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.
Love Me Tender
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
love me sweet,
never let me go.
You have made my life complete,
Love me tender,
love me true,
all my dreams fulfill.
For my darlin' I love you,
and I always will.
Love me tender,
love me long,
take me to your heart.
For it's there that I belong,
and we'll never part.
Love me tender,
love me true,
all my dreams fulfill.
For my darlin' I love you,
and I always will.
Love me tender,
love me dear,
tell me you are mine.
I'll be yours through all the years,
till the end of time.
Love me tender,
love me true,
all my dreams fulfill.
For my darlin' I love you,
and I always will.
(When at last my dreams come true
Darling this I know
Happiness will follow you
Everywhere you go).
The lyrics to Wanda Jackson's song "Love Me Tender" express the depth of the singer's feelings towards their lover. The repeated phrase "love me tender" shows the singer's desire for gentle and sincere love, while "never let me go" and "all my dreams fulfill" communicate a sense of completeness and security in the relationship. The line "take me to your heart" expresses the singer's need for emotional intimacy with their partner, and "we'll never part" conveys a strong desire for permanence in their relationship. The final verse reveals the singer's hope that their love will bring happiness to their partner and promises to be with them until the end of time.
Overall, these lyrics evoke a sense of vulnerability and devotion. The repetitiveness of the words "love me tender" and "love me true" create a sense of urgency in the singer's need for love and reassurance from their partner. The combination of romantic language and strong promises of commitment make this song a classic love ballad that continues to capture the hearts of listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Love me tender,
The singer is asking their loved one to love them gently and delicately
love me sweet,
The singer is asking their loved one to love them affectionately and kindly
never let me go.
The singer is asking their loved one to hold onto their relationship tightly and never let it end
You have made my life complete,
The artist is acknowledging that their loved one has brought joy and fulfillment to their life
and I love you so.
The artist is expressing their deep love and affection for their partner
love me true,
The singer is asking their loved one to love them in an honest and genuine way
all my dreams fulfill.
The singer believes that their partner can fulfill all of their hopes and aspirations
For my darlin' I love you,
The artist is reinforcing their love and devotion to their partner
and I always will.
The artist is promising to love their partner forever
love me long,
The artist is asking their loved one to love them for a long time
take me to your heart.
The singer is asking their partner to bring them close and love them unconditionally
For it's there that I belong,
The artist feels that they belong in their partner's heart
and we'll never part.
The singer is expressing their desire to never separate from their partner
love me dear,
The singer is asking their loved one to love them in a precious and cherished way
tell me you are mine.
The singer wants their partner to confirm that they are exclusively committed to them
I'll be yours through all the years,
The artist is expressing their commitment to their partner for the rest of their lives
till the end of time.
The artist is promising to love their partner forever and always
(When at last my dreams come true
The singer is envisioning a happy future with their partner
Darling this I know
The singer is reassuring their partner that their dreams will come true
Happiness will follow you
The artist believes that their partner will experience joy and contentment in the future
Everywhere you go).
The artist believes that their partner will always have happiness with them, wherever they go
Lyrics © RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Elvis Presley, Vera Matson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind