Jackson was still in high school when country singer Hank Thompson heard her sing on an Oklahoma City radio show and asked her to record with his band in 1954. She dated Elvis Presley, who encouraged her to step away from the country-tinged gospel she had been performing since childhood and try her hand at rock and roll. She developed her own distinctive voice and performed in a variety of styles, from folksy traditional tunes to country twang and high yodels to throaty, suggestive ballads. She was a prolific singer of songs with wry lyrics such as "Fujiyama Mama," which contained many references to the World War II bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; ironically, it became a #1 hit in Japan. Her biggest hit was 1959's "Let's Have a Party."
Jackson achieved great and continuing success throughout Europe, Asia, and Australia, but has never found the same level of fame in her native United States. She toured with rock and roll pioneers such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Buddy Holly. She has been nominated for two Grammys, and has been awarded the Oklahoma Native Daughter Award. She has been inducted into the Oklahoma Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the International Hall of Fame, the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, and the German Country Music Hall of Fame, and in 2009 was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an Early Influence.
A born-again Christian, Jackson and her husband/manager Wendell Goodman abandoned rock and roll in 1971 and spent the next 25 years performing gospel in churches.
In 1996, Jackson was invited by alt-country singer Rosie Flores to duet with her on an upcoming album. The two were so pleased with the results that Jackson joined Flores on a handful of promotional club dates which were soon extended into a five-week North American tour. Jackson, plesantly surprised to discover that she and her songs were known by a generation of rockabilly fans her grandchildren's age, soon assembled her own band and returned to clubs and festivals, where she continues to perform.
In recent years Jackson has recorded with such artists as The Cramps, Lee Rocker, Dave Alvin, and Elvis Costello. 2006 saw the release of a new Jackson album, I Remember Elvis.
In 2009, it was announced that Jackson would start work on new recordings with Jack White. The resulting album, The Party Ain't Over, was released on January 25, 2011. It included a cover of the Bob Dylan rockabilly song, "Thunder on the Mountain" and the Amy Winehouse song "You Know I'm No Good". On January 20, 2011, she performed with Jack White on The Late Show With David Letterman and again on January 25, 2011, on Conan.
A Little Bitty Tear
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That today was our last day
I said, "There'd be no sorrow that I'd laugh
When you walked away"
But a little bitty tear let me down
Spoiled my act as a clown
I had it made up not to make a frown
I said, "I'd laugh when you left me full of funny
As you went out the door"
That I'd have another one a waitin'
I'd wave goodbye as you go
But a little bitty tear
Everything went out like I planned it
And I really put on quite a show
I thought that I was gonna stand it
But when you've got through the door
But a little bitty tear
When you said you were leaving
tomorrow, the singer put on a brave face, insisting that there would be no sorrow as their partner left. The singer was certain that they could laugh and wave goodbye, even as their heart was breaking. However, as the partner is leaving and the singer is trying to maintain their composure and act like a clown, a little bitty tear makes its appearance, betraying the singer's true emotions.
This song is about the facade that people put on when they are heartbroken. They may pretend that they are fine and laugh the pain away, but ultimately, their true emotions will come to the surface. The song serves as a warning against suppressing one's true emotions, as it will only lead to a greater emotional explosion in the long run.
Line by Line Meaning
When you said you were leaving tomorrow
When you told me that you were leaving the next day
That today was our last day
That this current day was our final day together
I said, "There'd be no sorrow that I'd laugh
When you walked away"
I assured you that I would not be sad but instead I would laugh as you left
But a little bitty tear let me down
Spoiled my act as a clown
I had it made up not to make a frown
But a little bitty tear let me down
But a small tear caused my performance of being carefree to fall apart
I had been determined to not show any sadness
But a little crying betrayed my efforts
I said, "I'd laugh when you left me full of funny
As you went out the door"
That I'd have another one a waitin'
I'd wave goodbye as you go
I told you that I would be full of humor and laughter when you departed
I claimed that I had someone else ready and waiting for me
I said I would smile and wave as you left
Everything went out like I planned it
And I really put on quite a show
I thought that I was gonna stand it
But when you've got through the door
Everything occurred as I had planned it
I put on a great act for you
I believed that I could handle it
But when you actually left the room
But a little bitty tear
But a tiny tear
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@allansouthern7332
PURE COUNTRY MUSIC LOVE IT
@kalmanizer
31 years young, from Brooklyn, NY and I LOVE Classic Country Music! YeeHaaw! :-D
@Bonacrik
When I was stationed at Ft. Bragg in 1960, this singer and this song made life bearable for a New York City boy---she is the best and yes, that accent-- typical of the gals I met down south at that time.
@charlottehendershot8025
Beautiful singer
@lmturmenne
What a singer, she's great!
@jussix48
❤️👍🏿
@maylenemcdondald6156
I wasn't even born, yet, and I love love love all her songs! This is another wonderful song! Wonderful Wanda! Thanks for sharing this song!
@jameswall8754
Such.a.beautiful.person.with.so.mush.talent.brings.back.a.lot.of.good.memories..keep.going.wanda.you.are.what.makes.me.feel.young.again.
@rph111745
I saw her at show in 1962, Burl Ives was also on the bill and this was at the same time when both of their versions of this song were o the radio.
@jussix48
Wanda i love you, wherever you are now, you and your childishlike voice and everything in you. Thank you very much for your music!