Chuck Jackson (born Charles Jackson in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on 22… Read Full Bio ↴Chuck Jackson (born Charles Jackson in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on 22 July 1937; died 16 February 2023) was an American soul and r 'n' b singer who was one of the first artists to have success with material by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and whose hits included "I Don't Want to Cry", "Any Day Now", "I Keep Forgettin'", and "All Over the World". On 4 October 2015, Chuck Jackson was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.

Jackson startd out as a gospel singer in The Raspberry Singers. He was in the Dell-Vikings from 1957 to 1959.

After recording as Charles Jackson for the Clock label in 1959 he signed with Wand Records in 1961. He was immediately successful with his first single I Don't Want To Cry which reached No. 5 R&B, No. 36 Pop in the USA. He was with Wand through most of the sixties, scoring several R&B and Pop hits. In 1969 he moved to Motown but didn't do so well there. He continued to record throughout the seventies for labels like ABC, All Platinum and EMI America, scoring his last R&B hit in 1980.

Although never hugely successful his soulful voice resulted in 23 R&B top 100 singles in the USA and the same number of US Pop 100 hits over the course of 20 years.

Several of Jackson's songs later became hits for other artists including Ronnie Milsap, whose 1982 cover version of "Any Day Now" reached No. 1 on the Country and Adult Contemporary charts. Michael McDonald covered "I Keep Forgettin'" with much success. "I Keep Forgettin'" was also covered by David Bowie on his album "Tonight".

On 4 October 2015, Chuck Jackson was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.

Any Other Way
Chuck Jackson Lyrics

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I'm free

Here you come again
And you call yourself my friend
But I know why you're here
That girl of mine
Wants to know how I feel

Well, you can
Tell her that I'm happy
Tell her that I'm free
And say I won't have it
No, no, no, no, no, no
Any other way

That's right

People are talking
Since we've been apart
Everybody's saying
There he goes with a broken heart

Well, you can go back
And tell her that I'm happy
Tell her, tell her that
I'm free and say

That I won't have it
No, no, no, no, no, no
Any other way

'Cause I'm free, ha

That's all I gotta say, my friend

Now I think we better say bye bye
I think you'd better go right now
Or you might see a big man cry

Just tell her
Tell her that I'm happy
Go on and tell her
Tell her that I'm free and say

Chuck wouldn't have it
No, no, no, no, no, no
Any other way

'Cause he's free
Yes, I'm free
I'm free, I'm free

Everyday, I'm free
Without you, I'm free
Free at last, free at last

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Chuck Jackson's song "Any Other Way" tell the story of a man who has moved on from a past relationship and is now living his life free from the memories of the past. The song is a declaration of his liberation from the emotional pain that he has endured and how he refuses to let anyone or anything interfere with his newfound sense of freedom. The opening lines set the scene for the rest of the song, as the singer addresses someone who has come back into his life, possibly an old friend or mutual acquaintance, who is curious about how he is doing since his breakup. The singer knows that this person is really there to gather information about him for his ex-girlfriend, who is curious about his emotional state.

Chuck Jackson's words are filled with clarity and resolve, as he insists that he will not be swayed by the opinions of others or the pressure from his past love. He repeats the chorus throughout the song, emphasizing his control over his own destiny, his refusal to be dragged back into a situation that he has worked hard to escape from.

One can appreciate the powerful emotion found in Chuck Jackson's "Any Other Way." The song is a bold statement of self-reliance, self-affirmation, and freedom from heartache. The song's lyrics have been covered by various artists over the years, including Tina Turner and The Temptations. It is a testament to Chuck Jackson's talent as a songwriter and his ability to capture the human experience with such musical and lyrical precision.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm free
Chuck is feeling liberated and no longer constrained or tied down by any person or circumstance.

Here you come again And you call yourself my friend But I know why you're here That girl of mine Wants to know how I feel
Chuck's friend has come over to find out how he feels about a girl they both know, who is apparently interested in Chuck. Chuck knows the true intention behind the visit and identifies it as pertaining to the girl who wants to know Chuck's feelings.

Well, you can Tell her that I'm happy Tell her that I'm free And say I won't have it No, no, no, no, no, no Any other way
Chuck tells his friend that he is happy and free, and that he will not allow anyone or anything to dictate his feelings or actions. He wants this message to be relayed to the girl in question.

That's right
An affirmation of Chuck's previous statement.

People are talking Since we've been apart Everybody's saying There he goes with a broken heart
People have been discussing Chuck's emotional state since his separation from someone. Many folks believe that Chuck is heartbroken.

Well, you can go back And tell her that I'm happy Tell her, tell her that I'm free and say That I won't have it No, no, no, no, no, no Any other way
Chuck directs his friend to return to the girl and convey the message that Chuck is in fact happy and free. He reiterates that no one and nothing will make him feel or act otherwise.

'Cause I'm free, ha
A repetition of Chuck's state of being free.

That's all I gotta say, my friend Now I think we better say bye bye I think you'd better go right now Or you might see a big man cry
Chuck concludes that he has nothing else to add, and so it is time for his friend to leave. Chuck jokingly states that if they do not leave now he may become emotional and cry.

Just tell her Tell her that I'm happy Go on and tell her Tell her that I'm free and say Chuck wouldn't have it No, no, no, no, no, no Any other way
Chuck reiterates his directive to his friend and reinforces the message that he is content and independent, and will not change this in any way for any reason.

'Cause he's free Yes, I'm free I'm free, I'm free Everyday, I'm free Without you, I'm free Free at last, free at last
Chuck celebrates his freedom and the ability to live his life without any external emotional constraints or ties to another person that may interfere with his pursuit of happiness and contentment.

Contributed by Cole I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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