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.
I've Got The Tiger By The Tail
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I won't be much when you get through with me
Well I'm a losing weight and I'm turning mighty pale
Looks like I've got a tiger by the tail
Well I thought the day I met you, you were meek as a lamb
Just the kind to fit my dreams and plans
Now the pace we're livin' takes the wind from my sails
And it looks like I've got a tiger by the tail
Well every night you drag me where the bright lights're found
There ain't no way to slow you down
I'm about as helpless as a leaf in a gale
And it looks like I've got a tiger by the tail
I've got a tiger by the tail
The song "I've Got The Tiger By The Tail" by Wanda Jackson is a classic country song from the 1960s. The lyrics describe the feeling of being in a relationship that is out of control, and the sense of being overwhelmed by the other person's energy and ability to take risks, even when those risks seem dangerous. The metaphor of the tiger is used to represent the wildness and unpredictability of the other person, who is a force to be reckoned with.
The song begins with the line "I've got a tiger by the tail it's plain to see," which sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The singer knows that they are in over their head, and that they may not be able to handle the intensity of the relationship. The second verse describes how the singer thought the other person was "meek as a lamb" when they first met, but now they see that they are anything but meek. The chorus repeats the line "I've got a tiger by the tail," emphasizing the feeling of being trapped in a situation that is beyond their control. The final verse describes how the other person drags the singer to places where they don't want to go, and how the singer feels as helpless as a leaf in a gale.
Overall, "I've Got The Tiger By The Tail" is a powerful and evocative song that captures the feeling of being in a relationship that is both exciting and terrifying. The metaphor of the tiger is used to great effect, creating a sense of danger and unpredictability that pervades the entire song.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a tiger by the tail it's plain to see
I am dealing with a difficult situation that is impossible to ignore.
I won't be much when you get through with me
I fear the outcome of this situation will cause me to be weakened and depleted.
Well I'm a losing weight and I'm turning mighty pale
The stress of the situation is causing me to lose weight and appear sickly.
Looks like I've got a tiger by the tail
The situation I am dealing with is dangerous and hard to control.
Well I thought the day I met you, you were meek as a lamb
At the beginning of this situation, I thought it would be easy to manage and control.
Just the kind to fit my dreams and plans
Initially, this situation seemed to fit perfectly with my goals and aspirations.
Now the pace we're livin' takes the wind from my sails
The speed and intensity of this situation is causing me to lose motivation and energy.
And it looks like I've got a tiger by the tail
Despite my initial expectations, this situation has become a source of fear and danger.
Well every night you drag me where the bright lights're found
I am being forced into situations that are overwhelming and outside of my comfort zone.
There ain't no way to slow you down
I am unable to control or influence the pace of this situation.
I'm about as helpless as a leaf in a gale
I feel powerless and vulnerable in the face of this situation.
And it looks like I've got a tiger by the tail
This situation is proving to be more difficult and dangerous than I ever anticipated.
I've got a tiger by the tail
I am dealing with a dangerous, unpredictable situation that is hard to control.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
deivid seibert
ta faltando alegria como essa nas musicas de hj isso que e som hurruuuuu
enjoy playing
Wanda has her own style!!!!!
Daniel Arturo Fajardo Jaramillo
LOVE THIS!
Johan Ohrvik
+Daniel Arturo Fajardo Jaramillo I love this too My father threw his Vinyl Collection away 20 years ago when they moved to a smaller house. I started my second Collection a year ago, I asked my father if I could have what he had of Vinyls he said he threw it all out I had this special album on my mind thinking of when my father played it, I must have been 4 or 5 he told me all the hits from that time and hen ment she could do them all and probably better, 35 years later am prepaired to agree With my father as My own Copy of Wanda Jackson In Person arrived in the mail.I`m Swedish by the way and she was popular in Sweden as well.Greetings from Sweden.
Rebecca D
Fantastic. Great Wanda Jackson.
Jean Patrick Moucheron
j adore wenda jackson c.estgenial👍👍👍👍
Luke Dohner
Let's Party Tonight at Mr Luckeys!!!
samvonshmam
Would have loved to see her in her prime...No female vocalist close to Wanda...