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.
The Devil Went Down to Georgia
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They all think you really care
But myself I can't deceive
Oh, I know it's only make believe
My one and only prayer
Is that some day you'll care
My hopes, my dreams come true
No one will ever know
How much I love you so
My only prayer will be some day
You'll care for me but it's only make believe
My hopes, my dreams come true
My life I give for you
My heart or wedding ring
My all my everything
My heart I can't control
You lure my very soul
My plans, my hopes, my schemes
You are my everything but it's only make believe
My one and only prayer
Is that some day you'll care
My hopes, my dreams come true
My one and only you
No one will ever know how much I love you so
My only prayer will be some day
You'll care for me but it's only make believe
The lyrics of Lynn Anderson's song, The Devil Went Down to Georgia tells the story of a young man who is challenged by the devil to a fiddle-playing contest. However, the lyrics above are not part of the story of the song, but rather a separate love song. The lyrics speak of unrequited love and the hope that someday, the person they love will reciprocate those feelings. The lyrics express the idea that the love the person has for the other is so strong that they are willing to give up everything for them, including their heart, life, and dreams. However, the person is aware that their love is only make-believe and that there might not be any chance that their love will ever be returned.
The song's lyrics speak to the universal feeling of unrequited love that many people experience at some point in their lives. The song is a reminder that sometimes love is not enough, and that the person you have feelings for might not feel the same way about you. The lyrics express the pain and heartache that come with unrequited love, but also convey the hope that someday, the person they love will care for them in return.
Line by Line Meaning
People see us everywhere
We are often seen together in public
They all think you really care
People believe that you have genuine feelings for me
But myself I can't deceive
Despite appearances, I know the truth about our relationship
Oh, I know it's only make believe
I am aware that our feelings for each other are not real
My one and only prayer
The only thing I hope for
Is that some day you'll care
Is that you will eventually develop real feelings for me
My hopes, my dreams come true
That my desires and aspirations will be fulfilled
My one and only you
You are the only one I want and love
No one will ever know
I keep my true feelings hidden
How much I love you so
I have strong feelings of love for you
My only prayer will be some day
I will continue to hope and pray that you will develop real feelings for me one day
You'll care for me but it's only make believe
Even if you do come to care for me, our love will still be based on a false reality
My life I give for you
I am willing to sacrifice everything for you
My heart or wedding ring
I am willing to give you anything, even my heart or a symbol of commitment like a wedding ring
My all my everything
I give you everything I have
My heart I can't control
My emotions for you are overwhelming
You lure my very soul
You have a strong hold on my deepest feelings
My plans, my hopes, my schemes
All of my aspirations and future goals
You are my everything but it's only make believe
You are the center of my world, but our love is not real
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Fred Hayward, Charlie Daniels, Fred Edwards, James W. Marshall, John Crain, William J. Digregorio
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrKenichi22
Well, My life is near complete hearing this song, Lynn’s version of this song (It’s the clean version, but it’s good one, plus the original singer did the same clean version).
I admit, My thought was, What song hasn’t she covered? It seems like she has done allot.
In all, This was great.
Lynn Anderson, She is more, much more than meets the eye.
Excellent talent.
@kewsiyehboah9514
Isiyo na wakati..
@josephw2592
I NEVER knew that Lynn had done a version of this AWSOME song. I heard it for the first time about a month ago on a new local radio station that I found. Up until now, I never knew who was singing it until about an hour ago when it came back on the radio and I opened up my Shazam song ID app on the phone. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! Lynn does an AWSOME job on it. Thanks for posting it.
@jonjeanwes
Your welcome Joseph and thanks for listening----------John
@garthks
Look out Charlie Daniels, there's a New Sheriff in Town, and she just gave a rip roaring, blistering rendition of one of your biggest hits ever !!!!!! This is the absolute best cover version of this song I have ever heard !!!!!!
@jonjeanwes
Yes garthks it is a great version.Thanks for listening
@fitzyehboah8289
why oooo why does this great song covered by the great Lynn Anderson doesn't have more views, perplexed... Best cover... Epic.. Great upload... She sounds sassy and looks sassy... Way to go gal... Maybe didn't get your full due...
@luisado3139
Mi mamá ponía está canción cuando era niña, ahora es un gran tesoro de mi infancia 😍
Ahora que entiendo más la música, es una pasada de cancion
@jonjeanwes
Thanks for listening Luisa best wishes --------John
@karolyneszepvolgyi559
Nagyon tetszett ez a szép videó film.
Csodálatos ez a dal. és nagyon tetszett a művésznő.
Köszönettel, üdvözletem Budapestről Klára.
@jonjeanwes
Károlyné Szépvölgyi Thanks for listening Karolyne