When Naomi Judd found herself pregnant, she quickly got married but not to the father of her first child, daughter Christina Ciminella. Christina, born May 30, 1964, became known as Wynonna Judd when the mother-daughter duo stormed the country charts in the 1980s.
After Naomi Judd divorced, she moved from Hollywood, back to Morrill, Ky., with Wynonna and another daughter Ashley. There, she worked as a nurse in a local infirmary. Outside working and school hours, she and the children would sing anything from bluegrass to showbiz standards for their own amusement. However, when Wynonna nurtured aspirations to be a professional entertainer, her mother lent her encouragement, to the extent of moving the family to Nashville in 1979. Naomi's contralto subtly underlined Wynonna's tuneful drawl.
In addition to many performances on Ralph Emery's morning television show, Naomi elicited an audition for RCA Records while tending a hospitalized relation of label producer Brent Maher. With a past that read like a Judith Krantz novel, the Judds -- so the executives considered -- would have more than an even chance in the country market. An exploratory mini-album, which contained proved the executives correct. The single "Had a Dream (From the Heart)" peaked at No. 17 in 1984. Later that year, the Judds scored their first of 14 No. 1 hits with "Mama He's Crazy."
Self-composed songs included Naomi's 1989 composition "Change of Heart," dedicated to her future second husband (and former Elvis Presley backing vocalist) Larry Strickland. Meanwhile, Maher co-wrote hits such as 1985's Grammy-winning "Why Not Me," "Turn It Loose," "Girls Night Out," "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ol' Days)" and "Rockin' With the Rhythm of the Rain."
Most Judds records exhibited an acoustic bias and a penchant for star guests that included the Jordanaires on "Don't Be Cruel," Emmylou Harris on "The Sweetest Gift," Mark Knopfler on his "Water of Love" and Bonnie Raitt playing slide guitar on the album Love Can Build a Bridge. In 1988, the pair became the first female country act to found their own booking agency (Pro-Tours), but a chronic hepatitis infection forced Naomi to retire from the concert stage two years later.
The Judds toured America in a series of farewell concerts before Wynonna began her solo career. Wynonna got off to a strong start, as her first two singles both went to #1. Her 1994 single "Girls With Guitars" featured Naomi (as well as Lyle Lovett) on backup vocals.
In 1998, The Judds appeared in a commercial for the retail chain Kmart, singing Wynonna's single "Woman To Woman".
In 1999, Wynonna reunited with her mother for a New Year's Eve concert in Phoenix. The following year, the duo recorded four new tracks for a bonus disc issued with Wynonna's album New Day Dawning, and undertook a multi-city tour. The results were issued as the album Reunion Live. A 2004 single, "Flies On The Butter (You Can't Go Home Again)" was recorded with Naomi; however, the single was credited as "Wynonna with Naomi Judd" instead of "The Judds".
Guardian Angel
The Judds Lyrics
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And if you look real close, you'll see our eyes are just the same
I never met them face to face but I still know them well
From the stories my dear grandma would tell
Elijah was a farmer, he knew how to make things grow
And Fannie vowed she'd follow him wherever he would go
As things turned out, they never left their small Kentucky farm
They're my guardian angels and I know they can see
Every step I take, they are watching over me
I might not know where I'm goin' but I'm sure where I come from
They're my guardian angels and I'm their special one
Sometimes when I'm tired, I feel Elijah take my arm
He says, "Keep a goin', hard work never did a body harm"
And when I'm really troubled and I don't know what to do
Fannie whispers, "Just do your best, we're awful proud of you"
They're my guardian angels and I know they can see
Every step I take, they are watching over me
I might not know where I'm goin' but I'm sure where I come from
They're my guardian angels and I'm their special one
A hundred year old photograph stares out from a frame
And if you look real close, you'll see our eyes are just the same
The Judds’ song Guardian Angels is a touching tribute to the singer’s ancestors, Elijah and Fannie. The lyrics use a 100-year-old photograph as a starting point to tell the story of their lives and their enduring influence on the singer’s life. Although the singer never met them, they are familiar because of the stories told by her grandmother. The song is a celebration of the influence of family and the continuity of love and support it provides.
The lyrics are full of vivid imagery that focuses on the rural life of Elijah and Fannie. Elijah, a farmer, knew how to make things grow, and Fannie followed him wherever he went. Although they never left their small Kentucky farm, they supported each other and built a life together. The song speaks to the value of hard work, perseverance, and family in shaping life’s journey. The singer often feels their presence and support, especially when she is tired or troubled. Elijah takes her arm, urging her to keep going, while Fannie whispers encouragement and love.
Overall, Guardian Angels is a touching and heartfelt tribute to the power of family and the influence of ancestors in shaping who we are. It speaks to the universal experience of seeking guidance and wisdom from those who came before us and the profound impact of their love and support on our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
A hundred year old photograph stares out from a frame
The singer has an old photograph of her grandparents, which she treasures and looks at often.
And if you look real close, you'll see our eyes are just the same
The singer sees similarities between herself and her grandparents, not just in their physical appearance, but also in their spirit and character.
I never met them face to face but I still know them well
The singer never had the opportunity to meet her grandparents in person, but through the stories her grandmother shared with her, she feels like she knows them intimately.
From the stories my dear grandma would tell
The singer's grandmother was the one who shared with her the stories and memories of her grandparents.
Elijah was a farmer, he knew how to make things grow
The singer's grandfather, Elijah, was a skilled farmer who had a deep understanding of how to cultivate crops and make them flourish.
And Fannie vowed she'd follow him wherever he would go
The singer's grandmother, Fannie, was devoted to her husband and promised to always stand by his side and support him wherever life took him.
As things turned out, they never left their small Kentucky farm
Despite Fannie's vow to follow Elijah wherever he went, they ultimately settled down on a small farm in Kentucky and built their life there.
But he kept her fed, she kept him warm
Although their life wasn't glamorous or adventurous, Elijah and Fannie shared a deep love and partnership, where he provided for her physically and she nurtured him emotionally.
They're my guardian angels and I know they can see
The singer considers her grandparents to be her guardian angels, who are always watching over her and guiding her from a spiritual realm.
Every step I take, they are watching over me
The singer believes that her grandparents are with her every step of the way, supporting and loving her unconditionally.
I might not know where I'm goin' but I'm sure where I come from
Even if the singer doesn't know exactly where her life will take her, she is grounded in her roots and the legacy of her grandparents, which helps her stay connected to her true self.
They're my guardian angels and I'm their special one
The singer feels a special and unique connection to her grandparents, where they are not just her guardians, but she is also their beloved grandchild.
Sometimes when I'm tired, I feel Elijah take my arm
The singer feels the presence and support of her grandfather, Elijah, especially when she is feeling weary or overwhelmed.
He says, "Keep a goin', hard work never did a body harm"
The singer imagines her grandfather encouraging her to keep pushing through challenges and obstacles, with the reminder that hard work is never harmful or futile.
And when I'm really troubled and I don't know what to do
The singer turns to her grandmother, Fannie, for comfort and guidance during times of confusion or uncertainty.
Fannie whispers, "Just do your best, we're awful proud of you"
In the singer's mind, her grandmother offers words of encouragement and pride, reminding her to do her best and never doubt herself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NAOMI ELLEN JUDD, JOHN BARLOW JARVIS, ALAN SCHLITZ DONALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind