Born in the small town of Thompson, Georgia, Jackson was the daughter of a sharecropper. Jackson's mother died while she was still a child, and subsequently, she and her father moved to Newark, New Jersey. By the time she was in her mid-teens, she moved to Brooklyn, New York, and lived with an aunt. Jackson occasionally worked as a model for magazines like Jive and Sepia.
Her career is said to have begun on a dare to enter a 1964 Harlem nightclub talent contest, which she soundly won.
Though Jackson first recorded for MGM records, she soon left and began her long association with Spring records. Among her early hits was Hurts So Good which was featured in the blaxploitation film Cleopatra Jones. During the 1970s, she travelled the Southern club circuit along with other bands like The Mighty Majors. Jackson is a former Grammy Award nominee for If Loving You is Wrong (I Don't Want to Be Right) from the album Caught Up. On that album, the follow-up Still Caught Up, and others, she was backed by the renowned Muscle Shoals rhythm section. Her voice is frequently compared to Gladys Knight's.
Jackson's chart success continued into the 1980s. Two of her largest hits during this period include "Hot! Wild! Unrestricted Crazy Love" and "Love Is A Dangerous Game". Both songs reached the Top 10 of R&B chart.
Jackson wrote and starred in the touring play "Young Man, Older Woman," based on her album of the same title. Two more albums followed, 1994's Rock N' Soul and 1995's It's Over.
Jackson now runs her own record label, Weird Wreckuds. For the past several years Jackson has had her own radio show in Dallas, Texas. Broadcasting via remote from her home in Atlanta, Jackson can be found working during the afternoon drive time from 3-6 p.m. on KKDA 730 AM.
In 2000, Jackson's voice was featured in "Am I Wrong" by Etienne de Crecy, sampled from her performance in "If Loving You is Wrong". In 2001, Jackson issued her album, Not For Church Folk! on her own label, Weird Wreckuds. It includes the single, "Butt--A-Cize."
I Don't Want To Be Right
Millie Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't want to be right
If being right means
Being without you
I'd rather live a
Wrong doing life
Your mama and daddy
It's a downright disgrace
But long as I got you by my side
I don't care what your people say
Your friends tell you
It's no future
In loving a married man
If I can't see you when I wanna
I'll see you when I can
[CHORUS]
If lovin' you is wrong
I don't wanna be right
If lovin' you is wrong
I don't wanna be right
Am I wrong to fall
So deeply in love with you
Knowin' I got a wife
And two little children
Depending on me too
And am I wrong to hunger
For the gentleness of your touch
Knowin' I got somebody else at home
Who needs me Just as much
[REFRAIN]
And are you wrong
To give your love
To a married man
And am I wrong
For Tryin' to hold on
To The best thing I ever had
[repeat CHORUS]
[repeat REFRAIN]
[repeat CHORUS]
I don't want to be right
If it means being without you
I don't want to be right
If it means sleeping at night
I don't want to be right
Log on to kill this message.
If loving you is wrong
[FADE]
The lyrics of Millie Jackson's "I Don't Want To Be Right" touch on themes of infidelity, societal expectations and taboo relationships. The singer is deeply in love with a married man, even though they both know it is wrong. The chorus indicates that even if loving him is considered "wrong" by society, the singer does not want to be "right" if it means being without her lover. The lyrics also touch on the internal struggle between the love and affection the singer has for her lover, and the guilt she feels for betraying her own family and being with a married man.
The song received significant airplay and popular attention during the 1970s, particularly in the soul and R&B music communities. Additionally, "I Don't Want To Be Right" was covered by a number of prominent artists including Luther Ingram and Isaac Hayes.
Line by Line Meaning
If loving you is wrong
Even if society judges me for loving a married man, I do not regret it as my love for him is true and undeniable.
I don't want to be right
I would rather continue to love a married man than to give up on him and be right by societal standards. My love for him is worth it.
If being right means Being without you
If being right means giving up on my love for you, then that is not something I am willing to do. I would rather have you in my life, even if it means going against societal norms.
I'd rather live a Wrong doing life
I would rather be judged for loving a married man than to live a life without the person I love. My love for him is worth any struggles and challenges that may arise.
Your mama and daddy Say it's a shame It's a downright disgrace
Even those who are closest to me, like my family, may judge me for loving a married man. However, their opinions do not change my feelings for him.
But long as I got you by my side I don't care what your people say
As long as I have the person I love with me, their opinions and judgments do not matter to me. My love for him is more important than any outsider's judgment.
Your friends tell you It's no future In loving a married man
Even the people who care about you and have your best interests in mind may warn you against loving a married man. However, my love for him is worth fighting for, even if it is difficult.
If I can't see you when I wanna I'll see you when I can
If the circumstances do not allow me to be with the person I love as often as I want, I will take any opportunity I can to be with them. My love for him is strong and unwavering.
Am I wrong to fall So deeply in love with you
I may be judged for falling in love with a married man, but I cannot control who I love. My feelings for him are strong and genuine.
Knowin' I got a wife And two little children Depending on me too
I am aware of the other responsibilities I have in my life, such as my family. However, my feelings for the person I love cannot be ignored or unacknowledged.
And am I wrong to hunger For the gentleness of your touch
I may be judged for my desires, but I cannot control my longing for the person I love. The physical and emotional connection we share is meaningful to me.
Knowin' I got somebody else at home Who needs me Just as much
I am aware of the responsibilities I have to my family, but my love for the person I am with cannot be ignored. I am aware of the complexities and difficulties that come with my situation.
And are you wrong To give your love To a married man
My partner may also be judged for loving a married person, but our love for each other is genuine and worth the risk.
And am I wrong For Tryin' to hold on To The best thing I ever had
Even if it goes against cultural and societal standards, I am holding onto the person I love because they are the best thing that has ever happened to me.
If lovin' you is wrong I don't wanna be right
I would rather accept societal judgments than to give up the person I love. My love for him is worth any criticism or outside opinions.
I don't want to be right If it means being without you
I am willing to let go of the notion of being right by cultural standards, as long as it means that I can continue to be with the person I love.
I don't want to be right If it means sleeping at night
I would rather live a life that may be judged by others if it means that I can be with the person I love. The thought of losing them is unbearable.
I don't want to be right
My love for you transcends any cultural standards or judgments others may put on me. I choose to love you despite any potential negative consequences.
If loving you is wrong
I am aware of the potential criticisms and judgments that may come with loving a married person, but my love for you is real and worth it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Carl Mitchell Hampton, Homer Banks, Raymond E. Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christinapennington5403
Lyrics Enjoy
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right
If being right means being without you
I'd rather live a wrong doing life
Your mama and daddy say it's a shame
It's a downright disgrace
But long as I got you by my side
I don't care what your people say
Your friends tell you it's no future in loving a married man
If I can't see you when I want, I'll see you when I can
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right
Am I wrong to fall so deeply in love with you?
Knowing I got a wife and two little children depending on me too
And am I wrong to hunger for the gentleness of your touch?
Knowing I got someone else at home who needs me just as much
And are you wrong to give your love to a married man?
And am I wrong for trying to hold on to the best thing I ever had?
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right
Are you wrong to give your love to a married man?
And am I wrong for trying to hold on to the best thing I ever had?
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right
I don't wanna be right
If it means being without you
I don't wanna be right
If it means sleeping at night
I don't wanna be right
If loving you is wrong
I don't wanna be right
Ooh-oh
@spiritofzen7022
A soul classic and a masterful track
@keiths.8110
I used to put on mom’s album, when she wasn’t home and get schooled by Millie. Great times. Still listening in 2020 ❤️
@leroygadsden7301
No one can sing with such deep passion, power, soul, sex and emotion as the one and only Millie Jackson. I saw her decades ago when she was touring and she performed every song and show with same passion. If you are doing the right thing, her voice makes you want to do the wrong thing. Sing Millie Sing
@kimbradshaw9949
Saw Millie twice in the UK, she is the most underrated woman soul singer ever. She has got to have the voice that just screams soul from deep within. Love her music
@labargz
Bf was her back up. On some gigs. .. a guitar playa the chitlin circuit. For em all 70s 80s .
@catsareangels33
ok; but she screams too much; sorry...
@hughjackson2851
For me she's right up there. I argue with many that she n gladys knight wer at par
@shtarry9710
Oh thats a miss from me, I love her to bits since 40yrs ago.. So true, she's good & deep in soul.. 💗
@albertbrancato2586
So true, so true
@koapakakaluhiokalani4507
I love this song!❤