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."
All I Want Is A Fighting Chance
Millie Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't that Mrs. Jodie over there?
Mrs. Jodie! (Yes?)
You know, I'm like an old relative of yours
I know you don't know me but
Since I been going with your husband for the last past year and a half
(What with my husband?)
That would sorta, like, make us wives in-law
(Make us wives in-laws?)
(Are you crazy? What's wrong with you?)
(What the hell are you talking about?!)
All I want is a fighting chance
The rules of the game: To be fair
Since all is fair in love and war
It's war I do declare
Call out your army, alert your navy
Bring out your reserves and marines
'Cause I've alerted your man
He's well-informed
He's been attacked by my love machine
'Cause all I want is a fighting chance
A fight it is going to be
Give me an inch, I'll take a mile
'Cause you're dealing with TNT
Get some TNT, I'm a bomb
Your man has set off my time
I'm gonna blow up his mind
And burst all his heart
And fill it with this love of mine
'Cause all I want is a fighting chance
The war is already won
All I need is a fighting chance
'Cause I'm the daughter of a son-of-a-gun
All I want is a fighting chance
A fight it is going to be
Come on here, turn him over to me
Give that man to me, yeah, yeah
Give him over to me (Wow!)
The lyrics of Millie Jackson's "All I Want Is A Fighting Chance" detail a confrontation between the singer and the wife of the man she's been seeing for the last year and a half. In the first verse, the singer approaches the wife (Mrs. Jodie) and explains their shared connection as "wives in-law." However, Mrs. Jodie becomes understandably upset and demands an explanation of what the singer is talking about. The singer then launches into the chorus, which declares that all she wants is a "fighting chance" in this love affair. She demands fairness in the game of love and declares that it's war she's declaring.
The second verse and subsequent choruses continue in this vein, with the singer calling upon military imagery to characterize the nature of the fight. She's got a "love machine" that will attack Mrs. Jodie's man and blow his mind, filling it with nothing but the singer's love. She's the "daughter of a son-of-a-gun" and is ready for the war to come because "you're dealing with TNT." The bridge further emphasizes the singer's confidence and readiness for battle, urging Mrs. Jodie to "give that man to me" and declaring that the war has already been won.
The overall message of the song is one of defiance and determination. The singer makes it clear that she is not afraid of a fight and feels justified in pursuing this love affair. The lyrics are filled with bombastic language and military metaphors, which create a sense of drama and excitement. The line "all is fair in love and war" is a familiar cliche, but the singer twists it on its head by specifically stating that "it's war I do declare," making it clear that she's not interested in a fair fight - she wants to win.
Line by Line Meaning
Wait a minute
Hold on a moment
Ain't that Mrs. Jodie over there?
Isn't that Mrs. Jodie standing there?
Mrs Jodie!
Addressing Mrs. Jodie
(Yes?)
Mrs. Jodie confirms she's listening
You know, I'm like an old relative of yours
I'm kinda like family to you
I know you don't know me but
I'm aware you don't recognize me
Since I been going with your husband for the last past year and a half
I've been seeing your husband for a year and a half
(What with my husband?)
Mrs. Jodie questions what's going on with her husband
That would sorta, like, make us wives in-law
That kind of makes us relatives
You know what I mean?
Do you catch my drift?
(Make us wives in-laws?)
Mrs. Jodie is confused and incredulous
(Are you crazy? What's wrong with you?)
Mrs. Jodie thinks the artist is insane
(What the hell are you talking about?!)
Mrs. Jodie demands an explanation
All I want is a fighting chance
I just want a fair shot
The rules of the game: To be fair
I believe in playing by the rules
Since all is fair in love and war
Because anything goes in love and war
It's war I do declare
I am declaring war
Call out your army, alert your navy
Brace yourself for battle
Bring out your reserves and marines
Get all the backup you can find
'Cause I've alerted your man
I've informed your husband
He's well-informed
He knows what's coming
He's been attacked by my love machine
He's already fallen under my spell
'Cause all I want is a fighting chance
I just want an opportunity to fight
A fight it is going to be
This is going to be a battle
Give me an inch, I'll take a mile
I'm taking what I can get
'Cause you're dealing with TNT
I'm a force to be reckoned with
Get some TNT, I'm a bomb
I'm explosive and powerful
Your man has set off my time
Your husband has ignited something within me
I'm gonna blow up his mind
I'm going to impress him
And burst all his heart
I'm going to win his heart
And fill it with this love of mine
And make him fall in love with me
'Cause all I want is a fighting chance
I just want a fair chance
The war is already won
I've already won the battle
All I need is a fighting chance
All I need is an opportunity to prove myself
'Cause I'm the daughter of a son-of-a-gun
I'm tough and determined
Come on here, turn him over to me
Give him to me
Give that man to me, yeah, yeah
Hand him over
Give him over to me (Wow!)
Wow, hand him right over
Writer(s): Milt Jackson, K. Sterling
Contributed by Harper S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
anthony newton
The Caught Up album is like listening to a play.
stefan lewis
just love millie
goose54
I love this songs intro if this was a video I could see Millie and Mrs. Jody in the supermarket with Millie walking up to her and telling her that they are wives in law lol
andy T
What version is that, record?
Fran Ninguno
i see some kind of similarity between fiona apple's criminal and this song. Weird.