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.
Santo Domingo
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fernando, Alfredo und José
Sie träumten von Chicago, vom großen Geld
Fernando, Alfredo und José
Der eine putzt Schuh', der andere macht Musik
Der dritte sucht jeden Tag am Hafen sein Glück
Sie hatten die Welt sich anders vorgestellt
Und am Abend träumen sie von Santo Domingo
Von Santo Domingo und weißen Orchideen
Von den Märchen einer Nacht in Santo Domingo
Und Wundern, die dort noch gescheh'n
Sie fanden den Weg in das Glück nicht gleich
Fernando, Alfredo und José
Doch nach ein paar Jahren, da war'n sie reich
Fernando, Alfredo und José
Man putzt ihnen die Schuh und macht für sie Musik
Im Hafen liegen Schiffe, keines bringt sie zurück
Was ihnen so fehlt' bekommt man nicht für Geld
Fernando, Alfredo und José
Und am Abend träumen sie von Santo Domingo
Von Santo Domingo und weißen Orchideen
Von den Märchen einer Nacht in Santo Domingo
Und Wundern, die dort noch gescheh'n
Und Wundern, die dort noch gescheh'n
The song "Santo Domingo" by Wanda Jackson tells the story of three men, Fernando, Alfredo, and José, who yearn for a better life in a big city and dream of finding success and wealth. Fernando shines shoes, Alfredo plays music, and José searches for his fortune at the harbor each day, all hoping to make it big. However, despite their efforts, success does not come immediately, and they struggle to find their way.
But after a few years, the trio becomes rich and famous, with people now shining their shoes and playing music for them. Despite their success, they still long for their past dreams and the magical city of Santo Domingo, where they imagine white orchids and miraculous occurrences. The song ends on this note, suggesting that even after attaining success, the three men still reminisce and dream of what might have been in their idealized version of the Dominican city.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the human longing for something better, the pursuit of dreams, and the allure of the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
Sie sehnten sich so nach der großen Welt
Fernando, Alfredo und José were longing for the big world
Fernando, Alfredo und José
These are the names of the men who were yearning for a better life
Sie träumten von Chicago, vom großen Geld
They dreamed of Chicago and making lots of money
Der eine putzt Schuh', der andere macht Musik
One cleans shoes, while the other plays music
Der dritte sucht jeden Tag am Hafen sein Glück
The third tries to find his fortune every day at the port
Sie hatten die Welt sich anders vorgestellt
Their reality was different from what they imagined it would be
Und am Abend träumen sie von Santo Domingo
Every evening, they dream of Santo Domingo
Von Santo Domingo und weißen Orchideen
They dream of white orchids in Santo Domingo
Von den Märchen einer Nacht in Santo Domingo
They dream of the fairy tales of a night in Santo Domingo
Und Wundern, die dort noch gescheh'n
And miracles that still happen there
Sie fanden den Weg in das Glück nicht gleich
They didn't find the path to happiness immediately
Doch nach ein paar Jahren, da war'n sie reich
But after a few years, they became rich
Man putzt ihnen die Schuh und macht für sie Musik
Now others clean their shoes and make music for them
Im Hafen liegen Schiffe, keines bringt sie zurück
Ships are in the harbor, but none of them will bring them back
Was ihnen so fehlt' bekommt man nicht für Geld
What they are missing can't be bought with money
Contributed by Christian A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Pey1962
+LUCHO SANT
Ellos anhelaban así que después del gran mundo
Fernando Alfredo y José
Soñaban con Chicago por dinero
Fernando Alfredo y José.
El zapato Un vestidor Otro hace música
El tercero examina todos los días en el puerto a su suerte
Habían el mundo imaginado de manera diferente
Fernando Alfredo y José.
Y por la noche sueñan
Desde Santo Domingo de orquídeas blancas Santo Domingo y
De la historia de una noche en Santo Domingo
Y los milagros suceden allí todavía.
Ellos encontraron su camino a la felicidad no es igual a
Fernando Alfredo y José
Pero después de unos años porque eran ricos
Fernando Alfredo y José.
Hombre vestirlos el zapato hace a usted la música
Barcos en el puerto hay ninguno le trae de vuelta
Lo que les falta así que no tuvimos dinero
Fernando Alfredo y José.
Y por la noche sueñan
Desde Santo Domingo de orquídeas blancas Santo Domingo y
De la historia de una noche en Santo Domingo
Y los milagros todavía suceden .
@dieterschmalz3360
Sehr schade, das es so etwas wunderschönes heute nicht mehr gibt....
@albertj.knieper7398
Diese alten und schönen Oldies sind wenigsten noch wirkliche Musik mit Sinn im Text und Freude sie auch heute noch gerne zu hören!
@AmericanShia786
Wunderbar! Been a Wanda Jackson fan for decades, but only heard this for the first time day. She is a versatile performer.
@jeanettrusso3068
When I was a child in Bremerhaven I had no idea she was an American singer
@hansjurgenhoffmann2226
Ein wunderschönes Lied über das Leben in der dominikanischen Republik. Sehr schön vorgetragen.
@giselahaase401
Ich bin mit diesen Melodien richtig
glücklich. Ich werde dafür sorgen
das solche Stimmen nicht in
Vergessenheit geraten.
Viel hören.
@philippwiltsche3697
Bei diesen schönen Schlagern werden Erinnerungen wach. Eine beeindruckende Stimme.
@irmgardwambach5022
Es war die Musik meiner lieben Eltern.Sie leben nicht mehr ,aber die Lieder,die wunderbaren Lieder dieser Zeit klingen noch immer in den Herzen.Sooo schön.Danke.🙏
@13stevenj
I can not get enough of this great song.
@ilonaklug2307
Ich liebte dieses Lied schon als junges Mädchen heute liebe ich es noch viel mehr, weil es immer zum träumen einlädt.