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.
We Could
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We could, we could you and I.
If anyone could ever say that their true love was here to stay,
We could, we could you and I.
When you're in my arms I know you're happy to be there
And just as long as I'm with you I'm happy anywhere.
If anyone could pray each night and thank the Lord that all is right,
We could darling, we could you and I.
If anyone could find the joy...
The song "We Could" by Wanda Jackson speaks about the joy and bliss that true love can bring to a couple. The lyrics suggest that the singer, along with her significant other, possesses the ability to experience and cherish the beauty of love. The first line says, "If anyone could find the joy that true love brings a girl and boy, we could, we could you and I," highlighting that only a few people can genuinely understand the euphoria that comes with being in love. The following line, "If anyone could ever say that their true love was here to stay, we could, we could you and I," shows the trust and assurance that the singer has in her partner's commitment.
The chorus accentuates the comfort and delight that comes with being in each other's arms. The song's mood shifts from talking about the universal joy that love brings to addressing the happiness that the couple finds in each other. The lines, "When you're in my arms, I know you're happy to be there, and just as long as I'm with you, I'm happy anywhere," suggest that the singer believes that being in her partner's company is enough to make her feel content.
The final verse talks about the gratitude that comes with having a partner who loves and cares for you. The lyrics say, "If anyone could pray each night and thank the Lord that all is right, we could darling, we could you and I," conveying the appreciation and thankfulness they have for each other.
Line by Line Meaning
If anyone could find the joy that true love brings a girl and boy,
If there was someone who could experience the happiness that comes only from true love between a boy and a girl,
We could, we could you and I.
Then we are that couple who could experience that joy together.
If anyone could ever say that their true love was here to stay,
If any couple could confidently say that their love is everlasting,
We could, we could you and I.
Then it would be us who can say that our love is built to last.
When you're in my arms I know you're happy to be there
When you cuddle in my embrace, I can tell that you feel content and elated.
And just as long as I'm with you I'm happy anywhere.
I am happy just being with you, whether we are at home or anywhere else in the world.
If anyone could pray each night and thank the Lord that all is right,
If there was someone who could pray every night, expressing gratitude to God that everything is going right in their lives,
We could darling, we could you and I.
Then we are the couple who could also thank the Lord every night for having each other and a happy life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FELICE BRYANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bonute13
If anyone could find the joy that true love brings a girl and boy
We could we could you and I
If anyone could ever say that their true love was here to stay
We could we could you and I
When you're in my arms I know you're happy to be there
And just as long as I'm with you I'm happy anywhere
If anyone could pray each night to thank the Lord that all is right
We could we could you and I
When you're in my arms
@jussix48
Beautiful, as most of always by Wanda Jackson...
@webbjr37
Beautiful voice & equally beautiful lady, She made my heart throb back in the mid 50s
@debbiemathis1119
Yes Beautiful voice
@frankchilds9848
An awful lot of feeling in this lady, I am amazed 👏😢
@miltonmoore8369
LOVE THAT TREMOLO SOUND FROM THE ELECTRIC GUITAR. WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT TO HAVE HAD SOMEONE PLAYING A VIBRAPHONE ALONG WITH IT.😊
ONE OF "WONDERFUL WANDA'S" BEST.
@1945biged1
Miss Jackson sang this one for my bride and I when we saw her while we were on our honeymoon in Ft. Worth. This was our song and we really appreciated it.
@vernsmith7821
Great song!! We been together 43 years and love this song!
@ralphmoore7812
Gorgeous lady with a great voice. One of my very favorites.
@miltonmoore5294
A performance of
imperishable beauty.👍👏😃
@shirleypalumbo5046
this song takes me back when I was 19 and so in love with Frank, my one and only love, he was the love of my life, pass away 5 yrs ago, miss him everyday he was the love of y life Miss him so much, so lonely without him by my side