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.
Blue Yodel #6
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He left me this morning, midnight was turning day
I didn't have no blues till my good man went away
Got the blues like midnight, moon shining bright as day
Got the blues like midnight, moon shining bright as day
I wish a tornado would come and blow my blues away
Yeah one of these mornings, I'm gonna leave this town
'Cause you trifling men really keep a good gal down
When a woman's down, you men don't want her round
When a woman's down, you men don't want her round
But if she's got money, she's the sweetest gal in town
Yeah lookey here buddy, see what you've done done
Yeah lookey here buddy, see what you've done done
You've made me love ya , now you're regular momma's home
Got the blues like midnight, moon shining bright as day, Lord Lord
Got the blues like midnight, moon shining bright as day
I wish a tornado would blow my blues away
In Wanda Jackson's song Blue Yodel #6, the singer expresses her heartache over her lover leaving her in the middle of the night. She initially didn't have any blues until her "good man" departed. The singer goes on to describe how the blues have consumed her since her lover left, and how she wishes a tornado would come and "blow her blues away." In the final verse, the singer vows to leave the town because she believes that the men there keep good women down. She also suggests that men only want a woman around if she has money, otherwise they don't want her.
The song captures the deep feelings of sadness and heartbreak from a woman who has been left by her lover. The singer also touches on the unfairness and inequality women face in society, particularly when it comes to relationships. The use of the words "blues" and "tornado" as metaphors adds an evocative element to the song, giving it a visceral and emotional impact on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
He left me this morning, midnight was turning day
My man left me early this morning, when it was still dark outside
I didn't have no blues till my good man went away
I was happy until my man left me
Got the blues like midnight, moon shining bright as day
Feeling very sad, even though it's bright outside
I wish a tornado would come and blow my blues away
I wish something drastic would happen to make me feel better
Now one of these mornings, I'm gonna leave this town
Someday soon, I'm going to leave this place
'Cause you trifling men really keep a good gal down
Men like you are the reason good women feel down
When a woman's down, you men don't want her round
Men don't want anything to do with women when they're feeling down
But if she's got money, she's the sweetest gal in town
If a woman has money, men are quick to find her attractive
Yeah lookey here buddy, see what you've done done
Look at what you've done to me
You've made me love ya , now you're regular momma's home
You made me fall in love with you, but now I'm left alone
Got the blues like midnight, moon shining bright as day, Lord Lord
Feeling incredibly sad, even though it's bright outside
I wish a tornado would blow my blues away
I wish something drastic would happen to make me feel better
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JIMMIE RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SPARTA_JKD
When 'Wanda' finally leaves us suddenly everyone will go, she was a legend. She is a legend.
Ronaldo
this is real music, and no rap, hip-hop, rnb XXI st.
Richard Skola
Wanda Jackson does Blue Yodel No.6 better than Jimmie Rodgers could ever have imagined it being done. Wanda, if ever you read this, many thanks for your Salt Lake City show, and for the after the show show at the Pride Club. You were great!
Bob Beck
Sacrilege.
ITILII
Wanda was good, but couldn't begin to compare with Jimmie as a yodeler, not to mention Jimmie was a great songwriter !!! The FATHER of Country Music and along with Hank Williams and Fred Rose, the first 3 inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Andrew Fleming
Kyler Campbell Amen!
Pagan Morph
I have a few of Wanda's LP's in my collection, mainly slow country ballads. I had no idea she ever did some Jimmie Rodgers covers.What a discovery! Just great. Many thanks for posting.
TheSicamousman
one of the most under rated rockabilly/country artists.
Markus R
+TheSicamousman I thought, she is named "Queen of Rockabilly", doesn't seem to be "underrated", or am I wrong??
bichkette
What a singer! Thank you for this.