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.
Shake Me Wake Me
Chuck Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear my neighbors talking (She don't love him)
Saying that out of my life
Into another's arms you'll soon be walking
Somebody shake me, wake me when it's over
Somebody tell me that I'm dreamin'
And wake me when its over
They say our love ain't what it used to be
And everyone knows but me
I close my ears not wanting to hear
But the words are loud and clear
Through these walls so thin
I hear my neighbors when
They say "She don't love him, she don't love him"
They say my heart's in danger
'Cause you're leaving me
For the love of a stranger
Somebody shake me, wake me somebody when it's over
Somebody tell me that I'm dreamin'
And wake me when its over
Girl you're what my heart desires
My whole world you inspire
I can't bear to be losing you
Cause I've loved you my whole life through
Restlessly I pace the floor
Listening to my neighbor's criticize
What a fool I am not to realize
You don't want me by your side
I can't believe I've been replaced
If I've ever ever dreamed before
Somebody tell me I'm dreaming now
I said shake me, wake me somebody when its over
Somebody tell me that I'm dreaming
And wake me when its over
C'mon wake me, shake me somebody
Chuck Jackson's song "Shake Me Wake Me" tells the story of a man who is trying to deny the fact that his lover is leaving him for another man. The song starts with the man's restlessness in the night as he hears his neighbors talking about his girlfriend leaving him. The neighbors say that she is soon to be walking into another man's arms. He pleads for somebody to shake him or wake him when it's over, and to tell him that he's dreaming. However, he knows deep down that the accusations about his girlfriend leaving are true.
The man tries to ignore the talk and closes his ears not wanting to hear, but the words are loud and clear through the walls. His heart is in danger because his girlfriend is leaving him for the love of a stranger. He reiterates that he loves her and can't bear to lose her after all these years they've been together. He paces restlessly, listening to his neighbors criticize him, and he can't believe he's been replaced by another man. He hopes that somebody will wake him or shake him when it's all over because he cannot bear the pain of losing her.
The song is a heartbreaking tale of lost love, denial, and regret. It highlights the emotions that come with losing someone that you have loved for an extended period. It also showcases how difficult it is to ignore the signs that our loved ones may be leaving us for someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
All through this long and sleepless night
Chuck Jackson has had trouble sleeping, and this feeling extends over a period of time.
I hear my neighbors talking (She don't love him)
Chuck Jackson hears his neighbors gossiping about his relationship and how it is falling apart.
Saying that out of my life
Chuck Jackson's neighbors say that his partner wants to leave him.
Into another's arms you'll soon be walking
Chuck Jackson's neighbors seem to be saying that his partner will soon be leaving him for someone else.
Somebody shake me, wake me when it's over
Chuck Jackson wants someone to physically shake and wake him up from what he hopes is a bad dream that he is experiencing.
Somebody tell me that I'm dreamin'
Chuck Jackson wants someone to reassure him that what he is experiencing is not actually happening and it's just a dream.
And wake me when its over
Chuck Jackson wants someone to wake him up when the situation is over and everything is back to normal.
They say our love ain't what it used to be
Chuck Jackson's neighbors believe that his relationship has lost its spark.
And everyone knows but me
Everyone, except for Chuck Jackson, knows that his partner may be leaving him.
I close my ears not wanting to hear
Chuck Jackson tries to avoid listening to his neighbors' gossip.
But the words are loud and clear
Despite his efforts to avoid hearing it, Chuck Jackson is still able to hear his neighbors' gossip about his relationship.
Through these walls so thin
Chuck Jackson is able to hear his neighbors through the thin walls of his home.
They say "She don't love him, she don't love him"
Chuck Jackson's neighbors are talking about how his partner does not love him and is planning on leaving him.
They say my heart's in danger
Chuck Jackson's neighbors believe that his emotional well-being is in danger.
'Cause you're leaving me
Chuck Jackson's partner is leaving him.
For the love of a stranger
Chuck Jackson's partner is leaving him for someone else.
Girl you're what my heart desires
Chuck Jackson wants his partner more than anything else in his life.
My whole world you inspire
Chuck Jackson's partner is the center of his world.
I can't bear to be losing you
Chuck Jackson cannot imagine a life without his partner and does not want to lose them.
'Cause I've loved you my whole life through
Chuck Jackson has loved his partner for his entire life.
Restlessly I pace the floor
Chuck Jackson cannot rest and walks around his home due to his worries about his relationship.
Listening to my neighbor's criticize
Chuck Jackson can hear his neighbor's harsh comments about his relationship with his partner.
What a fool I am not to realize
Chuck Jackson feels foolish that he did not realize that his partner would leave him.
You don't want me by your side
Chuck Jackson's partner wants to end their relationship and does not desire to be with him anymore.
As the tears stream down my face
Chuck Jackson is crying due to his emotional pain.
I can't believe I've been replaced
Chuck Jackson is shocked that his partner has found someone else and will soon leave him.
If I've ever ever dreamed before
Chuck Jackson wonders if he has ever had a dream like this before.
Somebody tell me I'm dreaming now
Chuck Jackson wants someone to tell him that what he is experiencing is only a dream.
C'mon wake me, shake me somebody
Chuck Jackson pleads with someone to wake him up and end his nightmare.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JR., BRIAN HOLLAND, EDWARD HOLLAND, LAMONT HERBERT DOZIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@osiris1142
nice version, but can't compare to the Four Tops version!
@maryruggiero2884
there's nobody like Levi!! what a voice!!!