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.
Those Were The Days
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was a tavern where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
And think of all the great things we would do
Then the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If by chance, I'd see you in the tavern
Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we chose, we'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way
La la la la la lay
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
Just tonight, I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass I saw a strange reflection
Oh was that lonely woman really me
Through the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend we're older, but no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same
Those were the days
Wanda Jackson's song "Those Were The Days" is a nostalgic tribute to her youth and the friendships that she formed. The song takes the listener on a journey of memories, beginning with the image of a tavern where she used to go with her friends. The memories are framed as if they are a storybook, with the opening line introducing the tale with "Once upon a time." The chorus invites the listener to participate in the nostalgia, as the singer reminisces about the joy and freedom of being young and carefree.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more reflective, with the singer acknowledging that time has passed and that she and her friends have grown older. She describes looking into a glass and seeing a "strange reflection," realizing that she is no longer as young as she once was. Despite this realization, the memories of the past still hold great meaning for her. In the end, the song celebrates the enduring power of friendship and the memories that we carry with us throughout our lives.
There are many interpretations of "Those Were The Days" that can be drawn from the lyrics. At its core, however, the song is about the passage of time and the way in which memories shape our lives. It is a reminder to cherish the friendships that we have made along the way and to hold onto the moments that make life worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time
In the past, a story occurred
There was a tavern where we used to raise a glass or two
We frequented a pub where we would have drinks
Remember how we laughed away the hours
Recall the moments of joy we spent in conversation
And think of all the great things we would do
Mentally envision the wonderful things we yearned to accomplish
Then the busy years went rushing by us
Time passed quickly by us as we carried on living in our busy lives
We lost our starry notions on the way
We abandoned our big aspirations and dreams as we dived into our daily routine
If by chance, I'd see you in the tavern
If we happen to see each other in the pub
We'd smile at one another and we'd say
We'll greet each other cordially
Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end
We were under the impression that our blissful times together would endure
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We would never stop singing and dancing but live happily always
We'd live the life we chose, we'd fight and never lose
We would live our lives independently and persist in our endeavors with valor
For we were young and sure to have our way
Being youthful, we felt confident of our ways
La la la la la lay
No discernible meaning (repeated phrase)
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
These were the moments of our lives that we cherished greatly
Just tonight, I stood before the tavern
This evening I stood in front of the pub
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
Nothing appeared to be the same as it was previously
In the glass I saw a strange reflection
When I looked in the mirror, I saw an unfamiliar image
Oh was that lonely woman really me
Was I really that lonely figured portrayed in the mirror
Through the door there came familiar laughter
Familiar laughter came through the doorway
I saw your face and heard you call my name
I noticed you and clearly heard you calling my name
Oh my friend we're older, but no wiser
Although we are old now, we haven't become any wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same
Our hearts still carry the same aspirations
Those were the days
Those were the wonderful times we shared
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind