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.
Two Doors Down
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They′re not aware that I'm around
Here I am
Crying my heart out, feelin' sorry while
They′re having a party two doors down
I think I′ll dry these useless tears
I think I'll wonder down the hall
And have a look around
′Cause I can't stay inside
This lonely room and cry forever
I think I really rather join ′em
Two door down, yeah
'Cause here I am
No longer cryin′ an' feelin' sorry
We′re having a party just two doors down
I can′t believe I'm standing here
Dry-eyed, all smiles and talking
Making conversation with the new love I have found
I ask him if he′d like to be alone and we start walking
Down the hall to my place waiting two doors down, yeah
They're laughing and drinkin′, and having a party
We're not aware that they′re around
Here I am
Feeling everything but sorry
We're having our own party two doors down
Oh, oh, oh, oh Two doors down
Oh, oh, oh, oh Two doors down, oh
They're laughing and drinkin′, and having a party
They′re not aware that I'm around
Here we am
I′m feeling everything but sorry
We're havin′ our own party
Two doors down, yeah
Here we am
I'm feeling everything but sorry
We′re havin' our own party
Two doors down, yeah
In the lyrics to Lynn Anderson's song Two Doors Down, she observes that there's a lively party going on two doors down from her. Despite being aware of the festivity, Anderson feels alone and sorry as she's crying her heart out. She decides to pull herself together so she can join in on the fun. She aims to leave behind her lonely room and walk over to the party to see what's happening. Anderson finds a new love and they eventually walk to her place located two doors down. In the end, everyone is having a great time holding their own party while being unaware of each other's existence. The powerful lyrics convey a message of self-discovery and how it's okay to move on and have fun, even after a tough emotional setback.
Line by Line Meaning
They're laughing and drinkin', and having a party
People are celebrating joyously and enjoying themselves with laughter and drinks at a social event.
They're not aware that I'm around
The singer is present at the event, but unnoticed by those celebrating.
Here I am
The singer acknowledges their presence at the event, feeling isolated and in a state of despair.
Crying my heart out, feelin' sorry while
The artist is in a mourning-like state, shedding tears while feeling melancholy.
They're having a party two doors down
Those celebrating are in close proximity, just two doors down from where the artist currently resides.
I think I'll dry these useless tears
The singer decides to stop crying and move on from their emotional turmoil.
And get myself together
The singer decides to be emotionally stable and balanced, fully composed.
I think I'll wonder down the hall
The artist decides to investigate the celebration happening just a few doors down.
And have a look around
The artist is curious to see what is happening, and intends to observe the scene.
′Cause I can't stay inside
The artist realizes that remaining locked in their room and mourning is not sustainable.
This lonely room and cry forever
The singer acknowledges the negativity caused by isolating oneself and continuously crying.
I think I really rather join ′em
The artist opts to discard their feelings of despair and intends to join the celebration.
Two door down, yeah
The party is close by, two doors down from where the singer is.
'Cause here I am
The singer recognizes themselves as present and acknowledges their past emotional state.
No longer cryin′ an' feelin' sorry
The singer is no longer sad or crying, having left their emotions behind.
We′re having a party just two doors down
The situation has altered; the artist is now celebrating with others two doors down from where they were previously.
I can′t believe I'm standing here
The artist is surprised at being present at the celebration and feeling so different from their previous emotional state.
Dry-eyed, all smiles and talking
The singer is now happy and content, smiling and conversing with others.
Making conversation with the new love I have found
The singer has found new love, with whom they now converse happily.
I ask him if he′d like to be alone and we start walking
The artist invites the person they've conversed with to a place with more privacy, alone.
Down the hall to my place waiting two doors down, yeah
The new destination is the artist's room, waiting two doors down.
Here we am
The artist and the new love interest are present, separated from the party but still in good spirits.
Feeling everything but sorry
The singer is no longer feeling sorry or sad, but the complete opposite, full of happiness.
We're having our own party two doors down
The artist has started their own personal celebration two doors down.
Writer(s): Parton
Contributed by Gabriella B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Danny Barnard
Just as good as Dolly any day of the week !!!!!