Wanda Jackson (born Wanda Lavonne Jackson, October 20, 1937 in Maud, Oklaho… Read Full Bio ↴Wanda Jackson (born Wanda Lavonne Jackson, October 20, 1937 in Maud, Oklahoma) is an American rock and roll singer. Having made her debut recordings at the age of nineteen, she became one of the first popular female rock and roll singers in history and as a result, a pioneering and influential figure in female musicianship. She is known as the "Queen (or First Lady) of Rockabilly."

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.

Kansas City
Wanda Jackson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm goin' to Kansas City Kansas City here I come
I'm goin' to Kansas City Kansas City here I come
Got some crazy little fellows and I'm a gonna get me one
I'm gonna be standin' in the corner 12th street in line
I'm gonna be standin' in the corner 12th street in line
With my Kansas City baby and my bottle of Kansas City wine
Well I may take a train I might take a plane
But if I have to walk I'm gonna be just the same

I'm goin' to Kansas City Kansas City here I come
Got some crazy little fellows and I'm a gonna get me one

I'm gonna be standin' in the corner...
Well if I don't have this man I know I'm gonna die
Gotta find a brand new baby and that's the reason why
I'm goin' to Kansas City Kansas City here I come
Got some crazy little fellows and I'm a gonna get me one
Got some crazy little fellows and I'm a gonna get me one

Got some crazy little fellows and I'm a gonna get me one
Got some crazy little fellows and I'm a gonna get me one just one

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Wanda Jackson's "Kansas City" describe the singer's anticipation of traveling to Kansas City to find herself a man. The repetition of the line "Got some crazy little fellows and I'm a gonna get me one" highlights her confidence and determination in finding her ideal partner. She plans to hang out on 12th street and enjoy a bottle of wine with her Kansas City baby, emphasizing the excitement and thrill of the experience.

The song reflects the popular theme in rock and roll music of the time, which centered around rebellion, youth culture, and freedom. The lyrics of "Kansas City" speak to this sentiment as Wanda Jackson seeks out her own adventure and individuality. The inclusion of a woman as the singer and driving force behind the song was a departure from the typical male-centric narratives of rock and roll at the time.

Overall, Wanda Jackson's "Kansas City" is a lively and upbeat rock and roll song with an empowering message for women. It encourages listeners to follow their desires and seek out their own experiences, no matter how unconventional they may be.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm goin' to Kansas City Kansas City here I come
I am traveling to Kansas City, and I am excited to be going there.

Got some crazy little fellows and I'm a gonna get me one
There are some attractive men in Kansas City, and I am hoping to find one to be with.

I'm gonna be standin' in the corner 12th street in line
I will be waiting for my date on the corner of 12th street in Kansas City.

With my Kansas City baby and my bottle of Kansas City wine
I will be with my date in Kansas City, enjoying a bottle of wine together.

Well I may take a train I might take a plane
I am open to different modes of transportation to get to Kansas City.

But if I have to walk I'm gonna be just the same
I am determined to get to Kansas City, even if it means walking there.

Well if I don't have this man I know I'm gonna die
Finding a new man in Kansas City is important to me because I feel like I cannot live without love.

Gotta find a brand new baby and that's the reason why
Seeing as I don't already have a man in my life, I am going to Kansas City to try and find one.

Got some crazy little fellows and I'm a gonna get me one just one
I am looking for one man in Kansas City, and I am confident that I will find him.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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