The daughter of singer George Morgan, she made her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry at age thirteen, performing Marie Osmond's "Paper Roses." Her father died when she was sixteen.
When her father died in 1975, she took over his band and began leading the group through various club gigs. Within a few years she disbanded the group, and in 1977 she went on to play with the Little Roy Wiggins band. She then became a receptionist and demo singer at Acuff-Rose, where she also wrote songs.
In 1978, she had one minor hit single; the following year another minor hit with "I'm Completely Satisfied", an electronically dubbed duet with her late father. She began touring Nashville nightclubs and opened for a number of acts, including Jack Greene, Billy Thunderkloud, and Jeannie Seely. She toured as a duet partner with George Jones and spent two years as part of the Opryland USA bluegrass show and as a regular singer on TNN's Nashville Now.
In 1983, TNN was launched as the first cable network devoted to country music. Morgan was a regular on the show Nashville Now, singing towards the end of each show.
In 1984, Morgan scored a minor hit with "Don't Go Changing". That year she became the youngest singer ever to join the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1988, Morgan was signed with RCA Records, her first major label.
In 1989, Morgan's first album Leave the Light On was released; "Trainwreck of Emotion" became her first Top 20 hit, followed by her first major hit with "Dear Me".
In 1990, Morgan had her first number one single, "Five Minutes". That song was also featured in her album Leave the Light On, which went gold.
In 1991, Morgan's second album Something in Red went platinum. Morgan married her third husband Brad Thompson, bus driver of Clint Black.
In 1992, Morgan's third album Watch Me was released on RCA's newest label, BNA Records, spawning the number one single "What Part of No".
In 1993, Morgan was the first female country artist to have three albums in a row to be certified platinum. Morgan's romantic life gained tabloid attention with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman following her third divorce.
In 1994, Morgan was voted Female Vocalist of the Year by the fans in TNN's Music City News awards. She would earn this honor again in 1996, 1997 and 1998. She also appeared on Frank Sinatra's Duets II album, singing a version of "How Do You Keep the Music Playing" intertwined with Sinatra's "My Funny Valentine".
In 1995, Morgan had another number one song on the Country Charts called "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" from her Greatest Hits CD.
In 1996, Morgan was featured on the Beach Boys' now out-of-print album Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 performing a cover of their 1964 hit "Don't Worry Baby". The Beach Boys provided the harmonies and backing vocals.
Personal life
======================
Morgan is known for her turbulent personal life -- she told Larry King in an interview that "drama is something that lets you know you're still alive." As of 2006, she is married to singer Sammy Kershaw; they were separated at one point but apparently have since reconciled. Kershaw is her fifth husband; she was married to country singer Keith Whitley from 1986 until his death in 1989. They had one child together, a son, Jesse Keith Whitley, born in 1987. She also has a daughter Morgan from her first marriage. Prior to Kershaw she was involved in a lengthy relationship with Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Troy Aikman.
[edit] U.S. Senator Fred Thompson and Lorrie Morgan (1994-1996)
Morgan was also romantically linked from 1994 to 1996 with actor, lobbyist, former U.S. Senator from Tennessee (and former Hendersonville, Tennessee resident), and possible 2008 Republican Presidential candidate Fred Dalton Thompson.
In her book Forever Yours, Faithfully: My Love Story, Morgan states that:
It was great to go out with an older man [Fred Thompson] who was very successful on his own. I felt very secure with him, and he became a wonderful friend, a caring, inspirational man who would encourage me not to doubt myself (which, maybe you can tell by now, is one of my best things).
Fred is an extremely generous man. He wined and dined me and bought me presents --- furs, earrings, Chanel shoes with real high heels.
For a while, I enjoyed my first exposure to politics. It was interesting to hear about political conversations, and people even began talking about Fred as a potential president. It was inevitable that I would be sitting at a glamorous party and would have the flickering thought, So, this is what it's like to be a First Lady. Hell, I could handle that. Then I would say, "Oops, better drop the 'hell'"
I put myself to the task of being a great companion to a stimulating and important man, and as a result I become boring. I lost my spunk, my spontaneity, I had to stop and think about the political implications of everything before I uttered a word in public. Was this a Democratic issue? Was this a Republican issue? I could not trust my best asset, my gut instincts. In other words, I could not be myself.
Fred let me know that it was important how I dressed. Sedate was in. Even if I felt like a little flair that night, forget it --- we might be with men who had big wallets and insecure wives, wives who were a little older than I was. So get that basic black dress out of the closet. And no cleavage, baby.
Fred's senator buddies loved me, and some of my friends said that they never seen me happier. For a while, I wanted to marry Fred, but I knew he could not accept me as I am.
Forever Yours, Faithfully: My Love Story. pp. 262-263. Lorrie Morgan with George Vecsey. 1997. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-41297-4
Used
Lorrie Morgan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to see it, want to know what it looks like
Anybody got a grip on life
I want to know, call me up, tell me what it feels like
I can't remember what it was to dream
I can't sleep with my soul so unclean
Gotta wake up, gotta let it go
Maybe I lost my way
Maybe I made mistakes
Who cares, I coulda quit but I didn't
Maybe I loved too much
Maybe I've lost too much
I'm used... But then, who isn't?
When we talk about the both of us
I feel like an old tire on a street bus
I'm not bitter, but I gotta pull out my pride
Everybody's got a skeleton
In the closet and you gotta live with them
Feels like a fishhook in my side
[Chorus:]
Maybe I crashed and burned
But look at how much I've learned
Well, who cares... I'm livin'
I have to forgive myself
'Cause I can't be no one else
Well, I'm used... But then, who isn't?
I'm used...but then, who isn't?
In Lorrie Morgan's song "Used", the opening lyrics state, "Show me a picture of a perfect life, I want to see it, want to know what it looks like". This shows the desire for a perfect life that many people can have, but the realization that life isn't perfect and we all have our struggles. The following line, "Anybody got a grip on life, I want to know, call me up, tell me what it feels like", shows the desire for someone who knows what they are doing in life, someone who can offer guidance and advice.
The line "Maybe I lost my way, maybe I made mistakes, who cares, I coulda quit but I didn't" shows acceptance of the fact that mistakes happen and they don't define us. It also shows a sense of resilience and determination as the singer refuses to give up. The line "Maybe I loved too much, maybe I've lost too much" shows that the singer is reflective and introspective, acknowledging their own fault in potentially losing important things in their life, such as relationships or friendships.
The chorus of the song is where the title comes from, and it emphasizes the theme of the song: that everyone has been used in some way, but that doesn't define us. The line "When we talk about both of us, I feel like an old tire on a street bus" shows the frustration of feeling unimportant and unappreciated in a conversation. The line "Feels like a fishhook in my side" shows the emotional pain that comes with being used.
Overall, "Used" is a song that touches on the struggles and imperfections of life, and the realization that being used is a common experience, but it doesn't define us.
Line by Line Meaning
Show me a picture of a perfect life
I want to witness an idealistic life, one which is flawless and contains no imperfections whatsoever.
I want to see it, want to know what it looks like
I am eager to visualize this picturesque life and to understand how it appears to be so perfect.
Anybody got a grip on life
Is there anybody out there who has a clear understanding or control over their life?
I want to know, call me up, tell me what it feels like
I would like someone to explain and enlighten me on how it feels to have a strong hold on one's own life.
I can't remember what it was to dream
I can no longer recall what it feels like to have aspirations or goals in life.
I can't sleep with my soul so unclean
My conscience is weighed down by guilt to the point where I cannot rest peacefully at night.
Gotta wake up, gotta let it go
I need to acknowledge my past mistakes and move on in order to find inner peace and contentment.
Maybe I lost my way
Perhaps I have lost my sense of direction or purpose in life.
Maybe I made mistakes
It is possible that I have made errors in judgment or decision-making.
Who cares, I coulda quit but I didn't
Regardless of whether or not others care, I persevered through my struggles and did not give up.
Maybe I loved too much
It is possible that I have given too much love to others, resulting in my own pain and heartbreak.
Maybe I've lost too much
Perhaps I have experienced too many losses in my life, which has left me feeling drained and defeated.
I'm used... But then, who isn't?
I have been through difficult experiences and have become accustomed to them, but this is something that many others can relate to.
When we talk about the both of us
When the two of us are the topic of conversation,
I feel like an old tire on a street bus
I feel worn out and like I am just being used for someone else's purposes or convenience.
I'm not bitter, but I gotta pull out my pride
I am not resentful, but I need to prioritize my self-esteem and self-respect.
Everybody's got a skeleton
Everyone has secrets or flaws that they keep hidden from others.
In the closet and you gotta live with them
These flaws or secrets must be accepted and dealt with, as they will always remain a part of us.
Feels like a fishhook in my side
These secrets or flaws can be uncomfortable or painful, like a sharp object poking into our side.
Maybe I crashed and burned
Perhaps I have endured significant failures or setbacks in my life.
But look at how much I've learned
Despite these failures or setbacks, I have gained significant knowledge and wisdom from my experiences.
Well, who cares... I'm livin'
Regardless of others' opinions, I am alive and making the most of my life.
I have to forgive myself
In order to move forward and find peace, I must learn to let go of self-blame and forgive my own mistakes.
'Cause I can't be no one else
I must accept and love myself for who I am, as I cannot be anyone else.
Well, I'm used... But then, who isn't?
After everything I have been through, I have grown accustomed to my struggles, but this is something that many others can relate to.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES THOMAS SLATER, BEKKA BRAMLETT, JAMES HOUSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kevin j Herman
Beautiful Song and A Most Impressive Artist.
kevinjhermanmusic, Chicago