Wanda Jackson (born Wanda Lavonne Jackson, October 20, 1937 in Maud, Oklaho… Read Full Bio ↴Wanda Jackson (born Wanda Lavonne Jackson, October 20, 1937 in Maud, Oklahoma) is an American rock and roll singer. Having made her debut recordings at the age of nineteen, she became one of the first popular female rock and roll singers in history and as a result, a pioneering and influential figure in female musicianship. She is known as the "Queen (or First Lady) of Rockabilly."

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.

This Land Is Your Land
Wanda Jackson Lyrics

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This land is your land this land is mine land from California to the New York Island
From redwood forrest to the gulf stream water this land was made for you and me

As I went walking that ribbon of highway I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley and this land was made for you and me
This land is your land this land is mine land...
This land is your land this land is mine land...

I've roamed and I've rambled I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of a diamond desert
And all around me a voice was sounding this land was made for you and me

This land is your land this land is mine land...
This land is your land this land is mine land...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Wanda Jackson's song "This Land Is Your Land" describe the vast and diverse beauty of the United States and express the sentiment that the land belongs to all Americans, regardless of background or social status. The first verse declares that this land belongs to everyone, from the West Coast to the East Coast, from the giant redwood trees of California to the warm Gulf Stream waters. It celebrates the physical landscape that unites Americans as one people, and suggests that the land is a source of pride and unity for all.

The second verse describes a personal journey, perhaps a metaphor for the life of the average American. As the singer walks along a highway, she observes the beauty of the land around her, the endless sky and golden valleys. The repetition of the chorus underscores the idea that this land is the birthright of all Americans, regardless of their individual stories and experiences.

The final verse suggests that the land has a voice, and that voice is resounding with the message that America belongs to everyone. As the singer roams and rambles through a desert, she hears this message echoed all around her. The final repetition of the chorus reinforces the democratic ideal that this land is truly the people's land.

Line by Line Meaning

This land is your land this land is mine land from California to the New York Island
Both you and I have equal ownership of this land, from the west coast of California to the east coast of New York Island.

From redwood forrest to the gulf stream water this land was made for you and me
This land is diverse and encompasses everything from coastal redwood forests to the waters of the gulf stream, and it was made for both you and me to enjoy.

As I went walking that ribbon of highway I saw above me an endless skyway
While walking along the road, I observed an endless skyway above me, filled with endless possibilities and opportunities.

I saw below me a golden valley and this land was made for you and me
Beneath me was a beautiful golden valley, indicating that this land is fit for both you and me to roam and enjoy freely.

I've roamed and I've rambled I've followed my footsteps
I have traveled far and wide, following the path of my own footsteps and seeing all that this land has to offer.

To the sparkling sands of a diamond desert
I have explored the shimmering sands of a diamond desert, discovering the true beauty of this land in all its forms.

And all around me a voice was sounding this land was made for you and me
Everywhere I go, a voice echoes, telling me that this land was made for both you and me, and we have the right to treasure it always.

This land is your land this land is mine land...
The phrase 'This land is your land this land is mine land' is a refrain that reminds us that we all have equal ownership of this land and should appreciate it in all its glory.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Woody Guthrie

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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