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.
Hold Me Tight
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just let bygones be bygones let's think about tomorrow our future's bright
I know I was wrong I was just a fool too blind to see you were the only one for me
But now I see the light and everything's gonna be alright baby hold me tight
[ Pa pa pa pa pa pa ]
I know I was wrong I was just a fool too blind to see...
[ Pa pa pa pa pa pa ]
In Wanda Jackson's song Hold Me Tight, the singer seems to be addressing a lover and asking them to put the past behind them and hold her tight. She is tired of the fighting and is ready to move forward with him. She acknowledges her mistake of being blind to his love and realizes that he is the only one for her. The pa pa pa refrain emphasizes the urgency and sincerity of her plea for his embrace.
The lyrics communicate a sense of regret and the desire for forgiveness and understanding in a relationship. The singer exemplifies a level of vulnerability that some may find admirable. She accepts that she made a mistake and is owning up to her actions. Additionally, she is confident that the future will be bright and better for the both of them.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to hear it no more fussin' and a fightin' baby hold me tight
Stop arguing and fighting, and just hold me close.
Just let bygones be bygones let's think about tomorrow our future's bright
Forget about the past and focus on our bright future together.
I know I was wrong I was just a fool too blind to see you were the only one for me
I admit my mistake and realize that you are the only one for me.
But now I see the light and everything's gonna be alright baby hold me tight
I have finally seen the truth and I know that everything will be okay as long as you hold me tight.
[ Pa pa pa pa pa pa ]
Instrumental
I know I was wrong I was just a fool too blind to see...
Repeating the previous line to emphasize that she now understands her mistake.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY NASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind