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 Of The Common People
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the rain came through what can you do
Tears from little sister cryin' cause she doesn't have a dress without a patch
For the party to go oh but she knows she'll get by
Cause she is livin' in the love of the common people
Smiles from the heart of the family man
Daddy's gonna buy her a dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love her just as much as she can and she can
It would fall through the hole in your pocket
And you'd lose it on the snow on the ground a walking to town to find a job
Tryin' to keep your hands warm
But the hole in your shoe lets the snow come through
And it chills to the bone boy you'd better go home where it's warm
And you can live in the love
Livin' on dreams ain't easy
But the closer the knit the tighter the fit and the chills stay away
You take 'em in stride family pride you know that faith is your foundation
And a whole lot of love and a warm conversation and plenty of prayer
Making you strong where you belong
And you can live in the love,
Oh yes we live in the love
The lyrics to Wanda Jackson's song "Love Of The Common People" describe the struggles of a family living in poverty, but finding comfort and strength in the love and support of each other. The first verse sets the scene, with the family living in a house with a leaky roof and little food. The younger sister doesn't have a dress without a patch to wear to a party, but she knows she'll get by because she is surrounded by the love of her family and the common people. The chorus emphasizes this love, with the family man's smiles and the mother's unconditional love.
The second verse continues with the theme of struggle, with the singer not having a bus fare and having to walk to town to find a job. His shoes have holes and his hands are cold, but again he finds comfort in the love of his family and community. The lyrics emphasize the importance of relationships and connection in the face of adversity, with the stronger the family bond, the warmer the sense of belonging and love.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt tribute to the power of love and family in the face of difficult circumstances. The lyrics are straightforward, but the message is powerful and resonates with many people who have faced similar struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Livin' on free food tickets water in the milk from the hole in the roof
Living in poverty, receiving aid for sustenance, and enduring physical discomfort due to leaky shelter
Where the rain came through what can you do
Accepting one's situation and acknowledging the limitations therein
Tears from little sister cryin' cause she doesn't have a dress without a patch
A younger sibling being upset about not having pristine or fashionable clothing
For the party to go oh but she knows she'll get by
Despite feeling left out, there's a hopefulness that they'll be okay
Cause she is livin' in the love of the common people
The familial love and support is their main source of comfort and joy
Smiles from the heart of the family man
The father/husband of the household demonstrates his love through emotional warmth and positive reassurance
Daddy's gonna buy her a dream to cling to
Even though material possessions are limited, a father will try to provide hope and ambition for his child
Mama's gonna love her just as much as she can and she can
A mother's love is unconditional, and she strives to give her child stability and affection despite circumstances
It's a good thing you don't have a busfare
Negative aspects of their financial situation are acknowledged, but alternative solutions are found
It would fall through the hole in your pocket
There's a literal hole in their pocket or a loose metaphor regarding financial struggles
And you'd lose it on the snow on the ground a walking to town to find a job
It's challenging to find work and losing money due to unexpected obstacles is frequent
Tryin' to keep your hands warm
Physical discomfort and weather conditions are a prominent struggle
But the hole in your shoe lets the snow come through
Their poverty affects many aspects of their life, including their personal belongings
And it chills to the bone boy you'd better go home where it's warm
Even small exposures to the conditions can be dangerous, and it's vital to prioritize health and safety
And you can live in the love
Love and support from family members and community can sustain and empower individuals and their resilience
Livin' on dreams ain't easy
Their hopes and aspirations are important, but the reality of their circumstances remain challenging
But the closer the knit the tighter the fit and the chills stay away
The emotional closeness of family and community can provide a metaphorical warmth and comfort
You take 'em in stride family pride you know that faith is your foundation
One's family, unity, and faith are pillars of support and strength that can be embraced during hardship
And a whole lot of love and a warm conversation and plenty of prayer
Love, conversation, and spirituality can provide immense emotional support and healing
Making you strong where you belong
The love and community ties can empower and uplift individuals to overcome adversity
And you can live in the love,
The power of familial and community love can make it possible to withstand hardship and remain resilient and hopeful
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN DAVID HURLEY, RONNIE STEPHEN WILKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luciano Mezzetta
Thank God for common people!
alex arolas garcia
Esta bonita canción la cantaron THE FOUR PREPS en el año 1967 y la versiono WANDA JACKSON en el año 1971