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.
There
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Right around the corner down the road East
And there's a party goin' on
Ooh, there's a party goin' on
We're gonna swing it, shake it, make it
Shimmy till the break of dawn
Now everybody grab your Sunday best
Let's make it on down to Charly's nest
Ooh, there's a party goin' on
We're gonna swing it, shake it, make it
Shimmy till the break of dawn
Well, you betcha yeah!
So grab your shoes and baby grab your mink
And leave those dishes on the kitchen sink
'Cause there's a party goin' on
Ooh, there's a party goin' on
We're gonna swing it, shake it, make it
Shimmy till the break of dawn
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
You don't need a rocket to take you into space
Just make it down to Charly's, he's a-saving you a place
'Cause there's a party goin' on
Ooh, there's a party goin' on
We're gonna swing it, shake it, make it
Shimmy till the break of dawn
We're gonna swing it, shake it, make it
Shimmy till the break of dawn
Wanda Jackson's "There's a Party Goin' On" is a song about a party hosted by Beefsteak Charly, who is throwing a lavish feast for all of his friends and family. The song paints a picture of a lively event, with everyone dressed up in their Sunday best, dancing, and having a good time. The lyrics encourage everyone to join in, leave their troubles behind, and enjoy the festivities until the break of dawn.
The song exudes a sense of joy, release, and freedom that was prevalent during the Rock & Roll era. It is meant to be a feel-good anthem that celebrates life and the simple pleasures it has to offer. Wanda Jackson's energetic vocals and the upbeat musical arrangement create a party atmosphere that listeners cannot help but join in.
Overall, "There's a Party Goin' On" is a song that encourages people to let loose, have fun, and celebrate the joy of life without reservation. It is a reminder that music has the power to bring people together, and when we dance, we're all the same.
Line by Line Meaning
Beefsteak Charly is a-throwing a feast
Beefsteak Charly is hosting a party with lots of food
Right around the corner down the road East
The party is nearby, just a short distance away
And there's a party goin' on
The party is already happening
Ooh, there's a party goin' on
The party is lively and exciting
We're gonna swing it, shake it, make it
We're going to dance and have a good time
Shimmy till the break of dawn
We'll keep dancing until the morning comes
Now everybody grab your Sunday best
Dress up nicely for the occasion
Let's make it on down to Charly's nest
Let's go to Charly's place to join the party
'Cause there's a party goin' on
Because there's a lively event happening
Well, you betcha yeah!
Yes, it's true!
So grab your shoes and baby grab your mink
Put on your shoes and fur coat
And leave those dishes on the kitchen sink
Don't worry about cleaning up, just come to the party
You don't need a rocket to take you into space
You don't need anything special to have a good time
Just make it down to Charly's, he's a-saving you a place
Just come to Charly's party, he's saved a spot for you
We're gonna swing it, shake it, make it
We're going to dance and have fun
Shimmy till the break of dawn
We'll keep dancing until morning
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DON COVAY, JOHN BERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@miltonmoore5294
.....except for all
those "cheatin"
songs!!! which
are so unhealthy,
but are unfortunately
wrapped in such
beautifully seductive tunes
and brilliant orchestrations
that it's hard to
resist them.
@3061535
Perhaps the purest country song ever recorded by a female artist. Seriously. This is just classic. Her voice was made to sing this masterpiece.
@erikhache8591
Your right😊
@juliereminiec4937
This doesn't sound like a country song to me...
What happened to the steel guitar?
@juliereminiec6332
Right or Wrong is the best rick ballad ever written
@Rongas2112
Just heard this song in American Horror Stories and for a moment I thought it was Angel Olsen. Wonderful voice.
@damarisanchez6508
Same
@trenttoby375
I thought it was brenda lee
@juliereminiec4937
@@trenttoby375 Joann Campbell is closer to Brenda Lee in vocal sound
@ladanabeltran8892
That song is so Kool , I can remember my mom playing it over and over , her voice is beautiful!
@watchtyme
I thought it was Brenda Lee🥴