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.
Isn't It Always Love
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Isn't always love that makes you hang your head
Isn't always love that makes you cry
And isn it always love that takes the tears away
And I wouldn have it any other way
I went out for a walk last night
A little voice inside my head
It hit me hard, this is what it said
Isn't it always love that makes you hang your head
Isn it always love that makes you cry
And isn it always love that takes the tears away
And I wouldn have it any other way
When you find someone that's true to you
Some days are up and oh some days are blue
Just don't go and throw it all away
Wait a minute, you gotta hear what I say
Isn't always love that makes you hang your head
Isn it always love that makes you cry
And isn it always love that takes the tears away
And I wouldn have it any other way
I used to think that love was just a loser's game
And I swore that I'd never play to lose again
But now I know
Now I see
Isn't it always love that makes you hang your head
Isn it always love that makes you cry
And isn it always love that takes the tears away
And I wouldn have it any other way more:
Fade Out
Lynn Anderson's song Isn't It Always Love explores the ups and downs of a romantic relationship. The lyrics suggest that love is not always easy and can sometimes make you feel sad and make you cry. However, despite the difficult times, love is still something worth having in one's life.
The first stanza of the song says that love is not always a happy emotion. Sometimes it can cause you to feel down and cry. However, in the second verse, the song acknowledges that love can also take away the tears and hurts. The chorus repeats the title phrase and emphasizes that love is something that one wouldn't give up easily. The song suggests that true love is worth fighting for, even if it isn't always smooth sailing.
The last verse of the song talks about the singer's past experience with love. They used to think that love was a game that they would never play again because they didn't want to lose. However, the singer has now come to the realization that love is always going to have its ups and downs, but the important thing is that they wouldn't want it any other way.
Overall, Lynn Anderson's Isn't It Always Love is a poignant reflection on the complexities of love. It acknowledges the sadness that can come with love, but ultimately celebrates the joy and fulfillment that comes with finding true love.
Line by Line Meaning
Isn't always love that makes you hang your head
Love can make you feel sad and defeated at times.
Isn't always love that makes you cry
Love can bring tears of joy and sadness alike.
And isn't it always love that takes the tears away
Love can heal the pain it causes and wipe away the tears.
And I wouldn't have it any other way
Love is worth all the ups and downs it brings.
I went out for a walk last night
The singer went out for a walk under the stars.
The stars were out and the moon was bright
The sky was clear and luminous that night.
A little voice inside my head
The singer's inner voice spoke to her.
It hit me hard, this is what it said
The message from her inner voice had a great impact on her.
When you find someone that's true to you
When you find someone who loves you genuinely.
Some days are up and oh some days are blue
Some days are happy and some days are sad.
Just don't go and throw it all away
Don't give up on love too easily.
Wait a minute, you gotta hear what I say
The singer wants to share her wisdom on love.
I used to think that love was just a loser's game
The singer used to have a negative view of love.
And I swore that I'd never play to lose again
The singer was determined to not let love defeat her.
But now I know, now I see
The singer's perspective on love has changed.
Writer(s): Karla Bonoff
Contributed by Daniel D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daniel Burns
this song went to #10 on the country charts in 1979!!!
Marryann Lamb
Thanks for sharing great song.have a great day Dan.