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.
Promises Promises
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've been puttin' you on since the day we met
Promises promises that's all I ever get that's all I ever get
Then you promised me a ring a weddin' gown and all of them things
But I ain't seen no diamond yet
Promises promises that's all I ever get that's all I ever get
Promises promises that's all I get
All you gave me since the day we met you break my heart in two again I'll bet
[ steel ]
And now you tell me you've gone away you swear to me that this time you'll stay
But I can't believe that I'm rid of you yet
Promises promises that's all I ever get that's all I ever get
Promises promises that's all I get
All you gave me since the day we met you break my heart in two again I'll bet
Promises promises that's all I ever get that's all I ever get
Promises promises that's all I get
All you gave me since the day we met...
Lynn Anderson's song, "Promises Promises," is a tale of a relationship gone sour. The lyrical content suggests that the singer's partner has repeatedly made promises that they haven't kept. The opening lines, "You've promised you would be true to me, but we both know you could never be," highlights this. It suggests that there's a lack of trust and honesty in the relationship. The subsequent lines, "You've been putting you on since the day we met, Promises promises that's all I ever get that's all I ever get," reveals that the individual has become disillusioned with their partner's lies and empty words.
The singer refers to other promises made by the individual throughout the course of the song, such as a ring and a wedding gown. However, these promises have not come to fruition, which causes significant disappointment in the singer. The line, "But I ain't seen no diamond yet," highlights this emotion. The phrase, "That's all I ever get, " is repeated throughout the song and shows that the singer has lost faith in their partner.
The final verse reveals that the individual has left, promising to return. However, the singer doesn't believe that this time, they will stay. This song is a timeless classic that highlights the pain that comes along with a broken promise. It reminds us of the importance of being true to our word and keeping the trust of those we love.
Line by Line Meaning
You've promised you would be true to me but we both know you could never be
You made a commitment to be faithful, but it's clear that you can't keep that promise.
You've been puttin' you on since the day we met
You have been pretending to be someone you're not from the start of our relationship.
Promises promises that's all I ever get that's all I ever get
All you ever give me is empty promises and nothing comes of them.
Then you promised me a ring a weddin' gown and all of them things
You made promises of a future together, including a ring and wedding attire.
But I ain't seen no diamond yet
However, I haven't received a diamond ring as promised.
All you gave me since the day we met you break my heart in two again I'll bet
Every time we interact, you cause me pain and heartbreak, and I anticipate this continuing.
And now you tell me you've gone away you swear to me that this time you'll stay
You claim to have left, but also promise to remain with me this time.
But I can't believe that I'm rid of you yet
But I find it difficult to believe that you have actually left and won't return to cause more pain.
All you gave me since the day we met...
Throughout our entire relationship...
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: HAL DAVID, BURT F. BACHARACH, BURT BACHARACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind