Lee Greenwood (born October 27, 1942 in South Gate, California) is an Ameri… Read Full Bio ↴Lee Greenwood (born October 27, 1942 in South Gate, California) is an American country pop singer and songwriter. He is best known for a string of Countrypolitan hits throughout the 1980s, as well as for his hit "God Bless the USA".

Early life

After the separation of his parents, Lee grew up in Sacramento on the poultry farm of his grandparents. At the age of seven, he began playing the saxophone, and at the age of nine became a member of a dance ensemble. In 1969, he joined the Chester Smith Band and had his first television appearance. A short time later, he worked with the country musician Del Reeves.

He founded his first band, Apollo, in 1962. He briefly battled a cocaine addiction and moved to Iceland to go to rehab. The band, which changed its name later to Lee Greenwood Affair, played mostly pop music and appeared mostly in casinos in Las Vegas. A few records were recorded in Los Angeles with the Paramount label. After the band broke up in the 1970s, Greenwood moved back to Las Vegas, where he worked as a black jack dealer during the day, and as a singer at night.

Career

In 1979, he was discovered in Reno, Nev., by Larry McFaden, the bandleader and bassist of Mel Tillis. After making some demo tapes, Greenwood was signed in 1981 by the Nashville-based MCA label, and McFaden became his manager.

The first single, "It Turns Me Inside Out", made it to a spot in the top 20 of the country charts. Greenwood had written this song for Kenny Rogers, but Rogers turned it down due to the sheer volume of songs he had been offered at the time. "Ring On Her Finger and Time on her Hands" landed him in the country top 10.

He is best known for writing and recording the patriotic song "God Bless the USA" in the early 1980s. "God Bless the USA" gained renewed popularity following the launch of Operation: Desert Storm in 1991, and again, ten years later, following the September 11, 2001 attacks; in fact, the song even re-entered the Top 20 of the country charts in late 2001. Since then, Greenwood has played at many public events and commemorations of the attacks. He supports the United States Republican Party.

Theater

In 1995, Greenwood took a break from his touring schedule to spend time with his wife and newborn son. In his time off, he elected to build a theater in Sevierville, Tenn., and in April 1996, the "Lee Greenwood Theater" opened its doors. This gave Greenwood the opportunity to still perform daily shows, in addition to being with his family. The theater operated for five seasons, and closed for Greenwood to continue touring. The theater was not located in the heavily entertainment and tourist oriented areas of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and Gatlinburg, Tenn., which contributed to the theater closing. The former theater building is now host to a church.

From Now On
Lee Greenwood Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

From now on, no more philandering,
No more hot spots, no scatterbrain.
From now on, my fun will be meandering
With my darling down Lovers' Lane.

The old gang will never know me
When they find
I've become the kind

People call "homing".
No more yearn for something new , dear,
All I need is you, dear, from now on.

From now on, no more philandering,
No more hot spots, no scatterbrain.

No more yearn for something new , dear,
All I need is you, dear, from now on.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lee Greenwood and Lacy J. Dalton's song "From Now On" describe a sense of resolution in the singer's life. He is vowing to leave behind his old ways of philandering and living a scattered life, instead choosing to spend his time meandering with his "darling" down Lovers' Lane. The singer recognizes the value of committing to one person and settling down, stating that he has no need for anything new besides his partner.

The lyrics are simple but carry a deeper message about the importance of finding stability and fulfillment in a committed relationship. The singer recognizes the superficiality of his past lifestyle and declares his intention to change. The choice to focus on one person and one type of activity (meandering) is a stark contrast to the singer's previous behavior, suggesting that he has finally found a sense of direction in his life.

Overall, the lyrics to "From Now On" are a declaration of commitment and a rejection of a hedonistic lifestyle. The singer has found something that he values more than fleeting pleasure and is determined to stick with it.

Line by Line Meaning

From now on, no more philandering,
Starting today, I will no longer engage in unfaithful behavior or having multiple sexual partners.

No more hot spots, no scatterbrain.
I am done with going to crazy, wild party scenes and acting impulsively.

From now on, my fun will be meandering With my darling down Lovers' Lane.
I will derive my enjoyment from leisurely strolling with my true love down the road of romance.

The old gang will never know me When they find I've become the kind People call "homing".
My former associates will fail to recognize me once they discover that I have turned into a faithful and devoted partner, called a "homebody" by society.

No more yearn for something new , dear,
I have no longer have a craving for fresh, exciting experiences, which often lead to infidelity and heartbreak.

All I need is you, dear, from now on.
From this moment on, I will only require the presence and love of my significant other to experience complete fulfillment and happiness.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL BOLTON, ERIC KAZ, ERIC JUSTIN KAZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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