Irma Jackson

Last updated

"Irma Jackson" is a song by Bakersfield, California-based outlaw country artist Merle Haggard, released on his 1972 album Let Me Tell You About a Song . The song, which was about the then-controversial topic of an interracial romance, was actually written several years prior to 1972, but not released at first because Capitol Records thought it would hurt Haggard's image at the time. [1] Fellow country singer Tony Booth recorded a cover version of "Irma Jackson" in 1970, which was released as his first single for MGM Records. Booth's version of the song charted at #67 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

Contents

Musical structure

"Irma Jackson" is in the key of C major and features an AABAB musical structure, with the first two verses played back-to-back, then a chorus, then the third verse, and finally another chorus. The song's running time is 2 minutes and 56 seconds.

The song's guitar chords are C-G7-C in the verses, and F-G7-C in the choruses. [2]

Lyrics

In the song, the narrator expresses his love for his sweetheart Irma Jackson, but also acknowledges that she "can't be mine" because "there's no way the world will understand that love is colorblind". He also points out that no one cared when the two of them were childhood friends, but now that they are grown up, the world "draws a line" and won't let them be together because they are of different races. Eventually, Irma herself decides to leave the narrator, but he proclaims that he will always love her "'till I die". [3]

Reception

According to American Songwriter, "some conservatives who had flocked to 'Okie' were shocked by 'Irma Jackson', Haggard's pro-tolerance take on interracial romance", but Haggard was "unfazed" by this. Haggard said that he and Johnny Cash both believed strongly in freedom of speech. Haggard had earlier recorded a cover of "Go Home", a song by Tommy Collins with a similar theme. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merle Haggard</span> American singer-songwriter (1937–2016)

Merle Ronald Haggard was an American country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler.

"Pancho and Lefty", originally "Poncho and Lefty", is a song written by American country music singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Perhaps his most well-known song, Van Zandt recorded his original version of this song for his 1972 album The Late Great Townes Van Zandt. The song has been recorded by several artists since its composition and performance by Van Zandt, with the Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard version selling the most copies and reaching number one on the Billboard country chart. In 2021, the Townes Van Zandt version was ranked number 498 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia</span> 1972 ballad by Bobby Russell

"The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" is a Southern Gothic murder ballad, written in 1972 by songwriter Bobby Russell and first recorded by his then-wife singer, comedian, and actress Vicki Lawrence. Lawrence's version, from her 1973 album of the same name, went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart after its release. Of several cover versions, the one recorded by Reba McEntire for her 1991 album For My Broken Heart peaked at number 12 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

"If We Make It Through December" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Merle Haggard and the Strangers. It was released in October 1973 as the lead single from the album Merle Haggard's Christmas Present, and was the title track on a non-Christmas album four months later. In the years since its release, "If We Make It Through December" — which, in addition to its Christmas motif, also uses themes of unemployment and loneliness — has become one of the trademark songs of Haggard's career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Booth (musician)</span> American country music singer

Tony Booth is an American country music singer who participated in Buck Owens' "Bakersfield sound" revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okie from Muskogee (song)</span> 1969 single by Merle Haggard and The Strangers

"Okie from Muskogee" is a song recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers, which Haggard co-wrote with drummer Roy Edward Burris. "Okie" is a slang name for someone from Oklahoma, and Muskogee is the 11th largest city in the state. The song was released in September 1969 as first single and title track from the album Okie from Muskogee, and was one of the most famous songs of Haggard's career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Your Love Makes Me Feel</span> 1997 single by Diamond Rio

"How Your Love Makes Me Feel" is a song written by Trey Bruce and Max T. Barnes, and recorded by American country music group Diamond Rio that reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It was released in May 1997 as the first single from their Greatest Hits compilation album. Having held the Number One position for three weeks in the United States, it is the band's longest-lasting Number One hit. It became the band's second number one hit and their first since their debut single "Meet in the Middle" in 1991. It also reached number one in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stranger in My House (Ronnie Milsap song)</span> 1983 single by Ronnie Milsap

"Stranger in My House" is a song written by Mike Reid and recorded by American country music artist Ronnie Milsap. It was released in April 1983 as the first single from the album Keyed Up.

<i>Mama Tried</i> (album) 1968 studio album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers

Mama Tried is the seventh studio album by American country music singer and songwriter Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released on Capitol Records in 1968. It reached number 4 on Billboard's country albums chart. The title song was one of Haggard's biggest hit singles and won the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999.

<i>Hag</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers

Hag is the twelfth studio album by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers released on Capitol Records in 1971. It became his fifth album to top the Billboard country album charts. It also reached number 66 on the pop albums chart.

<i>The Fightin Side of Me</i> (album) 1970 live album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers

The Fightin' Side of Me is the second live album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1970. Like the song "Okie from Muskogee" led to a quickly released album, The Fightin' Side of Me was also quickly released because of the run of success of Haggard's patriotic hit single "The Fightin' Side of Me".

"Big City" is a song recorded by American country music singer Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers. Co-written by Haggard and Dean Holloway, the song was released in January 1982 as the second single and title track from his album Big City. In April, the song was his 27th number-one single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

<i>Let Me Tell You About a Song</i> 1972 studio album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers

Let Me Tell You About a Song is the fourteenth studio album by American country singer Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1972. It reached No. 7 on the Billboard Country album chart and #166 on the Pop album chart. The lead-off singles were "Grandma Harp" and "Daddy Frank " — both reached No. 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)</span> 1971 single by Merle Haggard and The Strangers

"Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in September 1971 as the first single from the album Let Me Tell You About a Song. The song was Haggard and the Strangers tenth No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles. The song topped the chart for two weeks around Thanksgiving 1971, and spent 13 weeks in the chart's Top 40.

"That's the Way Love Goes' is a song written by Lefty Frizzell and Sanger D. Shafer and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Rodriguez. It was released in December 1973 as the second single from the album All I Ever Meant to Do Was Sing. The song was Rodriguez's fourth hit on the U.S. country chart and third number one in a row. The single stayed at number one for one week and spent a total of 14 weeks on the chart.

"Swinging Doors" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in February 1966 as the first single and title track from the album Swinging Doors. The song peaked at number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Misery and Gin</span> 1980 single by Merle Haggard

"Misery and Gin" is a song written by Snuff Garrett and John Durrill, and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was written specifically for inclusion in the 1980 movie, Bronco Billy, and released as a single in June 1980. It was co-released both on the Bronco Billy soundtrack album and Haggard's studio album, Back to the Barrooms. "Misery and Gin" reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 4 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks.

"(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers" is a song written by Liz Anderson. Best remembered as American country music artist Merle Haggard's first national Top 10 record, it was also a Top 10 song concurrently for Roy Drusky. The song is also known as All My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers, (From Now On) All My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers, and simply Strangers. Haggard went on to name his band The Strangers after the record's success. The song was subsequently recorded by scores of additional country stars as an album track including George Jones, Ernest Tubb, Porter Wagoner, Ferlin Husky, as well as Liz Anderson herself and Anderson's daughter Lynn Anderson.

<i>Its All in the Game</i> (Merle Haggard album) 1984 studio album by Merle Haggard

It's All in the Game is the thirty-ninth studio album by American country music artist Merle Haggard backed by the Strangers, released in 1984 by Epic Records. The album peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

<i>Heart to Heart</i> (Merle Haggard and Leona Williams album) 1983 studio album by Merle Haggard and Leona Williams

Heart to Heart is a duet album by Merle Haggard and Leona Williams with backing by the Strangers, released in June 1983 on Mercury Records. It reached number 44 on the Billboard Country music chart.

References

  1. ↑ "Merle Haggard Biography" . Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Irma Jackson Chords" . Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Irma Jackson lyrics". Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Merle Haggard: As He Is (Part 3)". 4 May 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.