stay Married to You," which later became a Top Five hit. In late 1979, Lane was signed to United Artists Records and had three more hits. But the label balked at releasing the song Lane and Stoller had planned for their next single, "One Day at a Time."That song was a several-years-old entry from Kris Kristofferson's catalog of compositions; co-written with Nashville veteran Marijohn Wilkin, it was of a piece with other religious songs (such as "Why Me, Lord?") the hard-living Kristofferson had written in soberer moments. Shortly before Lane's version appeared, the song had topped British charts in a version by vocalist Lena Martell. For country radio in 1980, it was an unorthodox song, but Lane and Stoller correctly estimated its powerful impact. After it hit number one on the country charts, Lane released "Sweet Sexy Eyes," her final Top Ten hit. Her career hit the skids temporarily when Stoller was imprisoned on racketeering charges in 1982, but the couple bounced back after Stoller observed the spectacular success yodeler-crooner Slim Whitman had experienced after beginning direct television marketing of his music. By 1986 Lane and Stoller had put together a strong pair of linked materials: a One Day at a Time album and a Lane autobiography of the same name. Marketed through television advertising and later on the World Wide Web, these items sold well for years and kept Lane's name before a demographic just waiting to be tapped: that of country fans in late middle age. As Branson began to emerge as a major entertainment destination in the late '80s and early '90s, Lane and Stoller jumped on the bandwagon. Their Cristy Lane Theatre became a major Branson attraction, hosting not only Lane's own performances but also early appearances by Branson stars-to-be such as Yakov Smirnoff (in 1992). Lane sold her Branson theater in the mid-'90s but remained active as a performer. She has recorded several albums of gospel and sentimental standards for marketing through her website and elsewhere. Plans were laid in the early 2000s for a film depicting Lane's life story.

In the Garden
Cristy Lane Lyrics

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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

He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing

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

Overall Meaning

Cristy Lane's "In The Garden" is a peaceful and reflective hymn that speaks deeply to the listener's heart. The song is about finding solace in a garden and experiencing the presence of God. The opening lines of the song convey a tired yet peaceful feeling as the singer comes to the garden alone with the dew still on the roses. The imagery of the roses depicts the beauty and fragility of life, and the dew represents the fresh start or renewal. As the song progresses, the singer hears a voice that falls on their ear, and they realize it is the voice of the Son of God.

The singer describes the ecstatic feeling of being in the presence of God; they feel as though they are the only ones present and that the experience is unique. The two communicate intimately, and God assures them that they are His own. The joy shared between the singer and God is unmatched, and that shared moment is one that they will never forget. The melody speaks to the depths of their heart, and the birds hush their singing to hear the sound of His voice. The lines, "And the melody that He gave to me within my heart is ringing," suggest that God is present within the singer and his tunes will ring forever.

Overall, Cristy Lane's "In The Garden" is a deeply spiritual and introspective hymn that speaks to the heart of anyone who is seeking solace and peace in life.

Line by Line Meaning

I come to the garden alone
I find solitude in nature, coming to the garden by myself

While the dew is still on the roses
I prefer to visit the garden early in the morning, before the sun has dried off the dew on the roses

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
I can hear the voice of the Son of God, which fills me with comfort and peace

The Son of God discloses
The Son of God reveals Himself to me, opening up to me as if I were His confidante

And He walks with me and He talks with me
I have an intimate and personal relationship with the Son of God, where I can talk with Him and find comfort in His presence

And He tells me I am his own
The Son of God assures me of His love and ownership over me

And the joy we share, as we tarry there
The bond between me and the Son of God brings us both joy and we enjoy spending time together

None other has ever known
The level of happiness and contentment I feel when I'm with the Son of God is unique and unparalleled

He speaks and the sound of His voice
When the Son of God speaks, His voice is so beautiful and captivating that even the birds stop singing to listen

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
The sweet voice of the Son of God is enough to stop the singing of the birds, who also find comfort in His voice

And the melody that He gave to me
The Son of God has given me a beautiful melody to hold onto, which fills my heart with happiness and hope

Within my heart is ringing
The melody that the Son of God has given me echoes through my heart and fills me with joy

Writer(s): C. Austin Miles

Contributed by Leah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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