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.
Making Believe
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I vowed to myself I'll see you no more but here we are again
That dimly cafe where I first met you slowly has turned into our secret randezvous
Our vows belong to others that makes our love unfair
But I just can't seem to find a way to end our love affair
Just when I think I've forgotten you...
[ guitar ]
The lyrics to Wanda Jackson's song "Making Believe" center around a forbidden love affair that the singer just can't seem to let go of. Despite her vow to never see her lover again, she finds herself drawn back to him at their secret rendezvous spot. The cafe where they first met has become the backdrop for their ongoing affair, which she knows is unfair to their respective partners. However, the singer can't seem to find a way to end the affair, suggesting a sense of powerlessness and attachment to the cheating love that she can't shake.
The lyrics suggest a complex emotional state, highlighting the difficulty of breaking free from an unhealthy emotional attachment. Despite recognizing the wrongness of their relationship, the singer can't seem to resist the pull of their continued meetings, suggesting a sense of addiction or dependence on the relationship. Moreover, the song's focus on secrecy and hidden passion suggests a sense of danger or excitement, highlighting the adrenaline rush of engaging in something taboo.
Overall, "Making Believe" is a poignant and powerful exploration of the complexities of love and infidelity, delving into the dark corners of human relationships and exposing the raw emotions that underlie them.
Line by Line Meaning
Just when I think I've forgotten you and our cheating love's at an end
I believed I moved on from you and our deceptive relationship, but it seems to be still going on.
I vowed to myself I'll see you no more but here we are again
I promised myself to avoid you, but we keep meeting secretly.
That dimly cafe where I first met you slowly has turned into our secret randezvous
The cafe where we first met has become our secret meeting place.
Our vows belong to others that makes our love unfair
We are committed to other people, which makes our love unjust.
But I just can't seem to find a way to end our love affair
Even though I know it's wrong, I can't bring myself to end our relationship.
[ guitar ]
Instrumental
Just when I think I've forgotten you...
Refrain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DONALD EVERLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrSunlazer
Incredible! Sounds better than ever.