Jackson is a high-spirited, playful, grassroots country song that I’ve returned to more than almost any other Johnny Cash performance over the years. But I shouldn’t just say Johnny – because it’s his wife – June Carter’s country twang and her playful vocal style set against Johnny’s deep, sultry baritone that gives the song its unmistakable flavour. The back-and-forth between them – the hollers, the teasing, the banter – fuels the song’s energy and chemistry. You can see this come alive in their performance on The Johnny Cash Show, featured at the bottom of this post, where June even announces the birth of their son, John Carter Cash.
Jackson was written in 1963 by Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber. It is best known as the country hit single by Johnny Cash and June Carter, reaching number two on the Billboard Country Singles chart. It also won a Grammy Award in 1968 for Best Country & Western Performance Duet, Trio or Group. Jackson was previously recorded in 1963 by the Kingston Trio, Wheeler, and Flatt and Scruggs. An aside, it was The Kingston Trio’s 1958 recording of The John B. Sails that was the direct influence on the Beach Boys making of Sloop John B. Another version of Jackson was released by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood, which reached No. 14 on the Billboard.
Story (Wikipedia)
The song is about a married couple who find that the “fire” has gone out of their relationship. It relates the desire of both partners to travel to “Jackson” where the husband believes he will be turned loose, be with many women and be practically worshipped as he has his wild time. The wife says he is going to achieve nothing but the damaging of his health and that people are going to see him as a fool. She says she will be there waiting, having her own fun laughing at him.
Writer Billy Edd Wheeler recalled the making of the song:
‘Jackson’ came to me when I read the script for Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (I was too broke to see the play on Broadway)…When I played it for Jerry [Leiber], he said ‘Your first verses suck,’ or words to that effect. ‘Throw them away and start the song with your last verse, “We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout.”‘ When I protested to Jerry that I couldn’t start the song with the climax, he said, ‘Oh, yes you can.’ So I rewrote the song and thanks to Jerry’s editing and help, it worked.’
There has been much speculation regarding which city of Jackson the song is about, but Wheeler said: “Actually, I didn’t have a specific Jackson in mind. I just liked the sharp consonant sound, as opposed to soft-sounding words like Nashville.”
[Verse 1: Both, Johnny Cash]
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 going to Jackson, I’m gonna mess around
Yeah, I’m goin’ to Jackson
Look out, Jackson town
[Verse 2: June Carter & Johnny Cash]
Well, go on down to Jackson, go ahead and wreck your health
Go play your hand, you big-talkin’ man, and make a big fool of yourself
Yeah, go to Jackson, go comb your hair
Honey, I’m gonna snowball Jackson
See if I care
[Verse 3: Johnny Cash & June Carter]
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 loose-a my coat
‘Cause I’m goin’ to Jackson
“Goodbye,” that’s all she wrote
[Verse 4: June Carter]
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 scolded 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 Japan Fan
[Verse 5: Both]
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
[Outro: Johnny Cash, Both]
Well, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout
Honey, we’ve been talkin’ ’bout Jackson, ever since the fire went
References:
1. Jackson (song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I always loved this song. We didn’t have much country in our house growing up ~ we had Flatt & Scruggs ~ my dad loved the banjo. He called country music “truck stop music” ~ he put himself through college driving truck. I remember this song coming on the radio when we were driving up to our cabin in Maine & my mother was going to change the station & he said, “Leave it on, I like this song.” & she answered, “You would!” That’s the first time I learned that my father liked Johnny Cash. My father liked all kinds of music of which I was unaware.
I remember when I got into Linda Ronstadt & I started singing her version of “Crazy” ~ I hadn’t heard Patsy Cline’s version yet ~ in 1977! Imagine that! ~ & he said something about “that old honky-tonk tune”. He knew who Patsy Cline was. He’d had many a cup of coffee at many a truck stop in the 60s. Within a year, I was collecting Patsy Cline records & learning all her tunes in her keys ~ which were better suited for me than Ronstadt’s higher ones. I can sing soprano but I have a stronger alto & I can actually sing tenor ~ yes, I can go as low as I can go high.
I have a friend who’s a guitarist & we have done lots of open mikes together but he’s never wanted to sing this with me. We’ve sung lots of Dylan together.
Same here, I’ve never got tired of this song. Your vivid memories of your youth and your family’s engagement with music are as always so affecting. I chuckled at that expression – ‘Truck stop music’. How you remember your father’s reaction to your mother as she was about to turn the dial is remarkable, not to mention their ensuing banter. My mind largely goes blank (and it really shouldn’t) when I hear the names Linda Ronstadt and Patsy Cline, although my mother had an album of the former and I love Linda’s singing on ‘Feels Like Home’.
Wow, I didn’t know you had sung so much Dylan in public. What was your favourite to sing of his? Mine was ‘Positively 4th Street’ – Karaoke. Today’s featured song is yet another by Mr Zimmerman.
That song is a true classic in my book. Johnny’s and June’s vocals blend perfectly. I also enjoyed watching that live clip.
It’s one of my favourite pure rollicking – roots and all country songs. Yeh, the live clip was smile inducing and charming.
Love this song and it’s another song that is intertwined in my DNA while growing up. Because of where I live it was there and I’m happy about it now…for the longest I resented it. Their voices fit well together also.
They were much more stable than the other famous country couple…George and Tammy…whew…they brought things to headlines like lawnmowers and all kinds of stuff.
Despite the song feeling about as Nashville as one could get, I didn’t realize how deeply it was embedded in your upbringing and character. You could do a lot worse, mate! The question remains – why did you once resent it? As for Johnny and June’s amazing relationship, I can’t recall it being better represented than in the music video ‘Hurt’ — one of his last ever tracks.
Excellent!
The song’s pretty good too. Hehe
I’m being silly today Tom. Have a good one.
Silliness and laughter keep me happy Matt! A requirement!
Cheers to that!