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 King Is Coming
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Bill Gaither - Gloria Gaither - Charley Millhoff)
« © '71 Gaither Music »
The market place is empty no more traffic in the streets
All the builders tools are silent no more time to harvest wheat
Busy housewives cease their labors in the courtroom no debate
Oh the King is coming the King is coming
I just heard the trumpets sounding and now his face I see
Oh the King is coming the King is coming praise God he's coming for me
Happy faces line the hallways those whose lives have been redeemed
Broken homes e has mended those from prison he has freed
Little children and the aged hand in hand stand all aglow
Who were crippled broken ruined dressed in garments white as snow
I can hear the chariots rumble I can see the marching throng
The flurry of God's trumpets spells the end of sin and wrong
Regal robes are now unfolding heaven's grandstand's all in place
Heaven's choir is now assembled start to sing Amazing Grace
Oh the King is coming the King is coming...
Oh the King is coming the King is coming...
(He's coming for me)
The lyrics to Wanda Jackson's song "King is Coming" describe a scene where everything on earth is put on hold as the King arrives. The marketplace is empty, there's no more traffic in the streets, and all work on earth is suspended. The song sets a tone of anticipation and excitement with the line "Oh, the King is coming..." and builds on this excitement as more and more people join in the celebration. The song describes how, now that the King is arriving, the broken homes will be mended, the prisoners will be freed, and the crippled will walk again, all clothed in white as snow. The song culminates with a vision of heaven's grandstand being filled with heavenly choir assembled to sing "Amazing Grace."
The lyrics of "King is Coming" take a literal interpretation of the Bible's revelation about the end of times, where the King, Jesus Christ, will return to earth. The song speaks of Christians being freed from their earthly problems and gathered together to meet their Lord.
Line by Line Meaning
The market place is empty no more traffic in the streets
There is a lull in the bustling marketplace, and the streets are now deserted.
All the builders tools are silent no more time to harvest wheat
There is no longer any activity from construction workers, and the time to reap harvest has passed.
Busy housewives cease their labors in the courtroom no debate
Even the busiest of housewives have stopped their daily chores, and the courtrooms are no longer debating.
Work on earth is all suspended as the King comes through the gate
All earthly tasks have come to a halt as the King makes his entrance.
Oh the King is coming the King is coming
This is a repeated chorus signalling the coming of the King, as anticipated by the believers.
I just heard the trumpets sounding and now his face I see
The sound of trumpets announces the King's arrival, and the believers can now finally see him.
Praise God he's coming for me
The believers are thankful and filled with gratitude that the King is coming to save them.
Happy faces line the hallways those whose lives have been redeemed
People who have been saved by the King are filled with joy and their faces light up the hallways.
Broken homes he has mended those from prison he has freed
The King's power has mended broken homes, and he has delivered prisoners from captivity.
Little children and the aged hand in hand stand all aglow
The young and the old are both standing hand in hand, with a sense of radiance about them.
Who were crippled broken ruined dressed in garments white as snow
Those who were once crippled, broken and ruined have now found redemption, and are dressed in white garments that symbolise purity.
I can hear the chariots rumble I can see the marching throng
The sound of chariots and the sight of people marching towards the King is an indication of his imminent arrival.
The flurry of God's trumpets spells the end of sin and wrong
The sound of trumpets represents the end of sin and wrongdoing, and affirms the King's power over all evil.
Regal robes are now unfolding heaven's grandstand's all in place
The King is now unveiling his regal robes, and heaven's grandstand is fully prepared for his arrival.
Heaven's choir is now assembled start to sing Amazing Grace
The choir of heaven has gathered, and they begin to sing the praises of the King with the hymn Amazing Grace.
Oh the King is coming the King is coming...
This is a repeated chorus signalling the coming of the King, as anticipated by the believers.
(He's coming for me)
This is a reiteration of the main message of the song, conveying the personal belief of the singer that the King is coming to deliver them.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: CHARLES MILLHUFF, GLORIA GAITHER, WILLAM J. GAITHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@louisevanderlinde8590
I'm 54. Grew up with this. Still have this LP. God is great!
@keithljs
YES, THE KING IS COMING AMEN !!
@jjokelly8457
The best version I have ever heard, and it is so true, so near, we don't have time to waiste.
@pr.tobiastahvanainen9234
Amen brother!
@NettyStoik
I am believing God that all my nieces and nephews will come back to Jesus before this great and Noble day of His coming . My mom had 16 children and she told me before she died she does not want even one missing and wants to see them all .
@pr.tobiastahvanainen9234
That's beautiful and I'm sure our Lord and Savior will grant her will. What a family reunion!
@rodneydaniel7466
Thabks you Jesus for this beautiful voice that brings joy and hope unto us
@plainerthanjane7582
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King, and all of our loved ones asleep in Christ... we will see them again.
@franky144556
Amen
@carolhutson2008
Old time gospel songs good the king is coming slowly and sure