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.
Bedtime Story
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you've heard almost every nursery rhyme
So tonight before you'll go to sleep and pray the Lord your soul to keep
Here's mommy's favorite story one more time
Once upon a time there was a castle and in this castle lived a king and queen
And it came to pass they both were blessed by one little blue eyed princess
With the softest golden curls you've ever seen
And then one day he met this pretty lady and she had lots of pretty words to say
And she took his hand and led him far away
Still it's just another bedtime story but telling it brings teardrops to my eyes
Just another pretty bedtime story so please forgive mommy if she cries
Then it came to pass the king grew lonely and the pretty lady wasn't all she seemed
He realized that he was wrong and started his long journey home
For he missed his little princess and his queen
Then he was back and safe inside his castle
And tears of joy came falling down like rain
Then the castle rang with laughter they lived happy ever after
Knowing he would never leave again
Still it's just another bedtime story
Won't you please forgive your mommy if she cries
The lyrics to Lynn Anderson's song "Bedtime Story" tell a poignant tale of a mother telling her child a bedtime story. The mother reflects on how she has told her child almost every bedtime story and nursery rhyme, but tonight she decides to share her favorite story once more. The story is about a king and queen who have a daughter, a little blue-eyed princess with golden curls.
However, the story takes a sad turn when the king meets a pretty lady who captivates him with her words. The mother describes this part with sadness, emphasizing the big eyes of the pretty lady. The pretty lady takes the king's hand and leads him away from the castle, causing the mother's tears to flow. Despite the heartbreak, the mother reassures her child that it's just another bedtime story, but it still brings tears to her eyes.
As the story unfolds, the king begins to feel lonely and realizes the pretty lady wasn't all she seemed to be. He decides to return home, longing for his little princess and queen. When he arrives back at the castle, tears of joy fall down like rain, symbolizing his happiness at being reunited with his family. The castle rings with laughter, and they live happily ever after, knowing the king will never leave again.
The song's lyrics evoke a bittersweet feeling, capturing the emotions of love, loss, and reunion. The mother's tears during the story reflect her own experiences and perhaps her longing for a love that can withstand any temptation. Despite the sadness, the mother asks for forgiveness from her child, acknowledging the depth of her emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
I've told you almost every bedtime story
I have shared nearly every story with you before bedtime
And you've heard almost every nursery rhyme
And you have listened to nearly every traditional children's song
So tonight before you'll go to sleep and pray the Lord your soul to keep
So tonight, before you sleep and say your prayers to keep your soul safe with the Lord
Here's mommy's favorite story one more time
Here is your mother's favorite story once again
Once upon a time there was a castle and in this castle lived a king and queen
In a distant past, there existed a castle where a king and a queen resided
And it came to pass they both were blessed by one little blue-eyed princess
It happened that they were fortunate to have a little princess with beautiful blue eyes
With the softest golden curls you've ever seen
Her hair was adorned with the most delicate golden curls one could imagine
And then one day he met this pretty lady and she had lots of pretty words to say
However, one day he encountered a charming lady who spoke eloquently
And this part makes your mommy sad cause oh what big eyes she had
This particular moment of the story saddens your mother, as the lady had captivatingly large eyes
And she took his hand and led him far away
She seduced him and led him away to a distant place
Still it's just another bedtime story but telling it brings teardrops to my eyes
Yet, it remains simply another story before bedtime, but recounting it brings tears to my eyes
Just another pretty bedtime story so please forgive mommy if she cries
Just another beautiful story to listen to before sleep, so please pardon any tears your mommy sheds
Then it came to pass the king grew lonely and the pretty lady wasn't all she seemed
Eventually, the king began to feel lonely and realized that the pretty lady was not as genuine as she appeared
He realized that he was wrong and started his long journey home
He recognized his mistake and embarked on a lengthy journey back to his kingdom
For he missed his little princess and his queen
Because he longed for his precious princess and his queen
Then he was back and safe inside his castle
Eventually, he returned and found sanctuary within the walls of his castle
And tears of joy came falling down like rain
Tears of happiness streamed down his face abundantly, resembling rainfall
Then the castle rang with laughter they lived happy ever after
The castle resonated with laughter, and they lived a blissful life from that moment onwards
Knowing he would never leave again
Being aware that he would never depart again
Still it's just another bedtime story
Yet, it remains simply another story to listen to before sleep
Won't you please forgive your mommy if she cries
Would you kindly pardon your mommy if she sheds tears
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Billy Sherrill, Glenn Sutton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind