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.
Somebody Gonna Love You
Lee Greenwood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you have any friends at all
I never hear a knocking at your door
Could it be you just don't try anymore?
You've been hurt so seriously
You act so cold but it's so easy to see
You're a waste of real good love
But you can't hide or run fast enough
[Chorus]
Somebody's gonna love you, no matter what you do
Somebody's gonna find all the pieces of a broken heart
Hidden inside of you
Somebody's gonna touch you, it's just a matter of time
And if you're ever gonna try love again, it might as well be mine
I know exactly how a heartache feels
It's gonna take a little time to heal
Why must you hide away inside yourself
You could mean so much to someone else
Every night while you're sittin' at home
You may be lonely but you're not alone
There's a whole world full of people out there
Waiting on someone like you to care
[Chorus: until fade]
The lyrics to Lee Greenwood's song "Somebody Gonna Love You" is a message of hope and encouragement to a lonely neighbor who seems to have given up on finding love again. The singer, who lives down the hall from this woman, notices that she has no friends and never has any visitors. He acknowledges that she has been hurt in the past and seems to have closed herself off to the possibility of love. However, he believes that someone will eventually come along and love her for who she is, broken pieces and all.
The chorus repeats the message that someone will love her no matter what she has been through, and that she should open herself up to love again. The singer tries to convince her that she deserves love and that she should not give up hope. He tells her that he can relate to her pain and suggests that she take some time to heal before trying love again. He encourages her to put herself out there and not to be afraid to care for someone.
Overall, the lyrics are a reminder that even though life may bring us pain and heartache, there is always hope for love and happiness. It is a touching message of compassion and understanding for those who have been hurt and a call to action to not give up on love.
Line by Line Meaning
Lonely lady living down the hall
Referring to a woman who lives in proximity to the singer; a woman who is distant and unapproachable
Don't you have any friends at all
Suggesting that the woman is lacking companionship or human connections
I never hear a knocking at your door
The singer is indicating that the woman never has visitors or company
Could it be you just don't try anymore?
The singer is questioning whether the woman has lost the will to seek relationships or happiness
You've been hurt so seriously
The woman has experienced significant emotional pain
You act so cold but it's so easy to see
Though the woman appears to be unresponsive and uninterested, her pain is evident
You're a waste of real good love
The woman is not fulfilling her potential to give and receive love
But you can't hide or run fast enough
Despite her efforts to guard herself, she cannot escape the inevitability of love
Somebody's gonna love you, no matter what you do
Reassurance that the woman will inevitably find love and acceptance, despite past hurts or present disinterest
Somebody's gonna find all the pieces of a broken heart
Love will help the woman heal from her emotional pain and heartbreak
Hidden inside of you
The singer believes that the woman's emotional wounds are not visible, but rather, embedded within her
Somebody's gonna touch you, it's just a matter of time
Another affirmation that the woman will find love or intimacy, even if she is not actively looking
And if you're ever gonna try love again, it might as well be mine
The singer offers himself as a potential romantic partner for the woman, should she choose to pursue love again
I know exactly how a heartache feels
The singer has experienced emotional pain similar to the woman's, and thus can empathize with her situation
It's gonna take a little time to heal
The singer acknowledges that healing from heartbreak is a process, but it is possible
Why must you hide away inside yourself
The singer questions why the woman is keeping herself isolated, and implores her to be more open
You could mean so much to someone else
The singer encourages the woman to recognize her own worth and potential to impact others positively
Every night while you're sittin' at home
The woman likely spends most nights alone, perhaps feeling lonely or isolated
You may be lonely but you're not alone
The singer reminds the woman that there are others who care about her, even if they may not be physically present
There's a whole world full of people out there
The singer suggests that there are many potential friends, lovers, and companions for the woman to discover
Waiting on someone like you to care
There are people out there who need love and support, and the woman has the capacity to provide that care
Chorus: until fade
The chorus repeats the message that the woman will find love and acceptance, and the singer offers himself as a potential partner
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Burns
this song went to #1 on the country charts in 1983!!!
Marshall Lancaster
Great song. I remember hearing it shortly after “I Owe You,” which is my favorite.
mkl62
A #1 hit for Lee Greenwood on the Country & Western charts. It was the 678th #1 C&W song of the Rock Era. We prepare to say goodbye to 1983 and prepare for 1984. What will the C&W scene be like in the new year? Stay tuned.
Tammy Ward
I had the privilege of seeing him in the 80's and he was so good-looking!! I love listening and going down memory lane!! Sweet!! Peace! 🌺🥰😍💯🌹💝💖
bonnie cates
I love this song.
Erik Hache
Great song by Lee greenwood❤
Laura Wingate
I love all his songs
Big Guy’s 45’s
The ironic thing about this song? Although it was a huge No. 1 hit on the Country Charts, it stalled all the way down at No. 96 on the Billboard Hot 100. LOL
Joni Laiconna
I had that album. I filled a cassette with that song only and played it over and over. I loved that song as well as God Bless the USA.
Patricia Shirkey
Amazing singer & man.