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.
The Great Speckled Bird
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Remember her name is recorded on the pages of God's holy word
Desiring to lower her standards they watch every move that she makes
But they long to find fault with her teaching but really they find no mistakes
I am glad I have learned of her meekness I am proud that my name is on her book
For I want to be one never fearing the face of my Savior's true look
When he comes descending from heaven on the cloud as he write in his word
The Great Speckled Bird is a gospel song written by Reverend Guy Smith in 1936. Wanda Jackson's version was released in 1962 and it quickly became a hit. The lyrics are a metaphorical representation of the Christian faith and the struggles faced by those who stand by their beliefs despite pressure to conform or change. The "great speckled bird" is used to symbolize those who choose to follow a different path that is not widely accepted or popular.
The song opens with the singer expressing admiration for the great speckled bird and its place in God's holy word. The bird represents a group of people who are constantly watched by those who are critical of their teaching and beliefs. Despite the scrutiny, the bird remains steadfast and committed to its standards. The singer feels proud to have their name associated with the bird and wants to be part of the group of people who are faithful to their beliefs.
The second part of the song talks about the return of Jesus and the hope of being carried on the wings of the great speckled bird to meet him. This symbolizes the hope of salvation and the reward for being faithful. The song speaks to the idea that staying true to one's beliefs can be challenging, but the reward is worth it.
Line by Line Meaning
What a beautiful thought I am thinking concerning the great speckled bird
I am filled with wonder and admiration as I reflect on the great speckled bird
Remember her name is recorded on the pages of God's holy word
It's important to note that the great speckled bird is mentioned in God's holy book
Desiring to lower her standards they watch every move that she makes
Those who oppose the great speckled bird are constantly scrutizing her, hoping to find ways to diminish her significance
But they long to find fault with her teaching but really they find no mistakes
Despite their efforts, those who try to discredit the great speckled bird cannot find any flaws in her teachings
I am glad I have learned of her meekness I am proud that my name is on her book
I am grateful to have learned from and aligned myself with the great speckled bird's humble ways and I take pride in being associated with her
For I want to be one never fearing the face of my Savior's true look
I aspire to be like the great speckled bird, never fearing the judgment of my Savior
When he comes descending from heaven on the cloud as he write in his word
As it is written in the holy book, when my Savior returns from heaven on a cloud
I'll be joyfully carried to meet him on the wings of the great speckled bird
I will be happily lifted up to meet my Savior on the wings of the great speckled bird
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHNNY R. CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nancy Foix
What a beautiful thought I am thinking
Concerning a great speckled bird
Remember her name is recorded
On the pages of God's Holy Word.
All the other birds are flocking 'round her
And she is despised by the squad
But the great speckled bird in the Bible
Is one with the great church of God.
All the other churches are against her
They envy her glory and fame
They hate her because she is chosen
And has not denied Jesus' name.
Desiring to lower her standard
They watch every move that she makes
They long to find fault with her teachings
But really they find no mistake.
She is spreading her wings for a journey
She's going to leave by and by
When the trumpet shall sound in the morning
She'll rise and go up in the sky.
In the presence of all her despisers
With a song never uttered before
She will rise and be gone in a moment
Till the great tribulation is o'er.
I am glad I have learned of her meekness
I am proud that my name is on her book
For I want to be one never fearing
The face of my Savior to look.
When He cometh descending from heaven
On the cloud that He writes in His Word
I'll be joyfully carried to meet Him
On the wings of that great speckled bird.
Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.
Jeremiah 12:9 KJV
everokie
Love Wanda's version of this song. I love Wanda's pure voice.
Georel Bonai
Love this song it has the same rhythm as Kitty Wells's "It wasn't god who made honky tonk angels" almost every old country use this same rhythm. No wonder it really easy to practice this on guitar because it only has three chord C, F, G for beginners.
Rhoda Perron
My husband just said that. Lol. Great song.
Allan Southern
LOVE THIS SONG WELL DONE WANDA
Angela DeFoe
takes me back to sitting on the floor listening to records with my daddy... RIP DAD...
Audrey Runions
What a great song and Wanda dings it beautiful.
ALAIN ZILKA
Très belle chanson 👍
Diane Price
This song is so Beautiful
Will Wipf
Sweet voice, brings back old memories, time fly's
Gerard Larkin Haverstock
I have always love the singer songwriter Wanda Jackson,A great American.