Jack Greene (born 7 January, 1930, died 15 March, 2013) was an American cou… Read Full Bio ↴Jack Greene (born 7 January, 1930, died 15 March, 2013) was an American country musician nicknamed the "Jolly Green Giant" and best known for his 1966 hit "There Goes My Everything."
Greene was born on January 7, 1930, in Maryville, Tennessee. In the early 1950's, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he formed his own band, The Peach Tree Boys as a lead vocalist, drummer, and guitarist. In 1959, he moved back to Tennessee and settled in Nashville and formed his own band, The Tennessee Mountain Boys. One day in 1961, the band opened for Ernest Tubb, and Ernest noticed Jack's talents and asked him to join his band, which he did. For the next few years, he was a drummer, guitarist, vocalist, and M.C. in Ernest Tubb's band, The Texas Troubadors. He soon was starting to open shows for Ernest playing guitar and singing and in 1964, Jack released his first solo record with "The Last Letter" which first appeared on one of Tubb's live albums. The song got attention from Ernest's record label Decca Records who released it as a single. Another single followed in 1965 with "Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurtin' Me" but this didn't chart as it came out at the same time as Ray Price's version. Tubb encouraged him to pursue a solo career, and Greene achieved great success right away. His first Top 40 hit came in early 1966 with "Ever Since My Baby Went Away". Later that year, he released a song that put him on top. The song was "There Goes My Everything" and it was a monster hit, staying on top of the Country charts for 7 weeks, and even becoming a crossover hit, the album stayed #1 for an entire year. The success continued into 1967 as well with another number 1 smash in "All The Time" (on top for 5 weeks) and a number 2 hit with "What Locks The Door". In 1967, he received the prestigious awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Album of the Year from the Country Music Association. In all, he has recorded nine number one country hits on various charts including 5 number one Billboard hits. His success continued into 1968 with another number 1 with "You Are My Treasure" and the top 5 hit "Love Takes Care Of Me". In 1969, he had 2 number 1 hits with "Until My Dreams Come True" and "Statue Of A Fool". He completed the year out with the Top 5 "Back In The Arms Of Love".
In 1970, Jack gained a duet and a touring partner in Jeannie Seely, and together they had a number 2 hit with the song "Wish I Didn't Have To Miss You". Jack and Jeannie's stage show became one of the biggest touring acts during the 1970's. Jack continued to have both solo hits and duets with Jeannie Seely. Among the biggest of these hits during the 70's included "Lord, Is That Me" (1970), "There's A Lot About A Woman A Man Don't Know" (1971), and 2 more duets with Jeannie with "Much Oblige" (1972) and "What In The World Has Gone Wrong With Our Love" (1972). Jack's career continued when Decca became MCA Records and he continued to chart with "Satisfaction" (1973), "I Need Somebody Bad" (1973), and "It's Time To Cross That Bridge" (1974). Afterwards, his chart success declined rapidly as another song in 1974 and one song in 1975 were minor hits and he was dropped by MCA Records in 1976.
Jack enjoyed a brief comeback to the charts in 1980 with the Top 30 hit "Yours For The Taking" on Frontline Records. He achieved several more minor hits on Frontline and then on EMH and Step One. He continues to tour regularly and appears on The Grand Ole Opry, where he has been a member since 1967, and 2007 marked his 40th anniversary with the Opry.
He died in Nashville, TN on 15 March, 2013, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 83.
Greene was born on January 7, 1930, in Maryville, Tennessee. In the early 1950's, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he formed his own band, The Peach Tree Boys as a lead vocalist, drummer, and guitarist. In 1959, he moved back to Tennessee and settled in Nashville and formed his own band, The Tennessee Mountain Boys. One day in 1961, the band opened for Ernest Tubb, and Ernest noticed Jack's talents and asked him to join his band, which he did. For the next few years, he was a drummer, guitarist, vocalist, and M.C. in Ernest Tubb's band, The Texas Troubadors. He soon was starting to open shows for Ernest playing guitar and singing and in 1964, Jack released his first solo record with "The Last Letter" which first appeared on one of Tubb's live albums. The song got attention from Ernest's record label Decca Records who released it as a single. Another single followed in 1965 with "Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurtin' Me" but this didn't chart as it came out at the same time as Ray Price's version. Tubb encouraged him to pursue a solo career, and Greene achieved great success right away. His first Top 40 hit came in early 1966 with "Ever Since My Baby Went Away". Later that year, he released a song that put him on top. The song was "There Goes My Everything" and it was a monster hit, staying on top of the Country charts for 7 weeks, and even becoming a crossover hit, the album stayed #1 for an entire year. The success continued into 1967 as well with another number 1 smash in "All The Time" (on top for 5 weeks) and a number 2 hit with "What Locks The Door". In 1967, he received the prestigious awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Album of the Year from the Country Music Association. In all, he has recorded nine number one country hits on various charts including 5 number one Billboard hits. His success continued into 1968 with another number 1 with "You Are My Treasure" and the top 5 hit "Love Takes Care Of Me". In 1969, he had 2 number 1 hits with "Until My Dreams Come True" and "Statue Of A Fool". He completed the year out with the Top 5 "Back In The Arms Of Love".
In 1970, Jack gained a duet and a touring partner in Jeannie Seely, and together they had a number 2 hit with the song "Wish I Didn't Have To Miss You". Jack and Jeannie's stage show became one of the biggest touring acts during the 1970's. Jack continued to have both solo hits and duets with Jeannie Seely. Among the biggest of these hits during the 70's included "Lord, Is That Me" (1970), "There's A Lot About A Woman A Man Don't Know" (1971), and 2 more duets with Jeannie with "Much Oblige" (1972) and "What In The World Has Gone Wrong With Our Love" (1972). Jack's career continued when Decca became MCA Records and he continued to chart with "Satisfaction" (1973), "I Need Somebody Bad" (1973), and "It's Time To Cross That Bridge" (1974). Afterwards, his chart success declined rapidly as another song in 1974 and one song in 1975 were minor hits and he was dropped by MCA Records in 1976.
Jack enjoyed a brief comeback to the charts in 1980 with the Top 30 hit "Yours For The Taking" on Frontline Records. He achieved several more minor hits on Frontline and then on EMH and Step One. He continues to tour regularly and appears on The Grand Ole Opry, where he has been a member since 1967, and 2007 marked his 40th anniversary with the Opry.
He died in Nashville, TN on 15 March, 2013, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 83.
Oh Happy Day
Jack Greene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
He washed my sins away (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
He taught me how to watch, fight and pray, fight and pray
And live rejoicing every, everyday
Oh happy day
He taught me how
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
He washed my sins away (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
And live rejoicing every, everyday
Oh happy day
He taught me how
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
The lyrics of Jack Greene's song Oh Happy Day celebrate the day that Jesus washed away the singer's sins. The repetition of the phrase "oh happy day" emphasizes the joy and relief that comes with this event. The lyrics also touch on the transformative impact of Jesus' teachings, as the singer notes that he has been taught how to "watch, fight and pray" and "live rejoicing every day."
The focus on the power of Jesus to eradicate sin and transform the soul is common in gospel music, and the energetic melody and repetitive lyrics contribute to the song's celebratory tone. The song can be seen as a testament to the power of faith and the sense of purpose and belonging that it can provide.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh happy day
Expressing joy and happiness
When Jesus washed
Refers to the biblical belief that Jesus died for people's sins
He washed my sins away
Belief that Jesus can cleanse people's sins
He taught me how to watch, fight and pray, fight and pray
Religious teaching about being vigilant, standing up for oneself and praying regularly
And live rejoicing every, everyday
Celebrating and finding happiness in each day
Lyrics © RAOUL BRETON EDITIONS, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Edwin Hawkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found