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 Window up Above
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I can see the clouds're gathering and the storm will wreck our home
But last night, you held her tightly and you didn't even shove
This is true for I was watching from the window up above
You must have thought I was sleeping and I wish that I had been
But it's best to get to know you and the way your heart can sin
I thought we belonged together and our hearts fit like a glove
From my eyes the teardrops started as I listened on and on
Heard you whisper to her softly that our marriage was all wrong
But I hope she makes you happy and you'll never lose her love
I lost mine while I was watching from the window up above
Yes, I hope she makes you happy and you'll never lose her love
I lost mine while I was watching from the window up above
The lyrics to Wanda Jackson's "The Window up Above" tell a story of heartbreak and betrayal. The singer has been living a new life that she loves, but notices that her partner is engaging in infidelity. The storm that is brewing is a metaphor for the upcoming destruction of their relationship. The singer is watching her partner hold another woman closely, and hears him express that their marriage is wrong. She is devastated, but hopes that this other woman will make him happy and that he'll never lose her love.
The song is a powerful and emotional portrayal of the pain of infidelity and the realization that a relationship is truly over. The singer's emotions are clear throughout the lyrics, from sadness and heartbreak to a hope that her partner will find happiness. Her decision to watch from above rather than confront her partner directly is a poignant one, underscoring the sense of isolation and loneliness that come with betrayal.
Wanda Jackson's performance of "The Window up Above" is hauntingly beautiful and captures the song's emotional depth. By using her powerful voice to bring the lyrics to life, Jackson is able to convey the singer's pain and vulnerability in a way that resonates with listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been living a new way of life that I love so
I'm enjoying a new way of life that makes me happy
But I can see the clouds're gathering and the storm will wreck our home
I can sense trouble coming and it's going to ruin our home
But last night you held her tightly and you didn't even shove
I saw you holding her tight and you didn't even push her away
This is true for I was watching from the window up above
This is a fact because I was watching everything from a window above
You must have thought I was sleeping and I wish that I had been
You probably assumed I was asleep, and I wish I was
But it's best to get to know you and the way your heart can sin
I need to understand you better and how you can betray me
I thought we belonged together and our hearts fit like a glove
I once believed we were meant to be together and our hearts matched perfectly
But I was wrong for I was watching from the window up above
But I was mistaken because I watched everything from a window above
From my eyes the teardrops started as I listened on and on
Tears started flowing as I listened to you go on and on
Heard you whisper to her softly that our marriage was all wrong
I heard you whisper to her that our marriage was a mistake
But I hope she makes you happy and you'll never lose her love
I hope she brings you joy and you won't lose her affection
I lost mine while I was watching from the window up above
I lost my love for you while I watched everything from a window above
Yes I hope she makes you happy...
Yes, I truly wish she brings you happiness
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, GLAD MUSIC CO., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ronnie Bishop
The most overlooked underrated entertainer in history. Or maybe it’s just me, but she’s incredible. And I’m from Oklahoma too, very proud of her.
Sonny Dave
Most of the time she is referred to as a "Rockabilly". Wanda Jackson is a classic country singer, as this version of the George Jones song shows. She is as good as any female country singer including those in the CMHOF.
Michael Brown
I love here to
Milton Moore
She wasn't tagged "Wonderful Wanda" for nothing! What a gorgeous-toned voice she possessed!
Barry Allen Porter
She’s still got it
GuriMalla2010
I did not know that Wanda had made this song, Ho makes it great!
Michael Jackman
great singer
David Trochinski
I was amazed that she even tackled a George Jones song, and done it exceptionally! I would of liked to have them sneak a (little steel guitar) in to top it off! Don't get me wrong, I do mean it was exceptional.........🤠
John Ackerman
This American treasure still has it
juha vesanen
A LOVELY, LOVELY WANDA JACKSON HERE...! 🕵🏼♀️🙂👍🏿❤️👍👍👍