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 Long Legged Guitar Pickin' Man
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Marshall Grant)
« © '67 Perkins Publishing »
Well I'm gonna start out walkin' just you wait and see
Uh-huh guitar picker you ain't leavin' without me
Oh you big mouth woman you long legged guitar pickin' man
But we can work this out uh huh yes ma'm I think we can
But how am I gonna wear it if I got to hide it out
Well you big mouth woman...
Well I bought you a first class ticket for a luxury liner cruise
I got out in that ocean looked around and there was you
Oh you big mouth woman...
I bought you a big long limousine but I don't want no car
I gave my love and everything but you're still what you are
You're just a big mouth woman...
Oh honey I love that big sweet mouth you a long legged guitar pickin' man
Ha ha I'm gonna pick it for you now you a nice guitar pickin' man
The song 'Long Legged Guitar Pickin' Man' by Wanda Jackson tells an interesting story of a woman trying to impress a man who is a master at playing the guitar. The woman is persistent in her efforts and tries to win the attention and affection of the guitar picker. She stops at nothing, even stealing the Hope diamond, but realizes that keeping it hidden is difficult. She buys him a first-class ticket for a luxury liner cruise, but he ends up being on the same boat. She then buys him a big long limousine and even gives him her love, but he still does not show any interest in her.
The lyrics clearly reveal that the long-legged guitar picking man is the woman's obsession. She is in awe of his talent, but at the same time, she is frustrated that he is not interested in her. Despite her efforts, she realizes that nothing will change his mind about her. The song is a playful, witty, and entertaining narrative about unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm gonna start out walkin' just you wait and see
I'm not going to wait around here for you. I will start my journey on my own.
Uh-huh guitar picker you ain't leavin' without me
I know you think you can leave without me, but I am not about to let that happen.
Oh you big mouth woman you long legged guitar pickin' man
You may be a woman, but you sure do talk a lot. You're also quite good at playing the guitar.
But we can work this out uh huh yes ma'm I think we can
I believe we can work through our issues and problems and come to a resolution.
Well I stole the Hope diamond hopin' I could shut your mouth
I thought that if I gave you such an expensive and beautiful diamond, you would stop talking so much.
But how am I gonna wear it if I got to hide it out
I can't even wear the diamond because I have to hide it so no one knows it's been stolen.
Well I bought you a first class ticket for a luxury liner cruise
I went out of my way to purchase you an expensive and luxurious ticket for a cruise.
I got out in that ocean looked around and there was you
Despite my efforts to escape you, you somehow managed to be on the same cruise ship as me.
I gave my love and everything but you're still what you are
I have given you everything, including my love, but you are still the same person with the same habits and behaviors.
You're just a big mouth woman...
You talk too much and it's causing problems in our relationship.
Oh honey I love that big sweet mouth you a long legged guitar pickin' man
Despite your flaws, I love you for who you are. You're a skilled musician with a charming (if sometimes overwhelming) personality.
Ha ha I'm gonna pick it for you now you a nice guitar pickin' man
I am going to play my guitar for you because I love you and I know you appreciate my talents as well.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind