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.
Star Spangled Banner
Lee Greenwood Lyrics
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What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
Lee Greenwood's rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner is an emotional and epic tribute to the United States of America. The song talks about the pride and glory of witnessing the flag of the country still standing tall even after a perilous battle witnessed by countless people through time. Starting with the compelling question, whether by the dawn's early light, can you see what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, signifies that the flag is still standing tall, and its glory is there for everyone to see. The broad stripes and bright stars of the flag were so gallantly streaming over the ramparts, which the singer watched during a pivotal, intense moment, elicits the question of the flag's existence amidst the war and conflict.
The Rockets' red glare and bursting bombs are symbolic of the battle that the flag went through; it may have been battered, but it remains there giving proof through the night that our flag was still there. As the song comes to a close, the question remains whether that Star-Spangled Banner still waves over the land of the free and home of the brave. This song is a call to remember the country's history and the sacrifice that was made by countless people for the country's freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
O, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
Can you perceive the flag in the dim light of dawn?
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
What are we proud of that we celebrated at the end of the day?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
The flag with broad stripes and bright stars that endured battle.
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
The flag was bravely waving over the fortifications we defended.
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
The fireworks and explosives above us illuminated and announced the combative conflicts around us.
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
The events of the night demonstrated that our flag still stood strong.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
Is the flag with stars and stripes still waving?
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Is it still waving over the country of the courageous and the liberated?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DERRYCK THORNTON, MARK RANKIN, FRANCIS SCOTT KEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands
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