The youngest child of Professor Brin Newton-John and Irene, daughter of Nobel Prize winning physicist, Max Born, Newton-John moved to Melbourne, Australia, with her family when she was five. By the age of fifteen, she had formed an all-girl group called Sol Four. Later that year she won a talent contest on the popular TV show, “Sing, Sing, Sing,” which earned her a trip to London. By 1963, Newton-John was appearing on local daytime TV shows and weekly pop music programs in Australia. She cut her first single for Decca Records in 1966, a version of Jackie DeShannon’s "Till You Say You’ll Be Mine." In 1971, she recorded a cover of Bob Dylan’s "If Not For You," co-produced by John Farrar, with whom she continued to collaborate.
Her 1973 U.S. album debut, "Let Me Be There," produced her first top ten single of the same name, with Newton-John being honored by the Academy Of Country Music as Most Promising Female Vocalist and a Grammy Award as Best Country Vocalist. This proved to be only the beginning of a very exciting career. Her countless successes include three more Grammys, numerous Country Music Awards, American Music Awards and Peoples Choice Awards, five 1 hits including “Physical,” which topped the charts for ten consecutive weeks, and 15 top 10 singles.
In 1978, her co-starring role with John Travolta in “Grease” catapulted Newton-John into super-stardom. This film led to the production of the most successful movie musical soundtrack in history, featuring the duets "You’re The One That I Want" and "Summer Nights," with Travolta, as well as her mega-hit, "Hopelessly Devoted To You." The film was re-released worldwide in 1998 in celebration of its 20th anniversary to even more acclaim, a true testament to the film’s timeless quality. Her other film credits include “Xanadu,” “Two Of A Kind,” “It’s My Party,” and “Sordid Lives.” She followed that success, by co-starring with her daughter, Chloe, in the Showtime movie, “The Wilde Girls.” Clearly following in her mother’s footsteps, Chloe has recently signed her first record label contract.
Newton-John appeal was boundless. With a career spanning more than three decades she was adored by fans across the world. Throughout her career, the much-loved star, who danced with Gene Kelly in “Xanadu,” hosted the popular internationally syndicated “Wild Life” television show, was bestowed an O.B.E. (Order Of The British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth in 1979, has held many humanitarian causes close to her heart, particularly since the birth of her daughter Chloe in 1986. She served as Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Programme and in 1991, the Colette Chuda Environmental Fund/CHEC (Children’s Health Environ-mental Coalition) was founded after the tragic death of Chloe’s best friend from a rare childhood cancer, with Olivia serving as National Spokesperson for ten years. Newton-John’s devotion and shared commitment to CHEC’s mission and goals enabled the organization to receive worldwide attention and support. (For more information visit www.CHECnet.org.)
Her charmed life has not been without its share of upset. In the 90s, Newton-John successfully overcame her own battle with breast cancer, which inspired her self-penned and produced album, “GAIA,” her most personal album reflecting upon her experiences with cancer. She used these experiences to gain greater self-awareness and became a positive inspiration to millions of people battling cancer. As a breast cancer survivor, Newton-John became increasingly well known and respected for talking openly about her battle with breast cancer and for promoting public awareness of the importance of early detection. Her personal victory against cancer led her to announce her partnership with the Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre and the creation of the “Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre” (ONJCC) on the Austin Campus in her hometown, Melbourne, Australia. The ONJCC will provide a comprehensive range of services and facilities for cancer treatment, education, training and research. (For more information visit www.armc.org.au.)
Newton-John was acknowledged many times by charitable and environmental organizations for her ongoing efforts, among them: the American Red Cross, the Environmental Media Association, the Women’s Guild of Cedar’s Sinai Medical Center, the Rainforest Alliance and Concept Cure. Olivia promotes breast health awareness and has introduced the “Olivia Breast Self-Exam Kit,” an aid to help women perform self-exams with more ease and confidence (www.liv.com).
In the 2000's, her interational recognition continued to grow. She was invited by the Vatican on behalf of Pope John Paul II to perform at the Jubilee Celebration for the Sick and Healthcare Workers. Olivia was thrilled to perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics to an estimated global viewing audience of four billion people. Adding to this Olympic experience is what Olivia feels is one of her most memorable moments – the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch during the Olympic Torch Relay. Her passion for Australia was ignited again when Olivia reunited with friend and business partner, Pat Farrar, to promote the Koala Blue brand with distinctly Australian wines to proudly bring “the taste of Australia” to the rest of the world. Her healing spirit also led to the opening of the GAIA Retreat & Spa in her homeland of Australia (www.GaiaRetreat.com.au).
In 1999, her album, "Back With A Heart," garnered her an Emmy Award for her songwriting. In 2000/2001, Olivia released her only live album, "One Woman’s Live Journey," followed by “Magic - The Very Best of Olivia Newton-John,” which celebrated thirty years of recording. And if that wasn’t enough, she also released her first holiday album, “The Christmas Collection.” In 2002, a CD of duets simply titled, “2,” was recorded in Australia and features a host of talented Ozzies along with a couple of her American friends, followed by “Indigo: Women of Song,” a tribute to some of her favorite female performers.
The CD “Stronger Than Before,” release in 2005, features songs of inspiration, courage and hope that relate to the complex emotions cancer patients and their loved ones experience. A portion of the CD’s proceeds benefit cancer research.
Her recording, “Grace and Gratitude,” a CD for relaxation to promote spiritual balance and physical and emotional healing, was released in September 2006 and coincided with the launch of Newton-John's wellness products for women.
In 2002, Newton-John was inducted into the prestigious Australian Music Hall Of Fame at the 16th Annual Aria Awards. Her latest honors include receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award by friend John Travolta at the G’Day L.A. Ball in 2006.
Newton-John was also appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia by the Queen for her “service to the entertainment industry as a singer and actor, and to the community through organizations supporting breast cancer treatment, education and training research, and the environment.”
Wesite www.OliviaNewton-John.com
Country Girl
Olivia Newton-John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The flowers were my pillow when the day's work was done
Down in the valley shone the bright neon signs
The call of the city life kept going through my mind
Oh yeah, the days of my childhood would soon be left behind
It was a Saturday morning when the snow lay on the ground
Pa said the time had come when I could move to town
I saw a tear in mama's eye but I did not understand
'Cause I was just a country girl being brought up on the land
Goodbye mama, let me see your smile
Wipe away that teardrop from your eye
I won't forget that I'm a country girl
I got to go, but I hate to say goodbye
So long, papa, I'll be seeing you
But I'll be coming home again someday
No, I won't forget that I'm a country girl
A country girl, you know I'll always stay
I was born in the country, I was raised with the sun
The flowers were my pillow when the day's work was done
Down in the valley shone the bright neon signs
Yet I know where I belong, I got my peace of mind
Oh yeah, I was born a country girl and that just suits me fine
Goodbye mama, let me see your smile
Wipe away that teardrop from your eye
I won't forget that I'm a country girl
I got to go, but I hate to say goodbye
So long, papa, I'll be seeing you
But I'll be coming home again someday
No, I won't forget that I'm a country girl
I'll come back to you, believe me
I won't forget that I'm a country girl
A country girl, you know I'll always stay
The lyrics of Olivia Newton-John's "Country Girl" seem to tell the story of a young girl's journey from the countryside to the city. She reminisces about her childhood spent in the country, where she was surrounded by nature and the tranquility of the rural life. She realizes that soon she will have to leave all that behind and join the rest of the world in the city. She grapples with the two different worlds and the constant call of the city with the memory of her life in the country.
The song is a perfect example of how people's roots and upbringing shape and mold their personalities and their choices. It shows that even when we are far away from our families and our childhood homes, we carry the memories and the essence of the places we grew up in, and it always stays a part of us no matter where we go. The final verse of the song speaks of the girl's sense of belonging and where she feels most at peace. It shows that despite the allure of the city, she still perceives the rural life as her true calling and where she continues to find solace.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in the country, I was raised with the sun
I grew up in the countryside, where the sun was my constant companion.
The flowers were my pillow when the day's work was done
After a long day's work on the land, I would rest my head on flowers.
Down in the valley shone the bright neon signs
Even in the countryside, I could see the lights of the city in the distance.
The call of the city life kept going through my mind
Although I loved my country life, the city's allure was always present in my thoughts.
Oh yeah, the days of my childhood would soon be left behind
I knew that soon I would leave behind the carefree days of my childhood.
It was a Saturday morning when the snow lay on the ground
On a winter Saturday morning, my father told me it was time to move to the city.
Pa said the time had come when I could move to town
My father told me that it was time for me to experience life in the city.
So I kissed goodbye to mama, held on tight to papa's hand
Saying goodbye to my mother, I clung tightly to my father's hand as we left for the city.
I saw a tear in mama's eye but I did not understand
Although I noticed a tear in my mother's eye, I did not understand why she was crying.
'Cause I was just a country girl being brought up on the land
At that time, I was only a girl raised in the countryside by my parents.
Goodbye mama, let me see your smile
As I left my mother, I wanted to see her smile one last time.
Wipe away that teardrop from your eye
I asked my mother to dry the tear in her eye, so that I wouldn't feel sad.
I won't forget that I'm a country girl
Despite moving to the city, I will always remember that I come from the countryside and that I will always be a part of it.
I got to go, but I hate to say goodbye
Although I needed to leave, I disliked the idea of saying farewell.
So long, papa, I'll be seeing you
I said goodbye to my father, promising to see him again soon.
But I'll be coming home again someday
Even though I was leaving, I knew that I would return one day to my country home.
No, I won't forget that I'm a country girl
I will never forget my roots and where I came from.
I'll come back to you, believe me
I promised my family that I would return to visit them in the countryside.
I won't forget that I'm a country girl
My country upbringing is an essential part of who I am, and I will never forget it.
A country girl, you know I'll always stay
No matter where I go or what I do, I will always be a country girl at heart.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ALAN HAWKSHAW, PETER GOSLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Smokey298
I was born in the country, I was raised with the sun
The flowers were my pillow when the day's work was done
Down in the valley shone the bright neon signs
The call of the city life kept going through my mind
Oh yeah, the days of my childhood would soon be left behind
It was a Saturday morning when the snow lay on the ground
Pa said the time had come when I could move to town
So I kissed goodbye to mama, held on tight to papa's hand
I saw a tear in mama's eye but I did not understand
'Cause I was just a country girl being brought up on the land
Goodbye mama, let me see your smile
Wipe away that teardrop from your eye
I won't forget that I'm a country girl
I got to go, but I hate to say goodbye
So long, papa, I'll be seeing you
But I'll be coming home again someday
No, I won't forget that I'm a country girl
A country girl, you know I'll always stay
I was born in the country, I was raised with the sun
The flowers were my pillow when the day's work was done
Down in the valley shone the bright neon signs
Yet I know where I belong, I got my peace of mind
Oh yeah, I was born a country girl and that just suits me fine
Goodbye mama, let me see your smile
Wipe away that teardrop from your eye
I won't forget that I'm a country girl
I got to go, but I hate to say goodbye
So long, papa, I'll be seeing you
But I'll be coming home again someday
No, I won't forget that I'm a country girl
I'll come back to you, believe me
I won't forget that I'm a country girl
A country girl, you know I'll always stay
@classiclistener01
WOW! I finally found this song after decades of searching on-and-off!
I remember this playing on the radio in my Mom's car when I was eight-years-old, and, since, I never realized it was Olivia...and, I never heard it again. (The things that get caught in your brain that you remember, but, can't quite figure out!?!?).
I couldn't find this because I only heard it once; and, because the radio stations only play the "SAME SHIT" over and over...I never heard this song again. I even remember what my Mom, my Aunt, my Sister, my Cousin, and, I, did that day - we had those "Once Popular" "SHADOW" profile photos made of us kids.
I thought it was some obscure song by some obscure singer who was a One-Hit-Wonder.
Thank you so very much for posting this! :)
@worthle3
I grew up with this album. I know every lyric and I have not heard any of it since I was a little girl. Listening to Country Girl made me cry because of the flood of childhood memories of being a country girl. I would sing this song while walking on down a dirt road to my bus stop. I wanted out of the country life so bad, and when I did, I wanted back in. Thank you for making my day.
@tswiftshipper
LOL, human nature to want what you don"t. I think now I need to hit the used record store.
@RoselleW
Me too!
@TheTiktak47
I wore this album OUT I played it so much! Glad YouTube has it on here. Brings back some very good memories of my childhood!
@Wanapelei
Cathy Frock Same ❤️🌹
@michelepacheco3635
Always
@stonecoldfan1000
I have always loved Olivia she was so beautiful inside & out .. She was a very classy & special lady she had a heart as big as the world ... She gave us so many great songs and memories .The world could use a lot more people like her She had the voice of an angel ... Now she is singing to the angels. R.I.P. Olivia Love you always & forever
@Alfredul03
Without a doubt that Olivia Newton John made me like this musical genre. She will always be a vocal and musical gem!👌🏻💯📱🎧🎵🎶🎵
@irvinbean
I have always loved her as a teenager growing up and still do! This was a song among others of her I deeply fell in love with. This song does bring tears to your eyes, especially if your parents are no longer with you. Thank you so much Olivia!
@markneumar1391
One of the best albums ever! Had all of her cassette tapes and this record album. Moved out of my parents house at 18 and bugged them to find this album for me. They gave it to my aunt and that was that.... Thank you for sharing this album, brings back such fond memories of being a young girl and listening to her soothing and calming voice.