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 Gotta Sing
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got a love that's wonderful he's always there with loving words to say
Well I hold him close and let him know that to me he is my everything
Without a word the world is mine just one look from him and I'm a queen
A girl's gotta sing when she's got everything so now I'm singin' my song
Now I've gotta sing cause he's my everything
Don't you know I'm happy won't you sing along
I'm singing la la la la la la la...
I can thank my lucky stars for the never ending love he gives to me
When I'm by his side flame of love burns bright for all the world to see
When he calls my name out low I can hear the bells begin to ring
And happiness is all around that's the reason why I've gotta sing
A girl's gotta sing...
Wanda Jackson's song "I've Gotta Sing" is a cheerful love song about a woman who is deeply in love and filled with happiness. She expresses her gratitude for the beautiful day, her wonderful lover who always knows how to make her feel loved, and the world that seems to belong to her when she is with him. The first verse describes the loving relationship between the couple and how the woman feels queen-like whenever she's with him. In the chorus, she explains that she has to sing because she is so happy, and she invites everyone to join in on the song.
The second verse talks about how the woman feels lucky to have a partner who seemingly loves her endlessly. She goes on to describe how being with him makes her feel like the flame of love burns brightly for all the world to see. She concludes by saying that every time he calls her name, she hears bells ringing and happiness fills the air. Just as in the first chorus, she reiterates that a girl's gotta sing when she's got everything.
Overall, "I've Gotta Sing" is a song that communicates genuine happiness and love. Wanda's powerful voice perfectly captures the singer's joy and excitement, while the upbeat backing vocals and instruments make it easy to dance along to the rhythm. It is a simple yet well-written song that can brighten one's day and turn it into a joyous occasion.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun's shining beautiful and everything is going my way
I'm in a great mood because the sun is shining and everything is going well for me at the moment.
I've got a love that's wonderful he's always there with loving words to say
I am in a loving relationship with someone who is always there for me and always says kind and loving things to me.
Well I hold him close and let him know that to me he is my everything
I make sure to show my partner how much he means to me by holding him close and letting him know that he is everything to me.
Without a word the world is mine just one look from him and I'm a queen
My partner has the power to make me feel like I rule the world with just one look, without him even having to say a word.
A girl's gotta sing when she's got everything so now I'm singin' my song
I am so happy and grateful for everything in my life that I can't help but sing about it.
Now I've gotta sing cause he's my everything
I am singing because my partner is my everything and I am so happy to have him in my life.
Don't you know I'm happy won't you sing along
I am so happy and want to share my happiness with others, so I invite them to sing along with me.
I'm singing la la la la la la la...
I am singing a simple tune to express my joy and happiness.
I can thank my lucky stars for the never ending love he gives to me
I feel lucky to have someone who loves me unconditionally and never stops showing me his love.
When I'm by his side flame of love burns bright for all the world to see
When I am with my partner, our love is strong and shines brightly for everyone to see.
When he calls my name out low I can hear the bells begin to ring
Even a whisper of my partner's voice can make my heart race and fill me with joy.
And happiness is all around that's the reason why I've gotta sing
I am so surrounded by happiness that I can't help but sing about it.
A girl's gotta sing...
No matter how happy or in love I am, I always feel the need to express it through song.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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