Her career peaked in the late 1960s with a string of pop music hits. Her best-known hit, These Boots Are Made for Walkin' - which popularized and made her synonymous with Go-Go boots - was written by Lee Hazlewood. These Boots... has been covered by many artists such as Geri Halliwell, Megadeth, Jessica Simpson, Lil' Kim, Little Birdy, Billy Ray Cyrus, Crispin Hellion Glover and KMFDM.
Nancy also co-starred in a number of films, including Roger Corman's The Wild Angels with Peter Fonda and Bruce Dern, and Speedway with Elvis Presley, made guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, and starred in a number of television specials, most notable among them the 1967 Emmy Award-winning special "Movin' with Nancy", in which she appeared with her father and his Rat Pack pals Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.. In the 1970s, she slowed down her musical activity and ceased acting in order to concentrate on being a wife and mother. She returned to the studio in 1981 to record a country album with Mel Tillis called, Mel & Nancy.
At the age of 54, she posed for Playboy in their May 1995 issue, released a new CD, One More Time, and made guest appearances on TV shows to promote the new material.
Most Recently, the song Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) (originally recorded by Cher) was used on the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino's hit Kill Bill.
On July 28, 2006, for the film Another Gay Movie (2006), she released the song "Another Gay Sunshine Day" from the Another Gay Movie Soundtrack.
Jackson
Nancy Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We been talkin' 'bout Jackson
Ever since the fire went out
I'm goin' to Jackson, I'm gonna mess around (yeah?)
Yeah, I'm goin' to Jackson, look out Jackson town
Well, go on down to Jackson, go ahead and wreck your health (hmm)
Go play your hand, you big-talkin' man, make a big fool of yourself
I'm gonna snowball Jackson
Go ahead and see if I care
When I breeze inta that city, the people gonna stoop and bow (ha ha)
All them women gonna make me teach 'em what they don't know how
I'm goin' to Jackson, ya turn-a loose-a my coat
'Cause I'm goin' to Jackson
Goodbye, that's all she wrote
They'll laugh at you in Jackson (I doubt it)
And I'll be dancin' on a pony keg
They'll lead you 'round that town like a scalded hound
With your tail tucked between your legs
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go to Jackson, you big-talkin' man
And I'll be waitin' there in Jackson behind my Japan fan
We got married in a fever hotter than a pepper sprout
We been talkin' 'bout Jackson ever since the fire went ou-ou-out
Go to Jackson and that's a natural fact
We're goin' to Jackson, ain't never comin' back
We got married in a fever hotter than a pepper sprout
We been talkin' 'bout Jackson
Nancy Sinatra's song "Jackson" is a duet with Lee Hazlewood, and is a sarcastic, playful take on a broken marriage. The lyrics start off with the couple, who were married in a passionate rush, discussing going to Jackson after their love has fizzled out. It is not clear what Jackson refers to, but it is likely a metaphor for a place where they can start anew, or it could simply be a nod to the city of Jackson, Mississippi.
The first verse is sung by Nancy alone, and she sings about how she is going to leave for Jackson and mess around while her ex-husband can "go ahead and wreck [his] health" there. She tells him to "go comb that hair" and that she is going to "snowball Jackson," meaning that she is going to succeed and thrive in the new place she is going to.
The second verse is sung by Lee Hazlewood, and it continues the sarcastic tone. He tells his ex-wife to go to Jackson and make a fool of herself while he will be waiting there with his "Japan fan." In the chorus, they sing about how they got married in a fever but are now leaving for Jackson and not coming back. Overall, the song is a humorous take on a failed marriage, where both parties are trying to outdo each other and prove that they will be successful without the other.
Line by Line Meaning
We got married in a fever hotter than a pepper sprout
We rushed into marriage with all-consuming passion, like a red hot chili pepper burning brightly and intensely.
We been talkin' 'bout Jackson ever since the fire went out
Our relationship has been struggling, and Jackson has been a topic of discussion between us since our love and passion began to cool off.
I'm goin' to Jackson, I'm gonna mess around (yeah?)
I'm going to Jackson, and I'm planning to have some fun by messing with people's heads and causing trouble.
Yeah, I'm goin' to Jackson, look out Jackson town
I'm headed to Jackson, and the town better be ready for the chaos and drama that I'll bring with me.
Well, go on down to Jackson, go ahead and wreck your health (hmm)
You can go to Jackson if you want, and it might even be harmful to you, but that's your choice and your responsibility.
Go play your hand, you big-talkin' man, make a big fool of yourself
You can try to impress everyone with your big talk and foolish actions, but ultimately you'll just embarrass yourself.
Yeah, yeah, go to Jackson, but go comb that hair
Sure, go to Jackson if you want, but take care of your appearance first and don't look like a mess when you get there.
I'm gonna snowball Jackson, go ahead and see if I care
I'm going to stir up trouble and cause mayhem in Jackson, and I don't care if anyone tries to stop me or not.
When I breeze inta that city, the people gonna stoop and bow (ha ha)
When I arrive in Jackson, people will be in awe of me and show me great respect, which I find amusing.
All them women gonna make me teach 'em what they don't know how
Women in Jackson will be drawn to me, and I'll be happy to show them things they don't know how to do.
I'm goin' to Jackson, ya turn-a loose-a my coat
I'm heading to Jackson and I don't want anyone to hold me back or try to control me.
'Cause I'm goin' to Jackson, Goodbye, that's all she wrote
I'm definitely going to Jackson, and that's the end of the discussion. There's no changing my mind.
They'll laugh at you in Jackson (I doubt it)
People in Jackson might mock and ridicule you, but I'm not convinced that will really happen.
And I'll be dancin' on a pony keg
While you're being laughed at in Jackson, I'll be having fun dancing and celebrating on top of a small wooden keg.
They'll lead you 'round that town like a scalded hound
If you go to Jackson, you might be humiliated and made to feel like a dog that's been physically punished.
With your tail tucked between your legs
You'll be so embarrassed in Jackson that you'll feel like a beaten dog with its tail tucked between its legs.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go to Jackson, you big-talkin' man
Sure, go to Jackson if you want, you boastful man who talks big about himself.
And I'll be waitin' there in Jackson behind my Japan fan
When you arrive in Jackson, I'll be there waiting for you, fanning myself with a Japanese fan and laughing at your expense.
We got married in a fever hotter than a pepper sprout
Once again, we got married in a passionate and feverish way that burned brightly, like a fiery pepper.
We been talkin' 'bout Jackson
Jackson has been a topic of discussion between us throughout our entire relationship.
Go to Jackson and that's a natural fact
It's a given that someone like me should go to Jackson and cause drama and chaos there.
We're goin' to Jackson, ain't never comin' back
We're both headed to Jackson, and once we get there, we'll never return to where we came from.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jerry Leiber, Billy Edd Wheeler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@roberttreborable
What a great Performance of a great song, still listening 50 years on
@nassauguy48
Amazing how an Italian-American girl from New Jersey could perform so well as a country artist! Nancy Sinatra may indeed have had a world famous dad, but she definitely earned her spot as a premier singer in her own right. And Lee's voice was simply among the best ever with regard to male singing artists.
@stevenmyhre2242
Yep
@user-fk7jc6gv6h
I've got no other better choice at this point in my life.....My mother, father, and even my older sister = 4 years older and always older than me....that is/was always true for me....("I'm not older...."The Boxer" - Simon and Garfunkel....(from the concert in central park....)
@marioserano9863
Nancy Sinatra shows very fine acting skill in every phrase and move. But man, she is beyond extremely cute.
@carolebarker2195
So funny! And they have such great chemistry! Brilliant.
@emmaphilo4049
They're so cool! Love them!!!
@ronaldstrange8981
Love the lyrics and the performance. England, October, 2023.
@gsgutierrez8809
Nancy Sinatra is one beautiful and talented artist.
@barryh.4220
Great video, loved that, she was a babe ...