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.
Games People Play
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never meanin' what they say now never sayin' what they mean
So they wile away the hours in their ivory towers
'Til they're covered up with flowers in the back of a black limousine
Lotten da la da da da lotten da la a dee de dee
Talkin' bout you and me and the games people play
Oh we make one another cry break a heart then we say goodbye
Neither one will ever give in so we gaze at an eight by ten
Thinkin' bout the things that might have been and it's a dirty rotten shame
Lotten da la da da da...
People walkin' up to ya singing glory hallelujah
And they're tryin' to sock it to ya in the name of the Lord
They're gonna teach you how to meditate read your horoscope and cheat your fate
And furthermore forget about hate come on and get on board
Lotten da la da da da...
Look around and tell me what you see what's happened to you and to me
God grand me the serenity to just remember who I am
'Cause you've given up a sanity for a pride and your vanity
Turn your back on humanity and you don't give a da da da
Lotten da la da da da...
Lotten da la da da da...
Lynn Anderson's song "Games People Play" is a commentary on the facades that people put up in their daily lives. It calls out the duplicity of communication and behavior that people engage in. The first verse talks about how everyone is always playing games, never being truthful about their intentions or feelings. They spend their time holed up in their "ivory towers" until they eventually pass away, all alone in the back of a limousine. The song's hook talks about how people make each other cry and then say goodbye, promising to never make the same mistake again.
The second verse calls out people who use religion and spirituality as a way to either gain money or as a means of manipulation. The song talks about people who preach love but do not practice it themselves. They will try to convince you that their way is the only way and that you must follow their teachings. The third verse then implores the listener to take a hard look at themselves and the world around them. The lyrics ask the listener to remember their true selves and to not forget their humanity in the pursuit of pride and vanity.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the games people now every night and every day now
People today play games every day and night
Never meanin' what they say now never sayin' what they mean
People are not honest in communication and often do not mean what they say. They do not express their true feelings.
So they wile away the hours in their ivory towers
They spend hours in their protected and privileged positions
'Til they're covered up with flowers in the back of a black limousine
They become famous and earn great respect only in death.
Talkin' bout you and me and the games people play
The song is about how we all play games in our relationships
Oh we make one another cry break a heart then we say goodbye
People hurt others, then part ways with no remorse.
Cross our hearts and we hope to die that the other was to blame
People try to avoid the responsibility of their actions and blame others.
Neither one will ever give in so we gaze at an eight by ten
No one is willing to compromise, and people often end up in their rooms alone
Thinkin' bout the things that might have been and it's a dirty rotten shame
People regret missing out on opportunities and feel disappointed.
People walkin' up to ya singing glory hallelujah
People try to approach others by faking their goodness and pretending.
And they're tryin' to sock it to ya in the name of the Lord
They are trying to take advantage of others in the name of higher power.
They're gonna teach you how to meditate read your horoscope and cheat your fate
People try to sell false hope, suggesting that they can affect the result of the future.
And furthermore forget about hate come on and get on board
They are offering peace and asking you to join them.
Look around and tell me what you see what's happened to you and to me
People must observe and learn from what is happening around them.
God grand me the serenity to just remember who I am
People should have the freedom to remember their identity and traditions.
'Cause you've given up a sanity for a pride and your vanity
People have lost their minds to uphold their pride and self-importance.
Turn your back on humanity and you don't give a da da da
People are selfish and disregard others' feelings.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Joe South
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
cheryl taylor
I haven't heard this song in a long time. still beautiful
jann frank
Love Lynn’s music and always will. RIP, Lynn Rene Anderson.
Terry Rudenick
I loved Lynn's version so much as a kid, I had to record it myself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx1m3FZrKvU
Leon Grizzard
Love these old songs listened to them as a child looker
for them for quite awhile so happy to go down u tube made me happy and smile
Rebecca D
Lovely .Enjoying Thank you
Jermin Baldoue
The games of life reality song miss lyn
C R
There used to be a song on this album called, "Mr. Walker it's all over." I've been trying to find that song on here and can't. It used to be on here.
Terry Rudenick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpMmTOH687E
Chad Gilmore
It’s on this CD I bought this No. 9
C R
Eva Lehde Lynn Anderson does cover the song and it's very good!