Today’s song of the day is the legendary country duet “Jackson” by Johnny Cash and June Carter.
Fun Facts
- The song follows a couple that loses the spark in their relationship. Both people think they’ll have more fun than the other in Jackson.
- The very first version was recorded by Billy Edd Wheeler, one of the song’s authors, in 1963. The female vocals were provided by Wheeler’s friend Joan Sommer from Berea, Kentucky.
- Wheeler played it for producer Jerry Leiber who encouraged him to re-arrange it to make it more exciting. This included putting the climax of the story in the first line (“We got married in a fever.”). Wheeler was reluctant but credits the song’s popularity to Leiber’s changes.
- Johnny Cash and June Carter recorded it in 1967.
- Released on February 6, 1967, their version reached number 2 on Billboard’s Country Singles chart.
- The couple was married the following year on March 1, 1968 in Franklin, Kentucky.
- There are many cities named Jackson, but Wheeler didn’t have a specific one in mind. He just liked the sound of the name.
- Cash stated he imagined taking June to Jackson, Tennessee, to visit rockabilly legend and friend Carl Perkins.
Lyrics:
We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout,
We’ve been talkin’ ’bout Jackson
Ever since the fire went out.
I’m goin’ to Jackson, I’m gonna mess around,
Yeah, I’m goin’ to Jackson,
Look out Jackson town.
Well, go on down to Jackson; go ahead and wreck your health.
Go play your hand you big-talkin’ man, make a big fool of yourself,
Yeah, go to Jackson; go comb your hair!
Honey, I’m gonna snowball Jackson.
See if I care.
When I breeze into that city, people gonna stoop and bow. (Hah!)
All them women gonna make me, teach ’em what they don’t know how,
I’m goin’ to Jackson, you turn-a loosen my coat.
‘Cos I’m goin’ to Jackson.
“Goodbye, ” that’s all she wrote.
But they’ll laugh at you in Jackson, and I’ll be dancin’ on a Pony Keg.
They’ll lead you ’round town like a scalded hound,
With your tail tucked between your legs,
Yeah, go to Jackson, you big-talkin’ man.
And I’ll be waitin’ in Jackson, behind my Jaypan Fan.
Well now, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout,
We’ve been talkin’ ’bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out.
I’m goin’ to Jackson, and that’s a fact.
Yeah, we’re goin’ to Jackson, ain’t never comin’ back.
Well, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout
We’ve been talkin’ ’bout Jackson
Ever since the fire went out..