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.
fallin
Wanda Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a star up in the blue,
Like I was fallin' off Niagara
In a paddle-boat canoe.
Mmm, I got to feelin' I'm a'fallin'
And it's all because of you.
Like I was walkin' on a tightrope,
And though I try to keep my balance
Yeah I weaken in the knees.
I got to feelin' I'm a'fallin'
Lover, help me please.
Like a leaf falls from a branch,
Like a rock-slide avalanche,
Like the rain on a stormy day,
I never thought I'd fall this way.
I thought that love could never touch me,
Yeah I was ridin' high
And then my ivory tower toppled
And I tumbled from the sky.
Mm, I got to feelin' I'm a'fallin'
You're the reason why.
Like Goliath when he met his foe,
Just like the walls of Jericho,
Like Delilah's home in town
When Samson tore it down.
I thought that love could never touch me,
Yeah I was ridin' high
And then my ivory tower toppled
And I tumbled from the sky.
Mm, I got to feelin' I'm a'fallin'
And you're the reason why,
Oh you're the reason why,
Lover you're the reason why,
Lover, lover you're the reason why...
The lyrics to Wanda Jackson’s “Fallin” describe the feeling of falling in love, and the sudden vulnerability and loss of control that can come with it. The comparisons used in the song are vivid and powerful, such as falling off Niagara Falls in a paddle-boat canoe and walking on a tightrope that swings in the breeze. The singer acknowledges that they thought love could never touch them, and that they were “riding high” in their ivory tower, but now find themselves tumbling from the sky because of the person they are falling for. The phrase “I got to feelin’ I’m a’fallin’” is repeated throughout the song as a refrain, emphasizing the overwhelming sensation of falling in love.
The comparisons in the song are effective in conveying the intensity of the singer’s feelings. The reference to Goliath meeting his foe and the walls of Jericho falling evoke emotions of anticipation, powerlessness, and surrender. The singer acknowledges that they need the love interest’s help in this situation. The use of “lover” throughout the song is also notable; it suggests an intimacy and closeness between the two, and reinforces the idea that the singer has fallen for someone specific.
Overall, the lyrics to “Fallin” capture the chaotic, overwhelming, and exhilarating experience of falling in love. It acknowledges vulnerability and the singer’s dependence on the person they have fallen for.
Line by Line Meaning
I got to feelin' I'm a'fallin'
I'm experiencing uncontrollable falling sensations
Like a star up in the blue,
Like a star falling from the sky
Like I was fallin' off Niagara
Like falling off Niagara Falls, a rapid waterfall
In a paddle-boat canoe.
I'm falling in a canoe like a person paddle-boarding atop Niagara
Mmm, I got to feelin' I'm a'fallin'
I'm experiencing uncontrollable falling sensations
And it's all because of you.
The reason of my fall is your doing
Like I was walkin' on a tightrope,
The feeling of being on an unstable balance beam
Swingin' in the breeze,
I'm swinging like a pendulum in the air
And though I try to keep my balance
Despite my effort of maintaining balance
Yeah I weaken in the knees.
I lose my will because of it
I got to feelin' I'm a'fallin'
I'm experiencing uncontrollable falling sensations
Lover, help me please.
I'm requesting my partner to help me from my current situation
Like a leaf falls from a branch,
Falling like a leaf from a tree branch
Like a rock-slide avalanche,
Collapsing like a large rock-slide
Like the rain on a stormy day,
Falling like heavy rain on a bad day
I never thought I'd fall this way.
I never imagined nor expected to fall like this
I thought that love could never touch me,
Believing that love was beyond my reach
Yeah I was ridin' high
I was full of pride and feeling important
And then my ivory tower toppled
And then, my high aspirations and plans crumbled apart
And I tumbled from the sky.
I fell from a high place, a metaphor for my dreams and status
Mm, I got to feelin' I'm a'fallin'
I'm experiencing uncontrollable falling sensations
You're the reason why.
The cause of my fall is because of you
Like Goliath when he met his foe,
Falling like Goliath who met his end from his strongest opposing force
Just like the walls of Jericho,
Falling like the walls of Jericho that crumbled to the ground
Like Delilah's home in town
Falling like the home of Delilah, a place of false security
When Samson tore it down.
That was destroyed by Samson's power and wrath
I thought that love could never touch me,
Believing that love was beyond my reach
Yeah I was ridin' high
I was full of pride and feeling important
And then my ivory tower toppled
And then, my high aspirations and plans crumbled apart
And I tumbled from the sky.
I fell from a high place, a metaphor for my dreams and status
Mm, I got to feelin' I'm a'fallin'
I'm experiencing uncontrollable falling sensations
And you're the reason why,
The cause of my fall is because of you
Oh you're the reason why,
My fall is solely your doing
Lover you're the reason why,
You, my partner, are the reason causing my fall
Lover, lover you're the reason why...
My love for you has led to my downfall
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Howard Greenfield, Neil Sedaka
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind