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.
My Big Iron Skillet
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you think here at home is where I ought to be
There's gonna be some changes made when you get in tonight
Cause I'm gonna teach you wrong from right
With my big iron skillet in my hand
Gonna show you how a little woman quits a great big man
If you live through the fight we're gonna have when you get home
You'll wake up and find yourself alone
You say you're sick and tired of me and that I look a mess
But it's never done on you this is my only dress
I have never met a man who's quite the likes of you
I don't know why I ever said I do
With my big iron skillet...
With my big iron skillet...
The song 'My Big Iron Skillet' by Wanda Jackson is a song that talks about domestic violence and the empowerment of women in taking a stand against domestic abuse. The lyrics suggest that the singer's partner is behaving badly and she is fed up with it. She is determined to use her big iron skillet as a means of defense and teach her partner the difference between right and wrong. Though her partner may be physically bigger and stronger, she is not afraid to fight back and will use her skillet as a weapon if necessary.
The lyrics also highlight the challenges that women face in abusive relationships, such as being unable to leave due to financial dependence, and the devaluation of their physical appearance by their partner. The singer is determined to break free from this cycle and take control of her life. The chorus of the song reinforces this idea of female empowerment, suggesting that the little woman can defeat a great big man if she fights back.
Overall, the song seeks to convey the importance of standing up against domestic violence and the power of women to take control of their lives and protect themselves from harm.
Line by Line Meaning
You are doing wrong again it's plain for all to see
You are behaving incorrectly and it is obvious to everyone.
And you think here at home is where I ought to be
You believe that I should be at home and submit to you.
There's gonna be some changes made when you get in tonight
When you arrive home, I will make sure that things change.
Cause I'm gonna teach you wrong from right
I am going to educate you on what is right and wrong.
With my big iron skillet in my hand
I will use my large frying pan as a weapon.
Gonna show you how a little woman quits a great big man
I will demonstrate how a small woman can defeat a large man.
If you live through the fight we're gonna have when you get home
Assuming you survive the battle that will take place on your arrival...
You'll wake up and find yourself alone
...you will come to and realize that you are alone.
You say you're sick and tired of me and that I look a mess
You claim to be fed up with me and that I am unattractive.
But it's never done on you this is my only dress
You don't seem to realize that this is my only garment.
I have never met a man who's quite the likes of you
I have never encountered someone like you before.
I don't know why I ever said I do
I am unsure why I agreed to marry you.
With my big iron skillet...
Once again, I will employ my formidable frying pan...
With my big iron skillet...
...to assert my dominance over you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arlene Bowers
I did have this record album but have lost it over the years. Love Wanda and the girl can sing! Wish I had more.
Annie Driggs
This song was written by my Uncle Bob Creswell and Aunt Wilda Mae (Driggs) Creswell. I was just a young teenager at the time, but they took me with them when they met with Wanda and her husband at a little diner in Bristow, Oklahoma, to discuss the deal for recording. The song was released and was a big hit in 1969.
Kabob Hope
That's a wonderful story, Annie Diggs. Did your uncle and aunt get along?
ASP1RE
Who can dislike such an epic song? Love from Romania!
Daniel Burns
this song went to #20 on the country charts in 1969!!!
Arlene Bowers
Have always loved this song. Thanks for sharing it.
Lavanya Salagrama
<3 this! thank you so much for uploading this!
J.W. Gauntt
very welcome!
Roxas Sora
Good song 👍
Károlyné Szépvölgyi
Kedves Jack!
Csodálatos a videó film. Nagyon tetszett a művésznő és a dal is.
Köszönettel, Klára Szépvölgyi