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.
If I Had A Hammer
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd hammer in the evening all over this land
I'd hammer out danger I'd hammer out a warning
I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters ah ah all over this land
If I had a bell I'd ring it in the morning I'd ring it in the evening all over this land
I'd ring out danger I'd ring out a warning
I'd ring out love between my brothers and my sisters ah ah all over this land yeah
If I had a song I'd sing it in the morning I'd sing it in the evening all over this land
I'd sing out love between my brothers and my sisters ah ah all over this land
Well I've got a hammer and I've got a bell
And I've got a song to sing all over this land
It's a hammer of justice it's a bell of freedom
It's a gonna be about love between my brothers and my sisters ah ah all over this land
Well I've got a hammer and I've got a bell...
The lyrics to Wanda Jackson's "If I Had A Hammer" are essentially a call to action for social change. The singer expresses a desire to spread love and unity across the country, using three different tools to accomplish this goal: a hammer, a bell, and a song. The repetition of the phrase "I'd hammer/sing out danger, I'd hammer/sing out a warning" suggests a sense of urgency and a need for immediate action.
The use of the specific tools - a hammer, bell, and song - is symbolic of different types of action. The hammer represents physical action, the bell represents warning and alertness, and the song represents unity and hope. By saying that they would use these tools "all over this land," the singer is suggesting that the need for social change is widespread and affects everyone.
The final stanza, in which the singer proclaims that they already possess these tools - "It's a hammer of justice, it's a bell of freedom" - suggests that anyone can be an agent for social change. You don't need anything special to start making a difference; all you need is a willingness to act.
Overall, the lyrics to "If I Had A Hammer" are a powerful message of hope and a call to action. They remind listeners that even small actions can make a difference, and that we must work together to create a more just and loving society.
Line by Line Meaning
If I had a hammer I'd hammer in the morning
If only I had a hammer, I would use it to work on projects during the morning
I'd hammer in the evening all over this land
Not only that, but I would hammer all throughout the evening across the entire country
I'd hammer out danger I'd hammer out a warning
With this hammer, I could even use it to create a loud noise to warn others of potential danger
I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters ah ah all over this land
Additionally, I would look to use my hammer to spread messages of love and unity between siblings throughout the country
If I had a bell I'd ring it in the morning I'd ring it in the evening all over this land
Given the chance, I would use a bell to create another form of warning or signal in the morning and in the evening, sweeping across the country
I'd ring out danger I'd ring out a warning
With this bell, I would ensure to ring it loudly to denote a sign of trouble or impending danger
I'd ring out love between my brothers and my sisters ah ah all over this land yeah
The bell could also serve as an announcement of love shared between siblings spread anywhere within this land
If I had a song I'd sing it in the morning I'd sing it in the evening all over this land
In another form of spreading happiness and love, I would use a song as a means of expression during the morning and evening, crossing the land
I'd sing out danger I'd sing out a warning
The songs wouldn't just be for fun. As part of raising awareness, I would sing about the fatal risks and serve as a warning to others
I'd sing out love between my brothers and my sisters ah ah all over this land
This music would equally champion unity, love, and equality across the entire country, spread through my voice and song
Well I've got a hammer and I've got a bell
As a matter of fact, I'm already in possession of a hammer and a bell
And I've got a song to sing all over this land
Furthermore, I possess a song that would resonate with everyone down to the farthest part of the land
It's a hammer of justice it's a bell of freedom
These are no ordinary bell and hammer. They represent justice and freedom
It's a gonna be about love between my brothers and my sisters ah ah all over this land
Their very purpose is to promote love, belongingness, and partnership between siblings in every part of the city
Well I've got a hammer and I've got a bell...
In conclusion, my possession of this hammer, bell, and song will enable me to influence positivity across the land
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dale Raby
I never heard of this lady before! How did I manage to live from 1956 until now without ever hearing her sing?!!!