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.
My Girl
Jackie Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When it's cold outside I've got the month of May
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Ooh
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
With my girl
I've even got the month of May
With my girl
Jackie Wilson's "My Girl" is a classic song that expresses the happiness one feels when in love. The opening lyrics, "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day, when it's cold outside I've got the month of May" express the idea that even when things are tough, the singer has a positive outlook on life because he has someone special to share it with. The phrase "I guess you'd say, what can make me feel this way?" highlights the fact that the singer cannot imagine life without his girl as she brings him so much happiness and joy.
The chorus continues to express this sentiment with the repetition of the words "My girl" and the acknowledgement that he is speaking about her. The next verse continues to paint a picture of the happiness the singer feels by comparing himself to the bees, who are envious of the amount of honey he has, and the birds in the trees, whose song he believes he can outdo. The song's bridge underlines the idea that the singer doesn't need money, fortune, or fame, as he has everything he needs in the form of his love.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was written by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles, who also produced the song. The song was originally written for The Temptations, but they passed on it. Robinson then gave the song to The Miracles, but they also declined to record it. Eventually, the song ended up with The Temptations' label mate Jackie Wilson, who recorded it in 1965. The song reached number two on the charts and became one of Wilson's biggest hits.
Another interesting fact is that The Temptations eventually recorded their own version of the song, which was released in 1971. This version also became a hit and reached number 14 on the charts. The song has since become a classic and has been covered by numerous other artists, including Otis Redding and Michael Jackson. It was also famously used in the opening credits of the movie "My Girl" in 1991.
The chords for "My Girl" are as follows:
Intro: C F/C C F/C
Verse: C F/C C F/C
Chorus: G F C G F C F C
Bridge: F G C E7
Chorus: G F C G F C F C
Outro: C F/C C F/C
Line by Line Meaning
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
Even when my days are filled with difficulties and hardships, my girl brings me a sense of warmth and light.
When it's cold outside I've got the month of May
Just like how spring brings warmth to the cold winter, my girl brings me comfort and happiness despite the world's harshness.
I guess you'd say
You might think I'm exaggerating or being overly sentimental, but it's how I truly feel.
What can make me feel this way?
What else but the love and presence of my girl could make me feel such joy and contentment?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
It's my girl, the one who fills my heart with love and joy.
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I can't help but talk about her and praise her for all the happiness she brings me.
I've got so much honey the bees envy me
My girl fills my life with so much sweetness and abundance that even the bees are jealous of me.
I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees
My love for my girl is so strong that it creates a more beautiful and profound melody than the birds in nature.
Hey hey hey
Just expressing my happiness and enthusiasm for my girl.
Ooh
Just a little vocalization of my joy and pleasure in being with my girl.
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
Material possessions and status do not compare to the value and importance of my relationship with my girl.
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim
For me, the greatest treasure and fulfillment in life is having my girl by my side.
With my girl
I am complete and content with just being with my girl, no matter what else is happening in life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: William Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind