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.
Wandering Mind
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wondering where you are and how you spend your time
Wondering if you're wondering of the one you left behind
My heart is weak but my mind's a little bit stronger
I keep a tellin' myself everyday in my life
But the strain of losin' you has overlured my mind
Leavin' thoughts of you workin' over time
My mind breaks up each day a little bit sooner
To start each day a wondering right on time
But each day ends with my questions still unanswered
Of why you left me here with a wandering mind
Wandering mind...
Wandering mind...
The lyrics of Lynn Anderson's song Wandering Mind talk about the struggles of dealing with a broken heart and a mind that keeps wandering towards the one who left. The singer is wondering about the whereabouts of their loved one and how they spend their time. They are also questioning the possibility of their loved one thinking about them. Though the heart is weak, the mind is trying to be stronger. The singer is constantly reminding themselves to move on from the loss, but the memories of their loved one keep popping up in their mind, making them overthink and wonder what could have been different.
The mind seems to be struggling to let go of the memories and the love shared, making the days shorter as the mind keeps wandering, and each day ends with unanswered questions. It is as if the pain of losing a loved one has made the singer's mind its captive, which keeps roaming around the thoughts of their loved one. The lyrics beautifully depict the internal struggle of someone trying to move on from a broken relationship but failing to do so due to the constant wandering of their mind.
Line by Line Meaning
Wandering mind wandering mind
My thoughts keep drifting towards you, wandering aimlessly as I wonder where you are and how you're spending your time.
Wondering where you are and how you spend your time
I can't stop thinking about you and I'm curious about your whereabouts and daily activities.
Wondering if you're wondering of the one you left behind
I wonder if you're also thinking about me, regretting your decision to leave me behind.
My heart is weak but my mind's a little bit stronger
Although my heart feels broken, my mind is trying to stay strong and keep me focused.
I keep a tellin' myself everyday in my life
I try to convince myself every day that I'm okay without you.
But the strain of losin' you has overlured my mind
However, the pain of losing you is too much to bear and it occupies my thoughts constantly.
Leavin' thoughts of you workin' over time
My mind is overactive with thoughts of you, making it difficult to focus on anything else.
My mind breaks up each day a little bit sooner
Each day, my mind loses its focus and begins wandering earlier and earlier.
To start each day a wondering right on time
I wake up every morning thinking about you immediately.
But each day ends with my questions still unanswered
Despite my constant thoughts of you, I still don't have any answers as to why you left me.
Of why you left me here with a wandering mind
I'm left with a confused and wandering mind, wondering why you chose to leave me behind.
Wandering mind...
My mind continues to wander, lost in thoughts of you and our lost relationship.
Wandering mind...
I can't escape my wandering mind, which is constantly preoccupied with thoughts of you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEON ASHLEY, MARGIE SINGLETON, MERLE KILGORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
La Consentida
Even in her golden years she still was a lovely lady. You will always be alive through your songs, Lynn.😢😢
MrKenichi22
True, I kinda feel bad that I got in late and missed out... But perhaps fate made it wait before I discovered Lynn Anderson.
I didn’t know about her until my father bought the Country Awards show DVD collection.
That was when I first heard Rose Garden.
kenmarsauer
This song brings tears to my eyes, no matter how many times I listen to it! I had the pleasure of meeting Lynn Anderson in person at a performance at the Rice Auditorium in
Monmouth, Oregon. She signed my 45 rpm of Rose Garden. And she even gave me a hug! She was a great performer and a lovely lady. She will be missed very much! RIP Lynn.
MrKenichi22
kenmarsauer me too
MrKenichi22
kenmarsauer It did for me too. Found this song last week, I think it a great follow up to Rose Garden.
I know it’s late but I guess I have to add Lynn to my short list of favorite country singers with Patsy, Willie, Reba, Shania, Kenny, Dolly, Garth, Charlie, Glen.. and if they count Ray Charles and Johnny Cash.
If you are curious My Favorite Rap singer list is also short.
But I do hold love for the musicians on my lists, Lynn Anderson is now one of them.
Geri Maxwell
Most beautiful song Lynn Anderson ever recorded. Hard to beat this one!
Berry Waller
Geri: I agree entirely. Known the world over for "Rose Garden" of course. To me though this one is her very best ever.B.W.
Okee Konokee
One of her best and well deserving of the #1 spot it reached on the charts. She was the "it" girl of '70s country/pop. Huge star.
Jesse Girlsboy
Lynn Anderson could sing the phone book and it would be a hit. This gem hit #1 in 1973.
Daniel Burns
this song went to #1 on the country charts in 1973!!!