Wilson's solo career begin with 1957's "Reet Petite", written by the then unknown Berry Gordy, Jr. and recorded on the Brunswick Records label with whom Wilson would remain throughout his career. He had his first top 40 hit in 1958 with "To Be Loved". At the end of that year he had his first big success with "Lonely Teardrops" that went to #7 on the charts. The song, also written by Berry Gordy, Jr. became his signature tune. That same year saw Wilson release his first LP titled He's So Fine.
Wilson's brand of pop-soul and R&B helped him cross over to the mainstream, having several pop hits. His dynamic stage performances earned him the nickname "Mr. Excitement". His performance of "Lonely Teardrops" on the Ed Sullivan Show is considered one of its classics. In the 1960s, Wilson continued to record singles, many of them operatic, such as "Danny Boy" or "Night", others were up-tempo and exciting, such as "Baby Workout" in 1963. Although married to Frida Hood since 1951, Wilson was a notorious womanizer and was shot and wounded by one of his alleged lovers, Juanita Jones, on February 15 1961 in a jealous rage as he returned to his apartment with another woman, fashion model Harlean Harris, an ex-girlfriend of singer Sam Cooke. As a married man conducting extra-marital affairs, his management decided, as a way not to damage his career, to concoct a story that Jones was an obsessed fan who threatened to shoot herself, and that Wilson's intervention concluded in him being shot. Astonishingly, the story was accepted, and no charges were brought against Juanita Jones. He was divorced from Frida in 1965, and married Harlean Harris from 1967 until his death in 1984.
His career began to suffer in the mid-60s, though he managed a brief revival by collaborating with Carl Davis, a legendary Chicago producer. This resulted in two hits, "Whispers" and "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher". The revival was short-lived, though, and Wilson rarely charted in the 1970s. Wilson suffered a massive heart attack while playing a Dick Clark show at the Latin Casino in New Jersey on September 29, 1975, falling head-first to the stage; he was singing "Lonely Teardrops". A comatose Wilson lived in a hospital until his death in 1984 at age 49. His medical costs were paid for by Dick Clark. In 1985, successful soul/funk band The Commodores, recorded "Nightshift" which was a song in memory of Wilson, as well as soul singer Marvin Gaye, who died in the same year as Wilson.
Van Morrison also recorded a tribute song called "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)" on his 1972 hit album Saint Dominic's Preview. This song was later covered by Dexy's Midnight Runners. When the track was performed on the British TV show Top of the Pops, a picture of Wilson was intended to be used in the background - but an intentional joke by the band and the production staff meant that a picture of darts player Jocky Wilson was used instead. Wilson is mentioned in the rap song "thugs mansion" Tupac and Nas. The exact quote is, "Seen a show with Marvin Gaye last night, it had me shook Drinkinn peppermint Schnapps, with Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke".
Wilson scored a posthumous hit when "Reet Petite" reached number one in the United Kingdom in 1986. The following year,he also hit the UK charts again with "I Get The Sweetest Feeling"(No.3), and "Higher and Higher"(No.11). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987; that same year, he was portrayed in the Richie Valens biopic La Bamba by Howard Huntsberry.
Wilson is interred in the Westlawn Cemetery in Wayne, Michigan.
For Your Precious Love
Jackie Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Than any love could ever be.
For when I wanted you,
I was so lonely and blue,
For that's what love will do
And darling, I'm so surprised,
Oh, when I first realized
That you were fooling me.
But I just want to tell them they don't know.
For as long as you're in love with me,
Our love will grow wider,
Deeper than any sea.
And of all the things that I want,
In this whole wide world, is
Just for you to say that you'll be my girl.
Wanting you, I'm so lonely and blue.
That's what love will do.
The song "For Your Precious Love" by Jackie Wilson is a heartfelt expression of love and the lengths one will go to be with the person they love. The opening lines "Your precious love means more to me than any love could ever be" set the tone for the entire song. The singer is saying that this love is of the utmost importance to him and is worth more than anything else in the world.
The second verse speaks of the loneliness and sadness that the singer felt before he had this love. "For when I wanted you, I was so lonely and blue, For that's what love will do." This line shows that love can bring sadness and loneliness when it is not reciprocated, and in the case of the singer, it was through the realization of the one he loved was fooling him. However, despite the potential pitfalls of love, the singer asserts that their love will grow deeper and wider than any sea, and no one can claim it won't.
The chorus ends with a powerful plea for the one he loves to be his girl. "And of all the things that I want, In this whole wide world, is Just for you to say that you'll be my girl." The singer is proclaiming his love and desire for this person, and it is clear that he will stop at nothing to make it happen.
Line by Line Meaning
Your precious love means more to me
Your love is so valuable to me that I cannot express it in mere words.
Than any love could ever be.
It is better than any other love that one can ever experience.
For when I wanted you,
At the time when I needed your love,
I was so lonely and blue,
I felt so forlorn and dejected,
For that's what love will do
These feelings are common side-effects of love.
And darling, I'm so surprised,
My dear, I'm astonished,
Oh, when I first realized
When I finally understood,
That you were fooling me.
That you were playing tricks on me.
And darling, they say that our love won't grow.
People are saying that our love will not prosper.
But I just want to tell them they don't know.
I want to tell them that they are wrong.
For as long as you're in love with me,
Our love will continue to thrive,
Our love will grow wider,
It will spread out and encompass more things,
Deeper than any sea.
It will be stronger and more profound than anything else.
And of all the things that I want,
Out of all my desires,
In this whole wide world, is
There's nothing else in the world that is as important to me as
Just for you to say that you'll be my girl.
Hearing you say that you will be with me forever.
Wanting you, I'm so lonely and blue.
My longing for you makes me feel dejected and desolate.
That's what love will do.
These emotions are the results of being in love.
Lyrics © REGENT MUSIC CORPORATION
Written by: NICKOLAS ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrThumpsupordown
I love Jackie Wilson :) Thumbs up for life, he is my hero! The word hero gets thrown around so much these days. Jackie Wilson is a hero like the word unique means unique. He is the real deal for me. The man was a delight through a hellish life for anyone who'd listen. I love him, Thanks Jackie, we will always cheris the love you gave us. Benny
@pamelawest8138
Everytime I here this song, it bring back memories of easier time, Thank Jackie Wilson (RIP)!!!!
@billyonions6024
The Impressions have this boxed up. Don't get me wrong Jackie Wilson is stellar but this arrangement has nought on the original. Sometimes less is more.
@geraldjohnson848
Jackie Wilson. Count Basie. 'Nuff said. Two of the greatest...together. Thanks for the post. Blessings
@czar14617
I GOT A CHANCE BACK IN 1968 TOO SEE JACKIE LIVE IN BUFFALO NY --THE GUY WAS NOTHING SHORT OF AWESOME
@2011TDG
Jackie Wilson too damn cool baddass song and singer, Tammy Deniece.
@2011TDG
Singing the hell out of this song. Love you Jackie always and forever .
@sharongupton
everything he touch is gold
@MrThumpsupordown
Jackie Wilson POWER!!! :)
@ar57smith
Jackie wilson will always be a great entertainer in my book an I love him always, I like this song but I love the way Aaron Neville sings it