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.
Don't Ask Me Why
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't know what else to do don't ask me why
How sad my heart would be if you should go
Though you're not good for me I want you so
It's not the kind of love I've dreamed about
But it's the kind that I can't live without
You're all I'm longing for don't say goodbye
[Piano ]
It's not the kind of love...
The lyrics to Wanda Jackson's song, "Don't Ask Me Why," reveal a complicated and conflicted emotional state surrounding a relationship. The singer is pleading with her partner to not question why she continues to love them, even though they know the relationship is not healthy or fulfilling. The lyrics highlight the conflict between the heart and the mind, as the singer acknowledges that their partner is not good for them, yet they still feel a strong desire to be with them.
The singer's justification for her continued love is somewhat ambiguous. She claims that it's not the "kind of love [she's] dreamed about," yet it's still a love that she "can't live without." This expresses the idea that sometimes, love defies logic and reason, and even though it may not be ideal or conventional, it's still very real and powerful. The singer's plea for her partner to not say goodbye and to continue to be with her shows that she is willing to accept the imperfections of the relationship in order to hold onto the connection between them.
Overall, Wanda Jackson's "Don't Ask Me Why" captures the complex emotions and contradictions that can exist within a relationship. The lyrics highlight the tension between our desire for love and connection, and our acknowledgement of what is healthy and right for us. The song resonates with those who have experienced the struggle of choosing between what the heart wants and what the mind knows to be true.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll go on loving you don't ask me why
I will continue to love you, but I cannot explain why.
Don't know what else to do don't ask me why
I am uncertain of what to do, I cannot give you an explanation.
How sad my heart would be if you should go
The thought of your departure makes me extremely sad.
Though you're not good for me I want you so
Despite knowing that you're not good for me, I still desire you.
It's not the kind of love I've dreamed about
This isn't the love I had envisioned for myself.
But it's the kind that I can't live without
Regardless, I cannot live without it.
You're all I'm longing for don't say goodbye
You are the only thing I desire, please do not leave.
I need you more and more don't ask me why
I need you increasingly, but I cannot provide an explanation.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BEN WEISMAN, FRED WISE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bernd Freier
Wonderful Wabda Jackson