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.
This Bitter Earth
Jackie Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, what fruit it bears
What good is love
Mmmm that no one shares
And if my life is like the dust
Oooh that hides the glow of a rose
What good am I
Heaven only knows
Lord, this bitter earth
Yes, can be so cold
Today you're young
Too soon, you're old
But while a voice within me cries
I'm sure someone may answer my call
And this bitter earth
Ooooo may not
Oh be so bitter after all
Jackie Wilson's song "This Bitter Earth" is a soulful ballad about the harsh realities of life and the difficulties of finding love. The opening line, "This bitter earth, well, what fruit it bears," sets the tone for the rest of the song. It speaks to the idea that life can be hard and often presents challenges that are difficult to overcome.
The next verse, "What good is love that no one shares," is particularly poignant. It speaks to the pain of unrequited love and the frustration of loving someone who cannot or will not love you back. The following lines, "And if my life is like the dust that hides the glow of a rose, what good am I, heaven only knows," further emphasize this feeling of hopelessness and despair.
The chorus, "Lord, this bitter earth, yes, can be so cold, today you're young, too soon, you're old," adds another layer of meaning to the song. It speaks to the fleeting nature of life and the fact that time passes quickly. The final verse, "But while a voice within me cries, I'm sure someone may answer my call, and this bitter earth ooooo may not, oh be so bitter after all," offers a glimmer of hope and suggests that love and happiness may still be within reach.
Line by Line Meaning
This bitter earth
Life is full of difficulties and hardships
Well, what fruit it bears
The outcome of life can be unpleasant and bitter
What good is love
What is the use of love if it can't be shared with anyone?
Mmmm that no one shares
Love becomes useless if you have nobody to share it with, and it remains unfulfilled
And if my life is like the dust
The insignificance of life can feel like dust
Oooh that hides the glow of a rose
The beauty of life is hidden beneath lots of struggles
What good am I
Am I good for nothing?
Heaven only knows
Only the Divine knows what is to come
Lord, this bitter earth
Oh God, how difficult life can be
Yes, can be so cold
Life can be harsh and unforgiving
Today you're young
One day you may be young, but you never know until you get old
Too soon, you're old
Old age is here before we know it
But while a voice within me cries
My inner voice seeks help
I'm sure someone may answer my call
I believe that someone will answer my prayers
And this bitter earth
This life full of struggles
Ooooo may not
May not be
Oh be so bitter after all
As terrible as it may appear, there's still a chance for a happy ending
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: STEVIE SALAS, STEPHEN L. ALLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike Vallen
The one and only Jackie Wilson....pure heart and soul from head to toe .
Terry too
What a great rendition of this song. Jackie could sing anything and it sounded good
Maria João Couceiro
...from head to toe! you're right Mike Vallen. This version is grand! : ))
Pamela West
Jackie Wilson nail this song! You can feel this song in yours soul!*
ed wiles
he is great. Easier to dance to than the very best version, done by Dianah Washington
Pamela West
When JACKIE WILSON sang this song, you can feel his (PAIN)!!!!
cyrustom
Johnnie Taylor nails it...my fave version
Ray Oxborough
try Johnnie Taylor version too folks!
JomoDaMusicMan
Great, Jackie, but I still say nobody can do this song like Dinah Washington and the next best was another Washington , Ella and I also heard Baby Washington do this song live and killed it
JomoDaMusicMan
Like, I said before, Jackie Wilson version was good, right there, in the middle of dozens of black artist who sung, "This Bitter Earth" Nancy Wilson was in the top 75% of the singers, but the two top versions was those bad ass Washington girls, Dinah and then Ella & then another washington was third (Baby) Aretha sung the hell out of this song also