Anderson charted 12 No. 1, 18 Top 10, and more than 50 Top 40 hits. In addition to being named "Top Female Vocalist" by the Academy of Country Music (ACM) twice and "Female Vocalist of the Year" by the Country Music Association (CMA), Anderson won a Grammy Award (earning seven nominations), People's Choice Award and an American Music Award (AMA). She was named Billboard's Female Artist of the Decade (1970–1980).
Anderson was the first female country artist to win the American Music Award (in 1974), as well as the first to headline and sellout Madison Square Garden that same year.
Anderson debuted in 1966, at the age of 19, and had her first hit with Ride, Ride, Ride. After a series of Top 10 hit singles on the country charts during the late 1960s, Anderson signed with Columbia Records in 1970. Under Columbia, she had her most successful string of hits. Her signature song, "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden", remains one of the biggest selling country crossover hits of all time. In addition, the song also went to No. 3 on the Billboard Pop Chart and reached the top of the charts in several countries, an unprecedented achievement at the time. CMT ranks "Rose Garden" at No. 83 on its list of the "100 Greatest Songs in Country Music History". Anderson continued to record and remained a popular concert attraction until her death, regularly headlining major casino showrooms, performing arts centers and theaters.
She grew up in Sacramento, California with her mother, acclaimed singer-songwriter Liz Anderson who wrote "The Fugitive" and "(All My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers", both Merle Haggard hits, among others. She began her solo career in 1966 with "In Person", followed by a hit with her mother's "If I Kiss You (Will You Go Away)".
In 1968 she married Glenn Sutton, a future Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, with whom she had a daughter, Lisa. (They divorced in 1977.)
Consistent hits followed, and she was a regular on The Lawrence Welk Show during the 1967-68 season. In 1969 Anderson signed to Columbia where her work veered a bit more toward a polished, pop sound. She released her signature song, "Rose Garden" in late 1970. The song, written by Joe South, won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance reached number 1 on the U.S. country charts, and also hit number 3 on the pop charts, as well as being a hit in fifteen countries. Anderson also received Grammy nominations for her recordings "Big Girls Don't Cry" (1968), "That's a No No" (1969), and "How Can I Unlove You" (1971)> Anderson's other hits during this period included "You're My Man", "Listen to a Country Song", "Top of the World" (a number 1 country record for Anderson before becoming a pop hit for The Carpenters), "Cry", "Keep Me in Mind", "What a Man My Man Is" and "Smile For Me". In 1971, she was voted Top Female Vocalist of the year by both the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association. Anderson charted eight no.one singles, 18 Top-Tens and earned a total of 17 international Gold records. She was perhaps the most in-demand country female vocalist on network television throughout the 1970's but after 1975 her records usually peaked in the top 20 as opposed to her earlier top ten success.
Anderson married a Louisiana businessman in 1978. The second marriage produced two more children, and she was divorced in 1982.
Anderson remained one of the top female country singers into the 1980's. Her last top ten record was 1984s "You're Welcome to Tonight". During the late 1980's and early 1990s, she received much press for her disputes with her now-divorced second husband. After spending time on her ranch, raising horses and participating in equestrian events, she began recording again in 1992.
"The Bluegrass Sessions", released in 2004, earned Anderson her first Grammy nomination in over 30 years.
That same year Anderson was arrested in Denton, Texas, for drunk driving.
The American Rose Society created and named in her honor a white and raspberry hybrid tea rose.
Anderson released a new CD of original songs entitled "Cowgirl" in 2006, all of the songs penned by her mother, the acclaimed songwriter Liz Anderson.
Rose Garden
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine
There's gotta be a little rain some time
When you take you gotta give so live and let live
Or let go oh-whoa-whoa-whoa
I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
I could promise you things like big diamond rings
But you don't find roses growin' on stalks of clover
So you better think it over
Well if sweet-talkin' you could make it come true
I would give you the world right now on a silver platter
But what would it matter
So smile for a while and let's be jolly
Love shouldn't be so melancholy
Come along and share the good times while we can
I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine
There's gotta be a little rain some time
(Ah-ah-ah-ah)
I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
I could sing you a tune and promise you the moon
But if that's what it takes to hold you
I'd just as soon let you go
But there's one thing I want you to know
You better look before you leap, still waters run deep
And there won't always be someone there to pull you out
And you know what I'm talkin' about
So smile for a while and let's be jolly
Love shouldn't be so melancholy
Come along and share the good times while we can
I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine
There's gotta be a little rain some time
I beg your pardon
‘Rose Garden’ by Lynn Anderson is an up-tempo country-pop song that came out at the height of her career in 1970. The song is a warning against the illusion of a perfect relationship, and how even when everything seems perfect, there will always be some obstacles to navigate. The title itself refers to the popular expression "life is not just a bed of roses," which tries to explain that life can be tough at times, and things won’t always be as easy as we want them to be. Anderson begins by apologizing for not being able to provide a perfect life, and admits that though things may seem rosy and full of sunshine, there is always a bit of rain that comes along.
The song then moves into a reflection of “sweet talkers” who promise anything and everything to keep someone around. Anderson counters that notion, saying that even if she could make everything come true, what would it matter in the end? And so, the song concludes with Anderson’s call to enjoy the good times while they last because life isn’t always rainbows and sunshine. She sings about the importance of being aware of the hidden depths in people, and that sometimes, people will need to make sacrifices and take risks if they want to come out on top of difficult situations. It is a message, that though simple and straightforward, holds value and wisdom that still resonates with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
I beg your pardon
I apologize for any misunderstandings
I never promised you a rose garden
I never guaranteed an easy, carefree life
Along with the sunshine
Good times are a part of life
There's gotta be a little rain some time
Hard times are also a part of life
When you take you gotta give so live and let live
To maintain a good relationship, there needs to be give and take
Or let go oh-whoa-whoa-whoa
If things aren't working out, it's better to let go
I could promise you things like big diamond rings
I could make empty promises of material possessions
But you don't find roses growin' on stalks of clover
True love isn't something that can be forced or fabricated
So you better think it over
Consider whether chasing materialistic promises is worth it
Well if sweet-talkin' you could make it come true
If I could make promises come true simply by speaking them
I would give you the world right now on a silver platter
I would give you everything you could ever want instantly
But what would it matter
Material possessions won't necessarily bring true happiness
So smile for a while and let's be jolly
Enjoy the good times while they last
Love shouldn't be so melancholy
Love should be a happy, positive experience
Come along and share the good times while we can
Let's enjoy the present moment and make happy memories
I could sing you a tune and promise you the moon
I could make extravagant promises and sweet talk
But if that's what it takes to hold you
If I have to resort to unrealistic promises to keep you
I'd just as soon let you go
I would rather let you go than be dishonest
But there's one thing I want you to know
However, I want you to understand
You better look before you leap, still waters run deep
Be cautious and don't rush into things, things may not be what they appear
And there won't always be someone there to pull you out
You may have to face challenges and obstacles alone
And you know what I'm talkin' about
You understand what I'm trying to say
So smile for a while and let's be jolly
Enjoy the good times while they last
Love shouldn't be so melancholy
Love should be a happy, positive experience
Come along and share the good times while we can
Let's enjoy the present moment and make happy memories
I beg your pardon
I apologize for any misunderstandings
I never promised you a rose garden
I never guaranteed an easy, carefree life
Along with the sunshine
Good times are a part of life
There's gotta be a little rain some time
Hard times are also a part of life
I beg your pardon
I apologize for any misunderstandings
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Joe South
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juancamacho5746
I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine
There's gotta be a little rain sometime
When you take you gotta give so live and let live or let go
Oh-whoa-whoa-whoa
I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
I could promise you things like big diamond rings
But you don't find roses growin' on stalks of clover
So you better think it over
Well, if sweet-talkin' you could make it come true
I would give you the world right now on a silver platter
But what would it matter
So smile for a while and let's be jolly
Love shouldn't be so melancholy
Come along and share the good times while we can
I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine
There's gotta be a little rain some time
I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
I could sing you a tune and promise you the moon
But if that's what it takes to hold you
I'd just as soon let you go
But there's one thing I want you to know
You better look before you leap, still waters run deep
And there won't always be someone there to pull you out
And you know what I'm talking about
So smile for a while and let's be jolly
Love shouldn't be so melancholy
Come along and share the good times while we can
I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine
There's gotta be a little rain sometime
I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
@robmassetti6243
Reminds me of childhood. When life was good, nice, honest and kind. How I miss those days…
@mariannepiiksi5317
I know right 🤔🤔
@bernadettepotenti301
me too
@matthewgregory8218
I miss how stuff use to be. My gf and I were happy, but we broke up and Not as happy anymore. I am also struggling in school and risking disconnecting from the program.
@robmassetti6243
The world changed in 2,000 for the worst:( GB everyone xo
@tsomoza
This was my daughters favorite song. She was only 2 when the song was released but she knew the words and could sing along with it. She passed away in July 2020 but this brings her back to me whenever I hear it.
@mimizee6548
I’m so sorry hun 🥺
@tsomoza
@@mimizee6548 Thank you. It's really difficult to lose a child.
@bigfoot060775
@@tsomoza, so if I'm doing the math correctly, she'd have been about 52? That's so young. I'm very sorry for your loss!
@dawnsmith1796
@@tsomoza so sorry to hear! Sending Much Love xx xx