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.
Tennessee Christmas
Lee Greenwood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give us a forecast snowy white.
Can't you hear the prayers
Of every childlike heart tonight?
Rockies are calling,
Denver snow falling,
Somebody said it's four feet deep.
But it doesn't matter,
I'm gonna choose to keep
Another tender Tennessee Christmas,
The only Christmas for me.
Where the love circles around us,
Like the gift around our tree.
Well I know there's more snow
Up in Colorado
Than my roof will ever see,
But a tender Tennessee Christmas
Is the only Christmas for me.
Every now and then,
I got a wanderin' urge to see
Maybe California,
Maybe tinsel town's for me.
There's a parade there;
We'd have it made there;
Bring home a tan for New Year's Eve.
Sure sounds exciting,
Awfully inviting,
Still I think I'll gonna keep
Another tender Tennessee Christmas,
The only Christmas for me.
Where the love circles around us,
Like the gift around our tree.
Well they say in L.A.,
It's a warm holiday;
It's the only place to be.
But a tender Tennessee Christmas
Is the only Christmas for me.
(Ooooooh, yeah, yeah.)
(Ohh, you know I wanna be home.)
(Ooo-oooh.)
Well I know there's more snow
Up in Colorado
Than my roof will ever see,
But a tender Tennessee Christmas
Is the only Christmas for me.
A tender Tennessee Christmas
Is the only Christmas for me.
In "Tennessee Christmas," Lee Greenwood describes his love for his home state during the holiday season. He begins by calling out to the weatherman, asking for a "snowy white" forecast that will fulfill the dreams of every child. Though he acknowledges that other places, such as the Rockies, may have more snow, he emphasizes that what really matters to him is the warmth and laughter of a Tennessee Christmas.
Greenwood then muses about the possibility of traveling to California for Christmas, drawn by the excitement of the parade and the chance to bring home a tan. He admits that the idea is "awfully inviting," but ultimately decides to stay put in Tennessee. The love that surrounds him during this time of year is too precious to trade for anything, even the allure of a warm holiday in L.A.
Overall, "Tennessee Christmas" is a tribute to the joy and comfort that can be found in the familiar traditions and people of one's home state during the holiday season. It speaks to the emotional connections we can have to specific places and experiences, and the sense of belonging that comes from being surrounded by loved ones in a cherished setting.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on weatherman,
Give us a forecast snowy white.
The singer is requesting a snowy forecast because it is in accordance with traditional Christmas imagery.
Can't you hear the prayers
Of every childlike heart tonight?
The singer imagines that children and adults alike are wishing for snow and Christmas cheer to occur.
Rockies are calling,
Denver snow falling,
Somebody said it's four feet deep.
The singer is aware of snowfall in other areas and imagines the Rocky Mountains, where snow is plentiful.
But it doesn't matter,
Give me the laughter;
I'm gonna choose to keep
The singer decides that he will maintain a positive attitude despite whatever weather he experiences and finds joy in the holiday.
Another tender Tennessee Christmas,
The only Christmas for me.
The singer loves Christmas in Tennessee more than anywhere else and it always holds a special place in his heart.
Where the love circles around us,
Like the gift around our tree.
Christmas in Tennessee is a time for family, love, and tradition; everyone is together and feels the appreciation from each other's love.
Well I know there's more snow
Up in Colorado
Than my roof will ever see,
But a tender Tennessee Christmas
Is the only Christmas for me.
Although there might be more snow in places like Colorado, the singer prefers the simplicity and warmth of Christmas in Tennessee with his loved ones.
Every now and then,
I got a wanderin' urge to see
Maybe California,
Maybe tinsel town's for me.
Occasionally, the singer has the desire to see different places and tries to weigh the benefits of other locations like California.
There's a parade there;
We'd have it made there;
Bring home a tan for New Year's Eve.
The singer recognizes that there is plenty of excitement in other places with events such as a parade, and wishes he could enjoy the events with his family.
Sure sounds exciting,
Awfully inviting,
Still I think I'll gonna keep
Although other places may sound tempting, the singer chooses to remain in Tennessee because the Christmas there holds strong memories and traditions.
Well they say in L.A.,
It's a warm holiday;
It's the only place to be.
The singer knows that places like Los Angeles are often associated with warmth and sunshine, but still prefers the coziness of Tennessee's holiday.
A tender Tennessee Christmas
Is the only Christmas for me.
The singer emphasizes again the importance of celebrating Christmas in Tennessee surrounded by love, tradition, and familiarity.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: Amy Grant, Gary Chapman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands
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