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.

Your Good Girls Gonna Go Bad
Wanda Jackson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've never seen the inside of a barroom or listen to a jukebox all night long
But I see these are the things that bring you pleasure
So I'm gonna make some changes in our home
I've heard it said if you can't beat 'em join 'em
So if that's the way you've wanted me to be
I'll change if it takes that to make you happy
From now on you're gonna see a different me
Because your good girl's a gonna go bad

I'm gonna be the swingin'est swinger you've ever had
If you like 'em painted up hollered up then you oughta be glad
Cause your good girl's a gonna go bad
I've even learn to like the taste of whiskey in fact you'll hardly recognize your wife
I'll buy some brand new clothes and dress up fancy
For my journey to the wilder side of life

Because your good girl's a gonna go bad...
Yes your good girl's a gonna go bad

Overall Meaning

Wanda Jackson's "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad" is a classic country song about a woman who changes herself for the man she loves. The song is essentially about a woman who is willing to do anything to please her partner, even if that means going against her morals and values. She sings about how she has never been to a bar or listened to a jukebox all night long, but she understands that her partner enjoys these things. So, she decides to make some changes and embrace the wilder side of life.

The lyrics suggest that the woman has been trying to resist her partner's influence on her, but now she realizes that she needs to change to make him happy. She says she has heard that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, implying that she has been resisting her partner's desires for some time. The line "I'll change if it takes that to make you happy" shows that the woman is willing to compromise her own values for her partner's sake.

Overall, the song portrays a woman who is willing to go to extreme lengths to please her partner, even if it means changing everything about herself. It speaks to the pressure that women often face to be the perfect partner, and the lengths they will go to in order to maintain a relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

I've never seen the inside of a barroom or listen to a jukebox all night long
I've never experienced the kind of lifestyle that you've always wanted or what you find pleasurable.

But I see these are the things that bring you pleasure
I understand that going to bars and listening to jukeboxes gives you pleasure and happiness.

So I'm gonna make some changes in our home
I'm going to change the way I live so that I can make you happy and bring pleasure to our home.

I've heard it said if you can't beat 'em join 'em
I've heard that if you can't change someone, it's better to accept and join their way of living.

So if that's the way you've wanted me to be
If the lifestyle you lead is what you've always wanted me to be, then I'll become that person.

I'll change if it takes that to make you happy
I'm willing to change myself if it brings happiness to you and our relationship.

From now on you're gonna see a different me
Starting today, you'll see a whole new side of me because I've decided to embrace your lifestyle.

Because your good girl's a gonna go bad
My good-girl persona will be replaced by someone who embraces a wilder and carefree lifestyle.

I'm gonna be the swingin'est swinger you've ever had
I'll be the most adventurous and exciting partner you've ever had.

If you like 'em painted up hollered up then you oughta be glad
If you prefer your partners to be wild and flashy, then you'll be pleased with the new me.

Cause your good girl's a gonna go bad
My transformation will completely change me and our relationship. You'll get to experience a whole new side of me.

I've even learn to like the taste of whiskey in fact you'll hardly recognize your wife
I've even started enjoying whiskey, to the point that you won't even recognize me, my appearance and actions will be so different.

I'll buy some brand new clothes and dress up fancy
I'll start dressing stylishly and in a way that reflects my new, wilder personality.

For my journey to the wilder side of life
I'm embarking on a new journey towards a life of adventure, fun and freedom.

Because your good girl's a gonna go bad...
My transformation will be complete and nothing will be able to change me back to my former self. You'll have to embrace the new me.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILLY SHERRILL, GLENN SUTTON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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