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.
Joy to the World
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never understood a single word he's said but I helped him drink his wine
You know we always had some mighty fine wine. Singin' joy to the world all the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea joy to you and me
If I was the queen of the world I tell you what I would do
I'd throw away the cars and the bars and wars and make sweet love to you
Singin' joy to the world all the boys and girls
You know I love the ladies, I love to have my fun
I'm a high night flyer and a rainbow rider and a strait shootin' son of a gun
I said a straight shootin' son of a gun
Singin' joy to the world all the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea joy to you and me
Joy to the world all the boys and girls joy to the world joy to you and me
Joy to the world all the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea joy to you and me
Joy to the world all the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea joy to you and me
Joy to the world all the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea joy to you and me
The lyrics of Lynn Anderson's "Joy To The World" may seem nonsensical at first glance, but they actually convey a message full of positivity and carefree joy. The song is about being happy and free, enjoying life and its pleasures without caring too much about anything else. The first verse refers to Jemimah, who is portrayed as a carefree and fun-loving character, who enjoys his wine and his friends. The main message here is that life is short and it's important to enjoy every moment to the fullest.
The second verse is about the desire to escape from the mundane and the troubles of the world and find happiness in love. The author expresses a desire to throw away all the things that don't really matter (cars, bars, wars) and focus on love and passion. The last stanza talks about the singer's love for adventure and excitement, and the joy he gets from living life to the fullest. Overall, the song is about living in the moment and enjoying life's simple pleasures, without worrying too much about the past or the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Jemimah was a bullfrog was a good friend of mine
I have a good friend named Jemimah who is as unique and interesting as a bullfrog.
I never understood a single word he's said but I helped him drink his wine
Even though I couldn't understand Jemimah, we still enjoyed spending time together and sharing wine.
You know we always had some mighty fine wine. Singin' joy to the world all the boys and girls
Jemimah and I would drink great wine and celebrate life, singing 'joy to the world' with everyone else.
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea joy to you and me
We all share in the joy of living, including the fish in the sea.
If I was the queen of the world I tell you what I would do
If I could, I would bring an end to negativity and promote love and happiness as the queen of the world.
I'd throw away the cars and the bars and wars and make sweet love to you
I would rid the world of negative influences like cars, bars, and wars, and instead focus on love and relationships.
You know I love the ladies, I love to have my fun
I enjoy being with women and having a good time.
I'm a high night flyer and a rainbow rider and a strait shootin' son of a gun
I am a free spirit who loves adventure and enjoys life to the fullest.
Joy to the world all the boys and girls
Everyone should experience happiness and joy in life, no matter who they are.
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea joy to you and me
All of us, including the fish in the sea, deserve to be joyful and happy.
Joy to the world all the boys and girls joy to the world joy to you and me
We should all share in spreading joy to the world and to ourselves.
Joy to the world all the boys and girls
All people, regardless of gender, should experience joy and happiness.
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea joy to you and me
All living beings, including sea creatures and humans, should share in the joy of life.
Joy to the world all the boys and girls
As a community, we should strive towards spreading happiness and joy to everyone.
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea joy to you and me
We should celebrate all living things and show gratitude for the joys of life together.
Lyrics © HAL LEONARD LLC, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Integrity Music
Written by: Isaac Watts, G Handel, Roger Wagner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind