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.
Going Going Gone
Lee Greenwood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But this time someone new walked in
While she was all alone
And he told her that there was much more life to see
Than she would ever see with me
Now she's going, going, gone
When everything would walk away
That I depended on God, he'll hold her
To make sure she don't change her mind
I've lost her all the way this time
She's going, going, gone
I should have paid attention, there were many warning signs
But I just never thought she'd walk away
Here I stand in silence, just an echo of the words
I heard her say
She said, it's over and much too late to change her mind
I've lost her all the way this time
She's going, going, gone
The lyrics to Lee Greenwood's Going Going Gone are a poignant portrayal of a man's realization that he has lost the woman he loves. The song begins with the admission that the singer has left the door unlocked again, indicating a pattern of carelessness or perhaps even desperation in his behavior. This time, however, someone new has walked in, and she has left with him. The man reflects on how much more life the new lover was able to offer the woman than he ever could.
The chorus repeats the phrase "she's going, going, gone," emphasizing that the woman has made her decision to leave and is not coming back. The singer is resigned to this fact and speaks of how he depended on God to hold onto her, but she has still chosen to depart. He regrets not paying attention to the warning signs and now stands as an echo of her words.
The lyrics of Going Going Gone are a powerful reminder of how important it is to pay attention to the warning signs in a relationship and to make sure that we do not take our loved ones for granted. It also highlights the emotional pain that comes with losing someone we care about deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
It's over, I left the door unlocked again
I have lost my lover because I was careless by leaving the door unlocked and allowing someone else to walk in
But this time someone new walked in
I allowed someone else to come into our lives and cause trouble
While she was all alone
My lover was vulnerable and alone when this happened
And he told her that there was much more life to see
The new person convinced my lover that there was a better life out there for her
Than she would ever see with me
My lover was made to believe that her life would be better without me in it
Now she's going, going, gone
My lover has left me for good
I never thought I'd see this day
I never imagined that she would leave me
When everything would walk away
All the things that mattered to me are gone now
That I depended on God, he'll hold her
I have faith that God will take care of my ex-lover
To make sure she don't change her mind
I hope that God will prevent her from ever wanting to come back to me
I've lost her all the way this time
I know that I have lost her completely
I should have paid attention, there were many warning signs
I should have seen that our relationship was in trouble but I ignored the signs
But I just never thought she'd walk away
I never imagined that she would leave me
Here I stand in silence, just an echo of the words
I am now alone and only the memory of our conversations remain
I heard her say
The last thing I heard from her was that it was over and there was no going back
She said, it's over and much too late to change her mind
She made it clear that our relationship was over and there was no going back
I've lost her all the way this time
I know that I have lost her completely
She's going, going, gone
My lover has left me for good
Lyrics ยฉ Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Emily Haines, Torquil John Campbell, Christopher Allen Seligman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ivaylo Tashev
Here, the lyrics:
A straight razor and a flick of the wrist
Brass knuckles and a willing fist
A big knife and a little-scream
They do wonders for my self-esteem
Warm blood and a cold embrace
The catch is better than the chase
They all ask why I'm doing this
Violense is bliss
[Chorus:]
What you see
All I know to be
Is a madman out of a killing spree
One thing I say
I did it all my way
Gave rise to the dawn of the dying age
When I feel the urge
And it's starting to surge
Soon I'm blowing like an atom bomb
When you comprehend
Your life's coming to an end
I'm going, going, going, going, gone
Two things that I can't ignore
Dark nights and an unlocked door
I get the feeling and I follow through
I get high like I'm sniffing glue
It's time to let the games commence
This really helps my self-confidence
Blood only for this hedonist
Violence is bliss
[Chorus]
I never leave any tell tale traces
Only fear frozen on dead faces
An orgasm of depravity
It's the best kind of therapy
I always flee the scene of the crime
No victims, left to drop the dime
So many lives yet to be dismissed
Violence is bliss
aralsea1
The way he sings 'but this time someone new walked in' is so amazing and perfect.
Cathy Kohn
Lee Greenwood is truly one of the best singers EVER! His songs are TRUE country songs, they rip your heart out but yet i just keep on listening to them!!
Bruce Sebree
Great song Lee. Heartwrenching performance. Truly your best.
Marie Herrington
Going going gone, I didnt think I would ever see this day. So true to life and beautifully done by Lee Greenwood. 22 years later it still hurts that my love walked away.
Ted Owens
Hello I know exactly how you feel I love what you said in your message
Bill Levins
I have always enjoyed this guys music I would say his music has a different vibe to it then many other country artists. He has a style similar to Lionel Richie on lots of his songs. Lee Greenwood's vocals are perfect in this song and I love the back round music it's got that great early 80's feel. They were so creative back then.
Ivaylo Tashev
Here, the lyrics:
A straight razor and a flick of the wrist
Brass knuckles and a willing fist
A big knife and a little-scream
They do wonders for my self-esteem
Warm blood and a cold embrace
The catch is better than the chase
They all ask why I'm doing this
Violense is bliss
[Chorus:]
What you see
All I know to be
Is a madman out of a killing spree
One thing I say
I did it all my way
Gave rise to the dawn of the dying age
When I feel the urge
And it's starting to surge
Soon I'm blowing like an atom bomb
When you comprehend
Your life's coming to an end
I'm going, going, going, going, gone
Two things that I can't ignore
Dark nights and an unlocked door
I get the feeling and I follow through
I get high like I'm sniffing glue
It's time to let the games commence
This really helps my self-confidence
Blood only for this hedonist
Violence is bliss
[Chorus]
I never leave any tell tale traces
Only fear frozen on dead faces
An orgasm of depravity
It's the best kind of therapy
I always flee the scene of the crime
No victims, left to drop the dime
So many lives yet to be dismissed
Violence is bliss
Lady Lyric Here
wrong song
michael ocallaghan
"IT TURNS ME INSIDE OUT" - his 1st hit- is one of the best songs ever recorded. It's no 1 on my all time favorites list And, sadly, look at the #'s for the viewers on this video, very few people even know about him except for "God bless AMERICA" type songs . Shame !
Richard Wilkins
Amen