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.
Sinful Heart
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It never could be true to one
You go on lovin' sprees
Breaking every heart you see
Give me one chance to prove
My love is really true to you
And just give me a part
Of your sinful heart
I call your name
I call in vain
If I must wait
Then every day I′ll pray
Your sinful heart will see
The wrong that you have done to me
And ask forgivingly
To come back to me.
The lyrics to Wanda Jackson's song "Sinful Heart" are about a person who is in love with someone who has a history of breaking hearts. The singer is aware of the other's promiscuity and warns them that their heart is "sinful" and can never be true to one person. Despite this, the singer is willing to take a chance and try to prove their love is true. They ask for a part of the other's heart, hoping that they will choose to love them instead of continuing on their "lovin' sprees."
The chorus of the song is a plea for the other person to realize the hurt they have caused and to ask for forgiveness. The singer acknowledges that they have been calling the other's name in vain but is willing to wait and pray for them to see the error of their ways. Ultimately, they hope that the other person's "sinful heart" will choose to come back to them.
The lyrics in "Sinful Heart" are relatable to anyone who has ever loved someone who they know isn't good for them. The singer's vulnerability and willingness to take a chance on love despite the other person's flaws is a timeless theme.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got a sinful heart
Your heart is full of sin and cannot stay true to one person.
It never could be true to one
Your heart has always been unable to remain faithful to a single person.
You go on lovin' sprees
You continuously engage in short-term relationships with a number of different people.
Breaking every heart you see
Your actions are causing emotional harm to those you form relationships with, leading to heartbreak.
Give me one chance to prove
Offering a single opportunity to demonstrate loyalty and affection.
My love is really true to you
The love being professed is authentic and committed to the listener.
And just give me a part
Not asking for complete trust, only a small amount of belief and affection.
Of your sinful heart
Asking for the listener to open their heart despite previous patterns of behavior.
I call your name
Reaching out to you in search of a greater sense of intimacy.
I call in vain
Without response or support from the listener.
If I must wait
If the candidate must be patient.
Then every day I'll pray
Asking for the continued presence of a higher power to watch over both individuals.
Your sinful heart will see
The recognition that their heart is full of sin and has caused harm to others.
The wrong that you have done to me
Acknowledgment from the listener of any wrongdoing that has been a part of the relationship dynamic.
And ask forgivingly
Asking for forgiveness from the singer in full awareness of their poor actions.
To come back to me.
Asking for a second chance to start the relationship anew with greater honesty.
Writer(s): Wanda Jackson
Contributed by Camilla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.