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.
Help Me Make It Through the Night
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shake it loose and let it fall
Layin' soft upon my skin
Like the shadows on the wall
Come and lay down by my side
Till the early mornin' light
All I'm takin' is your time
I don't care who's right or wrong
I don't try to understand
Let the devil take tomorrow
Lord tonight I need a friend
Yesterday is dead and gone
And tomorrow's out of sight
And it's sad to be alone
The lyrics of Lynn Anderson's song Help Me Make It Through the Night deal with a moment of need and desire, where the singer seeks solace and companionship. Through her words, Anderson captures the essence of vulnerability and human emotions that arise out of loneliness and desperation. The song opens with a powerful line, "Take the ribbon from your hair, Shake it loose and let it fall," which highlights the need for letting go of inhibitions and embracing one's desires. The imagery of laying the ribbon "soft upon my skin" creates an intimate and sensual atmosphere.
The chorus of the song, "All I'm takin' is your time, Help me make it through the night," is a cry for help and comfort. The singer asserts that she doesn't care who's right or wrong, she doesn't try to understand, and lets the devil take tomorrow. The urgency of the situation is further emphasized in the line, "Lord tonight I need a friend." The lyrics of the song convey a sense of surrender to the moment, letting go of past and future fears, and living in the present.
Overall, Help Me Make It Through the Night is a song of human emotions and desires to seek solace in times of need. It captures the essence of vulnerability and the power of companionship to heal the soul.
Line by Line Meaning
Take the ribbon from your hair
Remove the ribbon from your hair so that your hair comes flowing down.
Shake it loose and let it fall
Shake your hair so that it falls, let it flow freely.
Layin' soft upon my skin
Your hair, which is falling, is like caressing my skin.
Like the shadows on the wall
The tenderness of your hair falls gently on me just like shadows on the wall.
Come and lay down by my side
Come and lie beside me on the bed.
Till the early mornin' light
Stay like this till the early morning.
All I'm takin' is your time
I value your company and comfort, and nothing else.
Help me make it through the night
Stay with me so that I can pass the night without feeling lonely or tormented.
I don't care who's right or wrong
I don't care who is right or wrong in this situation, and I don't want to argue.
I don't try to understand
I'm not trying to make sense of anything. It's just that I need someone to be here with me.
Let the devil take tomorrow
Let's not worry about what might happen tomorrow, leave it be.
Lord tonight I need a friend
I need a friend tonight because I feel overwhelmed and frightened.
Yesterday is dead and gone
The past is over, and it's time to move forward.
And tomorrow's out of sight
We don't know what will happen tomorrow, it's unpredictable.
And it's sad to be alone
It's a sad and lonely experience to be by myself in this moment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kris Kristofferson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Ames
What a voice! Lynn was amazing, sure miss her!
Cryptic17
Beautiful song written by Kris Kristofferson and one of my favorite ballads. Many artists have covered this song, and I like a lot of the covers. This one by Lynn Anderson is very good. But my favorite cover is by Tammy Wynette.
Kimberly Bradford
Omg,brings back so many beautiful memories!! 😘
siblis20
Beautiful voice
Betty Lew
Reminiscing about my mom who passed away 2006. These were favorites of ours also Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynne, Nancy Sinatra , Charlie Rich, Freddy Fender, TonyvOrlando & Dawn & oldies & Motown. We had a large assortment of music growing up .Johnny Cash cash Ray Charles. Sorry got carrired away. Just searching all these but getting back to Lynne Anderson .I kareoke most of these songs. Especially " Help me make it through the night" !!!!!!
Karron Pitman
She sings with such emotion. Also love to hear her sing Never Promised You A Rose Garden. Great voice and is surely missed.
Betty Lew
Me too!!!! My 2 favorite by Lynne Anderson. God bless!!!❤
Rebecca Crockford
This is truly a real love song ❤
Mary Witte
Beautiful My favorite country ❤️ singer. RIP Lynn 🙏
Marcos Bryant
What do you admire most about Lynn