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.
Song Of The Wind
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Treading the time when I know I must turn out the light
Here in the darkness I lie down to hurt once again
From letting a mem'ry who's heart sings a song of the wind
So much like a child yet so very much of a man
He was a drifter and I wasn't hard of his plan
He needed me when I met him so I took him in
Not knowing someday he'd follow a song of the wind
The man who has heard its call can't leave a thing unseen
If I should see him and he needs the warmth of a friend
I'll try to help him for the short time he was in
I won't be surprised when I wake and he's gone once again
For he is a dreamer who follows the song of the wind
Yes he is a dreamer who's heart sings a song of the wind
The lyrics to Wanda Jackson's Song Of The Wind are a reflection on love lost, and the pain of letting go of someone who follows the call of the wanderer's life. The singer describes their own pain and loneliness as they see the shadows of night coming to welcome the darkness, knowing they must lie down once again and hurt from a memory that sings a song of the wind. The song tells the story of a man who drifted into the singer's life, a childlike yet mature man who needed her and whom she took in, not realizing that he was following a song of the wind. The wind sings a haunting, moving song of fields that'll always be green, and the man who has heard its call cannot leave anything unseen. The singer, though hurt by his constant drifting, would still offer him warmth and friendship if he were to need it, but she knows that he is driven by a dream that takes him wherever the wind may blow.
There is a poignant sense of loneliness and longing in the song, reflecting the universal human experience of loving someone who cannot or will not stay. The imagery of the wind and the fields is rich and evocative, creating a sense of longing and connection to the natural world. The song resonates with anyone who has felt the pull of wanderlust or the desire to follow their dreams, even if it means leaving behind those they love.
Line by Line Meaning
I see the shadows as they come to welcome the night
I observe the darkness creeping in, signaling that it's time to sleep.
Treading the time when I know I must turn out the light
It's that time to turn off the light and call it a night.
Here in the darkness I lie down to hurt once again
In this loneliness and darkness, I constantly suffer from my heartache.
From letting a mem'ry who's heart sings a song of the wind
My heart is torn and aching because of the memory of a man who was a wanderer at heart.
So much like a child yet so very much of a man
Although he appeared childish at times, he was undoubtedly a grown man.
He was a drifter and I wasn't hard of his plan
He was a wanderer who wandered aimlessly, and I didn't resist him or his escapades.
He needed me when I met him so I took him in
When I met him, he needed my help and companionship, so I welcomed him into my life.
Not knowing someday he'd follow a song of the wind
When I allowed him into my life, I never imagined that he would eventually follow his wandering heart and leave me.
The wind sings the moving song of fields that'll always green
The wind sings a beautiful and soothing song that reminds us of the blooming fields that are ever green.
The man who has heard its call can't leave a thing unseen
Once someone hears the wind's call, they can't ignore its allure or resist its urges, making them adventurous and exploratory.
If I should see him and he needs the warmth of a friend
If I ever come across him and he needs my emotional support, I'll try to be there for him.
I'll try to help him for the short time he was in
I'll assist him for the limited time he was in my life without expecting much in return.
I won't be surprised when I wake and he's gone once again
I won't be taken aback if I find out he left me again when I awaken.
For he is a dreamer who follows the song of the wind
The man is a wanderer with no concrete plans, following wherever the wind takes him.
Yes he is a dreamer who's heart sings a song of the wind
His heart is restless, always calling him to keep moving, and he can never settle down in one place for too long.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TOM T. HALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind