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 Wrong Kind of Girl
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Bobbie Carroll)
« © '60 Husky Music »
I grew up fast I acted too wild
So they called me the wrong kind of girl
Now for the first time I fallen to love
But he heard I'm the wrong kind of girl
Seems to make him change his mind
He looks at me then he looks away
Because he thinks I'm not his kind
Oh how I pray I'll soon see the day
He'll want the right love from the wrong kind of girl
I change my way yet nothing I say
seems to convince him that I'm sincere. Wanda Jackson's song "Wrong Kind of Girl" speaks to the frustration and heartache of being judged and rejected based on past mistakes and societal expectations.
Throughout the lyrics, the singer expresses how she has been labeled and dismissed as the "wrong kind of girl" due to her wild behavior in the past. However, she has fallen in love for the first time, and despite trying to change and convince her love interest of her sincerity, he is hesitant to give her a chance because of her past reputation. She prays for a day when he can accept her love, despite her previous mistakes and the opinions of others.
The song resonates with anyone who has felt the sting of judgment and rejection. It highlights the unfairness of being labeled based on past actions and the difficulty of overcoming those perceptions. Ultimately, the song is about hope and the power of love to overcome obstacles and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
I grew up fast I acted too wild
I had a tumultuous upbringing and my behavior was often considered inappropriate or rebellious.
So they called me the wrong kind of girl
As a result of my behavior, people criticized me and labeled me as deviant or immoral.
Now for the first time I fallen to love
I've never been in love before, but now I've met someone who I have feelings for.
But he heard I'm the wrong kind of girl
However, he has already formed a negative impression of me based on the rumors or perceptions of others.
I change my way yet nothing I say
I've tried to improve myself and show him that I'm not what he thinks I am, but he still rejects me.
Seems to make him change his mind
No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to convince him to give me a chance or see me differently.
He looks at me then he looks away
Whenever he sees me, he avoids making eye contact or acknowledging my presence.
Because he thinks I'm not his kind
He believes that we come from different backgrounds or have incompatible values, which makes him doubt our compatibility.
Oh how I pray I'll soon see the day
I desperately hope that he will eventually give me a chance and realize that I am worthy of his affection.
He'll want the right love from the wrong kind of girl
I wish he could see that even though I may not fit his expectations or stereotypes, I am capable of loving him and making him happy.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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