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.
Leave My baby Alone
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
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(Harlan Howard - Bobby Bare)
« © '64 Tree Publishing »
Don't you be a tellin' my baby lies
You better leave my baby alone
And don't you be a winkin' your flirty eyes
You better leave my baby alone
You better leave my baby alone
You know a jealous gal keep gettin' mean and mad
You better leave my baby alone
He's the only one for me I've always been his girl
And he's all I've got so can't you see I just can't let you take my world
You better gather your sweet talk somewhere else
You better leave my baby alone
Now I can handle my baby all by myself
You better leave my baby alone
You better leave my baby alone
You better leave my baby alone
He's the only one for me I've always been his girl
And he's all I've got so can't you see I just can't let you take my world
You better gather your sweet talk...
You better leave my baby alone you better leave my baby alone
You better leave my baby alone you better leave my baby alone
In this song, Wanda Jackson is warning someone to stay away from her man. She tells them not to lie to him or try to seduce him, because she is a jealous woman and will not tolerate anyone trying to take away the love of her life. She asserts that she is capable of handling her man and doesn't need anyone else interfering in their relationship. The lyrics are straightforward and assertive; Wanda Jackson is not afraid to make her feelings known and defend her love.
The song is written by Harlan Howard and Bobby Bare and was released in 1963. It became a hit for Wanda Jackson, who was known for her rockabilly and country music style. The song was included on her album "Two Sides of Wanda" and was one of the standout tracks.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't you be a tellin' my baby lies
Stop lying to my partner
You better leave my baby alone
Stay away from my partner
And don't you be a winkin' your flirty eyes
Stop flirting with my partner
Well I'm not mean and I'm not bad
I am not a bad person, but I will protect my partner
You know a jealous gal keep gettin' mean and mad
I become angry when someone tries to take my partner away
He's the only one for me I've always been his girl
My partner and I have a strong relationship
And he's all I've got so can't you see I just can't let you take my world
My partner is everything to me and I will not let anyone take him away
You better gather your sweet talk somewhere else
Stop trying to charm me or my partner
Now I can handle my baby all by myself
I can take care of my partner and don't need your help
You better leave my baby alone
Stay away from my partner
You better leave my baby alone
Stay away from my partner
You better leave my baby alone
Stay away from my partner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOBBY BARE, HARLAN HOWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind