Wanda Jackson (born Wanda Lavonne Jackson, October 20, 1937 in Maud, Oklaho… Read Full Bio ↴Wanda Jackson (born Wanda Lavonne Jackson, October 20, 1937 in Maud, Oklahoma) is an American rock and roll singer. Having made her debut recordings at the age of nineteen, she became one of the first popular female rock and roll singers in history and as a result, a pioneering and influential figure in female musicianship. She is known as the "Queen (or First Lady) of Rockabilly."

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.

Teach Me Tonight
Wanda Jackson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Did you say (that) I've got a lot to learn,
Well don't think I'm trying not to learn
Since this is the perfect spot to learn,
Teach me tonight

Starting with the ABC of it,
Right down to the XYZ of it
Help me solve the mystery of it,

Teach me tonight

The sky's a blackboard high above you,
And if a shooting star goes by
I'll use that star to write "I love you",
A thousand times across the sky

One thing isn't very clear my love,
Should the teacher stand so near my love
Graduation's almost here my love,
Teach me tonight

Did you say I've got a lot to learn,
Well don't think I'm trying not to learn
Since this is the perfect spot to learn,
Teach me tonight

One thing isn't very clear my love,
Should the teacher stand so near my love

Graduation's almost here my love,
Come on, teach me, tonight

Overall Meaning

The song "Teach Me Tonight" by Wanda Jackson is an invitation from the singer to her lover to educate her in the ways of love. She acknowledges that she has a lot to learn, but is willing and eager to be taught. The singer emphasizes the importance of the present moment, the perfect setting for her lover to impart their knowledge to her. By starting with the basics ("the ABC of it"), the singer wants to learn everything from the essential elements to the more advanced aspects of love ("the XYZ of it"). The lyrics express the singer's desire to solve the mystery of love and understand it fully.

The stars also play a crucial role in the song, both symbolically and practically. The singer references the sky as a "blackboard" and uses shooting stars to write "I love you" over and over, showing the vastness of the universe in which their love exists. The ambiguity of the line "one thing isn't very clear my love," perhaps implies that the singer wants something more from the teacher than mere instruction. The final line "come on, teach me tonight" is an urgent plea from the singer to finally learn the lessons of love before graduation, before it's too late.

Line by Line Meaning

Did you say (that) I've got a lot to learn,
You mentioned I have much to learn,

Well don't think I'm trying not to learn
I am eager to learn, not avoiding it

Since this is the perfect spot to learn,
The setting is ideal for acquiring new knowledge

Teach me tonight
Instruct me now

Starting with the ABC of it,
Let's begin with the basics

Right down to the XYZ of it
Proceeding to the advanced concepts

Help me solve the mystery of it,
Aid me in comprehending it better

Teach me tonight
Instruct me now

The sky's a blackboard high above you,
The vast celestial expanse serves as a canvas

And if a shooting star goes by
If a meteor streaks across the sky

I'll use that star to write "I love you",
I will utilize that celestial event to express affection