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.
Think Twice
Jackie Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said you better think twice
Before you walk out that door
I've got news for you, little boy
You ain't got a mother here no more
So you better be nice
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Think twice
Listen to me, Jackie
Think twice
Wait a minute now, baby, yeah
You're trying to play your daddy
For a fool so let me ease on by
Honey, before I blow my cool
I'm gonna give you some time
Ha, to make up your mind
Vern, baby, think twice, be nice
Honey, think twice
Listen to me, Jackie
(What do you want, Vern)
Oh, don't you walk out that door
(I got to make a move)
Oh, don't leave me, baby
(Got to go, baby)
Cause I know, know, know
You won't gonna come back no more
(Ain't gonna be nobody's fool)
Oh, I got a brand new bag
(A brand new bag but don't let it sag)
Oh, oh, oh, oh (all right)
Take my advice (I took it)
Oh, but you didn't heed my warning
(But I'm gone) ohh
Oh, you better think twice, Jackie
Before you walk out that door
I've got news for you, brother
They don't make no more like me
Don't you be no fool
(I ain't gonna be no fool)
And don't blow your cool
Whoa, think twice
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Think twice
(Vern, I got to make me a move)
(All right, I got to march on)
Yeah, yeah (I ain't coming back
No more, Vern, I got to leave)
The song “Think Twice” by Jackie Wilson and Lavern Baker is a warning to a man who is about to walk out the door on his woman. The woman tells the man that he ain't got a mother there anymore, which is a metaphorical way of telling him that leaving her would mean he would be without the nurturing protection and guidance of a mother figure in his life. She tells him to think twice before he walks out that door and to take her advice to heart. Lavern warns Jackie, who is the man in question, not to be a fool and to make the right decision before it's too late as he won't find anyone like her again.
The lyrics convey the message that the man needs to choose his actions wisely and be aware of the consequences of his actions. By using the metaphor of a mother figure, the woman is showing the importance of nurturing in our lives and how without it, we can't hope to lead a fulfilling life. The warning to think twice illustrates the idea that it is important to think through decisions before making them, especially with emotional decisions like leaving a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I said you better think twice
Before you walk out that door
I am advising you to reconsider your decision to leave before it's too late
I've got news for you, little boy
You ain't got a mother here no more
You can't stay here and expect to be taken care of like a child anymore
So you better be nice
Better take my advice
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Think twice
You should follow my advice and think carefully about what you're doing
You're trying to play your daddy
For a fool so let me ease on by
Honey, before I blow my cool
You are trying to deceive me and take advantage of me, but I am trying to stay calm before I get angry
Listen to me, Jackie
(What do you want, Vern)
Oh, don't you walk out that door
(I got to make a move)
I am trying to convince Jackie to stay, but he is determined to leave
Cause I know, know, know
You won't gonna come back no more
(Ain't gonna be nobody's fool)
I am certain that this is the end of our relationship, and I won't let anyone take advantage of me
Take my advice (I took it)
Oh, but you didn't heed my warning
(But I'm gone) ohh
I gave you good advice, but you didn't listen to me and now you're leaving
Before you walk out that door
I've got news for you, brother
They don't make no more like me
You should realize that you won't find anyone else like me if you leave
Don't you be no fool
(I ain't gonna be no fool)
And don't blow your cool
Whoa, think twice
You shouldn't act foolishly or lose your temper, so you should think carefully before you act
Yeah, yeah (I ain't coming back
No more, Vern, I got to leave)
I am determined to leave and not come back, no matter what
Contributed by Michael S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@marcelaruby84
My mama said"back in the day you didn't hear cussing in our music" should've seen the look in her face when I played her this!!! Thank You!!!!
@lucas07700
marcelaruby84 this wasn't released
@R0blox_Player
lmao
@hansenhansen5528
Leah Stepp a
@themightyklingonwarriormee5043
marcelaruby84 LMFAO. My grandma won't believe this.
@daniellescott477
I am about to do the same! Lol My mom swore up and down they ain't sang like this. I was washing dishes 1st time I heard it and I was like huh LMBO I LOVE MISS BAKER!
@derekpowell9615
This is a nice wholesome song.
@muzickolchers968
lol.
@Ella-pf6hh
🤣😂def keeping it real
@TheTonyLazarus
Fantastic ! "I give you all the reefer, all the cocaine and you still fuck it up"