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.
Jingle Bells / Sleigh Ride
Lee Greenwood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Dashing thro' the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go, laughing all the way
Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
A day or two ago, I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss. Fanny Bright was seated at my side
The horse was lean and lank, misfortune seemed his lot
He got into and drifted back, and we we've got upset
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Lee Greenwood's rendition of "Jingle Bells/Sleigh Ride" is a fun and cheerful song that captures the essence of a winter sleigh ride. The lyrics describe the excitement and joy of riding in a one-horse open sleigh while jingle bells ring and spirits are lifted. The song encourages listeners to join the fun and enjoy the ride while singing along to the catchy tune.
The first stanza of the song emphasizes the jingling of the bells and the fun that comes with riding in a one-horse open sleigh. The repeated verse gives the song a sing-along quality that is easy for listeners to join in on. The second stanza describes the sleigh ride and how it is sure to make people laugh and brighten their spirits. The verse is playful and fun, creating an image of people bundled up, laughing and enjoying the ride.
The last stanza of the song is a short story about the singer taking Miss Fanny Bright for a ride in a one-horse open sleigh. Despite the horse being lean and lank, and misfortune seeming to be his lot, they continue on and soon get upset with the journey. This stanza adds an element of humor to the song, making the story relatable and fun to sing along to.
Overall, Lee Greenwood's "Jingle Bells/Sleigh Ride" offers a fun and festive take on the classic winter song. The tune is catchy and easy to sing along to, while the lyrics capture the joy and excitement that come with riding in a one-horse open sleigh.
Line by Line Meaning
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
The sound of the bells on the sleigh ringing as it moves through the snow
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Expressing the excitement and pleasure of riding in a sleigh
Dashing thro' the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh
Riding quickly through the snow in a single-horse sleigh
O'er the fields we go, laughing all the way
Traveling across fields with joy and merriment
Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirits bright
The sound of the bells on the horse's harness adds to the festive atmosphere
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight
The combination of riding and singing makes for a delightful evening activity
A day or two ago, I thought I'd take a ride
Narrating an experience from a recent day or two
And soon Miss. Fanny Bright was seated at my side
Traveling with a companion named Miss Fanny Bright
The horse was lean and lank, misfortune seemed his lot
The horse was thin and hapless
He got into and drifted back, and we we've got upset
The horse stumbled and caused the sleigh to overturn
Writer(s): J. Pierpont, Mitchell Parish, Leroy Anderson
Contributed by Jordan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tylernelson2024@gmail.com
on Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands
I love your songs