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.
I Beg Your Pardon
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
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I beg your pardon
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 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 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
I never promised you a rose garden
The lyrics of Lynn Anderson's song "I Beg Your Pardon" discuss the concept of promises and expectations in relationships. The singer is acknowledging that they never guaranteed a perfect, easy life to their partner, symbolized by the line "I never promised you a rose garden." This metaphorical rose garden represents a beautiful and idyllic existence, but the singer recognizes that life also involves challenges and hardships, like rain alongside the sunshine. This sets the tone for the rest of the song as the singer explores the complexities of love and partnership.
The lyrics continue by highlighting the contrast between promises of material wealth and the reality of emotional connection. The singer acknowledges that they could offer grand gestures like diamond rings or the world on a silver platter but questions the true value of such things in sustaining a meaningful relationship. Instead, the emphasis is on the importance of genuine emotions, shared experiences, and the ability to find joy in each other's company. This reflects a deeper understanding of love beyond material possessions.
The song also carries a sense of warning and caution, advising the listener to consider the consequences of their actions. The idea of looking before leaping and acknowledging that "still waters run deep" serves as a metaphor for being mindful and aware of the potential pitfalls in relationships. The singer emphasizes the need for personal responsibility and self-awareness, underscoring the message that love requires effort and commitment to navigate challenges together.
Overall, "I Beg Your Pardon" conveys a message of realism and resilience in love. It acknowledges that relationships are not always easy and perfect, but by embracing both the highs and lows, individuals can create a fulfilling and enduring partnership. The lyrics encourage living in the present moment, cherishing the good times, and approaching love with a sense of understanding, compassion, and acceptance of each other's flaws and imperfections.
Line by Line Meaning
I beg your pardon
I ask for your forgiveness
I never promised you a rose garden
I never guaranteed you an easy and perfect life
Along with the sunshine
In addition to the good times
There′s gotta be a little rain some time
There will be difficult times
When you take you gotta give so live and let live
You have to give as much as you take and allow others to live their lives
Or let go oh-whoa-whoa-whoa
Or else you must move on
I could promise you things like big diamond rings
I could offer you material possessions
But you don't find roses growin′ on stalks of clover
But true beauty is not always easily found
So you better think it over
So you should consider your choices carefully
Well if sweet-talkin' you could make it come true
If sweet words could make wishes reality
I would give you the world right now on a silver platter
I would provide you with everything you desire effortlessly
But what would it matter
But in the end, would it truly make a difference
So smile for a while and let's be jolly
So let's be happy and enjoy the moment
Love shouldn′t be so melancholy
Love should not be sad or gloomy
Come along and share the good times while we can
Join me in experiencing joy while we have the chance
I could sing you a tune and promise you the moon
I could try to woo you with music and grand gestures
But if that's what it takes to hold you
But if that's the only way to keep you by my side
I′d just as soon let you go
I would rather let you go than pretend to be someone I'm not
But there's one thing I want you to know
But there's something important I need to tell you
You better look before you leap, still waters run deep
You should be cautious because things may not be as they seem
And there won't always be someone there to pull you out
And there may not always be someone to rescue you from trouble
And you know what I'm talkin′ about
And you understand what I mean
Along with the sunshine
In addition to the good times
There′s gotta be a little rain some time
There will be difficult times
I never promised you a rose garden
I never guaranteed you an easy and perfect life
Writer(s): Joe South
Contributed by Aiden H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@vanessamarquez531
I beg your pardon
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
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
@clapolla
One of the biggest hits in the history of recorded music. No.1 all around the world in 1971
@musicfanhawk4523
I was born in 71 and remember this song in '74 for sure, as a little little girl I loved it and remember thinking Lynn was so beautiful! My mom always had albums and I remember this one as well as Tom T Hall, and many JLL!
@nicolaszuniga2660
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@DeeJay-bn3hu
Yes indeed, it was. 💗
@lynnandersonvevo
@johnireland6301
The stars aligned on this song. Perfect song, lyrics, arrangement, and of course Lynn Anderson. So missed.
@stefantaxacher5057
Oh yeah. Totally agreed.
That's a perfect pop song. And with a good message.
@lisaletto7337
Well said
@marklemon9446
I liked this at 11 years old and I still like it at 63, brilliant! 😎🏴
@MultiSilberpfeil
Unforgettable moments... wonderful times, the sixties and seventies... quality music... times when everything was much more relaxed. Big contrast to today's society. Rose Garden - release: 1970 and still popular in 2023. Lynn Anderson... pure youth sentiment...! R.I.P. sweetie...!
@isabelladestegonzaga5529
Um 1972 hatte sich die Klangqualität der Masteraufnahmen nochmals verbessert und ende der 70er kam das computerunterstützte Direktschnittverfahren dazu.
Die wunderbaren Klangteppiche der 60er entstanden durch den Einsatz mehrspuriger Tonbandmaschinen. ;)
Around 1972 the sound quality of the master recordings had improved again and at the end of the 70s the computer-assisted direct editing process was added.
The wonderful tapestry of sound of the 1960s was created through the use of multi-track tape machines. ;)