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.
So Soon
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You tell me I'm no more than a friend my darling, have you forgotten so soon
The sweet love we knew fell by the way, the tears from my eyes fall day after day
Recalling the time we were carefree and gay, my darling have you forgotten so soon
My darling have you forgotten so soon
The lyrics of So Soon by Wanda Jackson paint a picture of heartbreak and disappointment. The song speaks to the betrayal and hurt in a relationship where promises of love are broken, and a once-loving companion has turned cold. The lines, "You promised love that never would end, but now you're gone, and my heartaches begin," sets the tone for the song and illustrates the sadness that comes from a failed love story.
The chorus, "My darling, have you forgotten so soon," highlights the feeling of disbelief and confusion that often arise when someone we love suddenly changes. The singer seems to be asking the question of how and why the person could forget the love that they once shared. The lyrics are emotional and powerful, evoking a sense of loss and longing for what was.
Overall, So Soon is a heartbreaking ballad that speaks to the universal theme of love and loss. Its lyrics express the emotional rollercoaster that comes with being in a relationship, where there is no guarantee of a happy ending.
Line by Line Meaning
You promised love that never would end but now you're gone and my heartaches begin
You pledged your eternal love, but now that you've left, I'm left with a broken heart that aches.
You tell me I'm no more than a friend my darling, have you forgotten so soon
You've downgraded our relationship from lovers to friends, my beloved. Have you really forgotten what we had so quickly?
The sweet love we knew fell by the way, the tears from my eyes fall day after day
The beautiful love we once shared is now lost, and I cry every day in despair.
Recalling the time we were carefree and gay, my darling have you forgotten so soon
I reminisce about the days when we were happy and carefree. Have you truly forgotten our good times together so quickly, my love?
My darling have you forgotten so soon
I'm pleading with you, my darling, to remember the love we shared and not discard it so easily.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MEL TILLIS, WAYNE P. WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind