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.
Like A Baby
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a bright shiny toy to a baby
No matter what you would do
I depended on you, like a baby
One thing I know, I love you
Yes I loved you like a baby
It was a fool that you took
To lover's ways I was blind
'Cause I just had a mind, like a baby
Well you're just a flirt
And I had to be hurt, just like a baby
I need you so, I need you so
The day I found that you lied
How I broke down and cried, like a baby
Well it was then I could see
You were playing with me, like a baby
Well you can bet that some day
I'll forget just like a baby
In Wanda Jackson's song, "Like a Baby," the singer talks about how she fell in love with someone who didn't treat her well. She compares herself to a baby who is dependent on the love and attention of its caregiver. The lyrics show how the singer relied on this person even though they were a flirt and hurt her. She cries like a baby when she finds out that he lied and played with her feelings. But despite the pain, the singer admits that she still loves him, just like a baby.
The lyrics are a metaphor for how some people can give their power away in relationships. The singer shows that even though she knows she shouldn't depend on this person, she does. She also shows how painful it can be to realize that someone was never really in love with you, and that they were just playing with your emotions. Overall, the song captures the idea that love can make people vulnerable and sometimes lead to heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
You gave me love to enjoy
You showed me affection and love that I was able to appreciate and enjoy.
Like a bright shiny toy to a baby
The love that you gave me was new and exciting, like a new toy to a child.
No matter what you would do
Regardless of your actions or behavior,
I depended on you, like a baby
I relied on you completely and put my trust in you, much like a baby depends on their caregiver.
One thing I know, I love you
Despite everything that has happened, I am certain that I love you.
Yes I loved you like a baby
I loved you in a childlike and innocent way.
It was a fool that you took
You took advantage of my naivety and foolishness.
And I fell 'cause look, like a baby
I was so easily fooled and fell for your tricks, like a child would.
To lover's ways I was blind
I was ignorant to the ways of love and romance.
'Cause I just had a mind, like a baby
I had a limited understanding of love and romance, much like a child does.
Well you're just a flirt
You are someone who flirts with others frequently and insincerely.
And I had to be hurt, just like a baby
I was hurt by your behavior and actions, much like a child would be hurt.
I need you so, I need you so
I am so dependent on you and crave your affection and attention.
The day I found that you lied
The day I discovered that you had lied to me,
How I broke down and cried, like a baby
I became overwhelmed with emotion and cried uncontrollably, much like a child would.
Well it was then I could see
It was at that moment that I finally realized,
You were playing with me, like a baby
That you had been playing games with me and toying with my emotions, like a child would do.
Well you can bet that some day
I can guarantee that someday in the future,
I'll forget just like a baby
I will forget about you and move on, much like a child forgets about a toy once it's no longer new and exciting.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jesse Stone
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind