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.
Let's Have A Party
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But movin' and a-groovin's gonna satisfy my soul
Let's have a party
Hoo, let's have a party
Well, send 'im to the store, let's buy some more
Let's have a party tonight
I never kissed a bear, I never kissed a goon
Let's have a party
Hoo, let's have a party
Well, send 'im to the store, let's buy some more
Let's have a party tonight
I never kissed a bear, I never kissed a goon
But I can shake a chicken in the middle of the room
Let's have a party
Hoo, let's have a party
Well, send 'im to the store, let's buy some more
Let's have a party tonight
Honky-Tonky' Joe is knockin' at the door
Bring him in an' fill 'im up an' sit 'im on the floor
Let's have a party
Hoo, let's have a party
Well, send 'im to the store, let's buy some more
Let's have a party tonight
The meat is on the stove, the bread's a-gettin' hot
Everybody run, they got the possum in the pot
Let's have a party
Hoo, let's have a party
Well, send 'im to the store, let's buy some more
Let's have a party tonight
Let's have a party tonight
Let's have a party tonight
We're gonna have a party tonight
Wanda Jackson's song Let's Have a Party is an upbeat rock 'n' roll song that emphasizes letting loose and having a good time. The opening lines "Some people like to rock, some people like to roll, but movin' and a-groovin's gonna satisfy my soul" sets the tone for the party and showcases the idea that dancing is a way to unwind and forget about one's problems. The repeated phrase "let's have a party" is a call to action that encourages listeners to join in on the fun.
The song includes references to various activities that can be included in a party such as sending someone to the store to buy more supplies, shaking a chicken in the middle of the room, and cooking meat and bread. The lyrics also mention a character named Honky-Tonky Joe who is invited in to join the festivities. The use of a variety of fun and quirky images helps to create a festive atmosphere.
The song's emphasis on the idea of letting loose and having fun was a common theme in rock 'n' roll music of the time. The energetic beat and catchy lyrics made it a hit on the charts, and it has since become a rock 'n' roll classic. The song's popularity has led to it being used in various movies and television shows over the years, ensuring that it remains relevant even decades after its initial release.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people like to rock, some people like to roll
People have different preferences for music genres
But movin' and a-groovin's gonna satisfy my soul
The act of dancing is what will give me satisfaction
Let's have a party
Let's gather together to have fun
Hoo, let's have a party
An expression of enthusiasm for having a party
Well, send 'im to the store, let's buy some more
We need to go to the store and get more supplies for the party
Let's have a party tonight
Let's have the party tonight
I never kissed a bear, I never kissed a goon
I haven't had unusual experiences, but I can dance
But I can shake a chicken in the middle of the room
I can dance with energy and enthusiasm
Honky-Tonky' Joe is knockin' at the door
Someone named 'Honky-Tonky' Joe' is at the door
Bring him in an' fill 'im up an' sit 'im on the floor
Let's welcome him, serve him some drinks and have him sit down
The meat is on the stove, the bread's a-gettin' hot
We're cooking food for the party
Everybody run, they got the possum in the pot
There is a cooked possum and everyone is excited to eat it
Let's have a party tonight
Let's have the party tonight
Let's have a party tonight
Let's have the party tonight
Let's have a party tonight
Let's have the party tonight
We're gonna have a party tonight
We are definitely going to have a party tonight
Lyrics © IMAGEM MUSIC INC
Written by: Jessie May Robinson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@danielle88nm
I believe she is the only one still alive of the original innovators of early rock and roll music.
@Hister333
She died a while ago, and Buddy Guy and the Collins Kids are still alive, I think.
@alexschalk5439
@Hister333 She's not dead, just retired.
@Hister333
@Alex Schalk Thank you for the correction.
@gibbs3042
google says her genre is country?
@alexschalk5439
@Gibbs She played some country songs, but not all her music was country. This is not a country song.
@mmelivresque8613
DEAD POET SOCIETY
We all do miss Neil... :,( 💖
@mashuzerosu
RADIO FREE AMERICA
@kimkrause8590
Her voice is so damn great!!l love her songs Wanda's music still rocks!l love Wanda Jackson so much she is a great singer my favorite singer she has a beautiful and lovely voice 🎸🎶🎤🎵🎼🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹💘💘💘💘💘💘💋👄😘😘😘😘😘😘😍😍😍😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😻😻😻😻😻😻🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩💯💯💯💯💯💯💞💛🧡💕💚💟💙❣️❤️💜💖💓♥️
@Jim4979
Wanda's music still rocks!