The story behind
Johnny Cash recorded "Jackson" in January 1967, as part of a single released in February. The song is a duet between him and June Carter, and is part of the album Carryin' On. The lyrics tell the story of a marriage that feels trapped by a lack of passion. The husband wants to escape to a place called Jackson, where he believes he can find freedom and attention. The wife, on the other hand, sees it as a waste of time and warns him that he will hurt himself. The song is based on an original story by Billy Edd Wheeler, who wrote the song in 1963. Wheeler didn't have a specific place in mind, but the name "Jackson" appealed to him for its sound. Later, some artists like Carl Perkins associated it with Jackson, Tennessee. The Cash and Carter version won a Grammy in 1968. The song was also performed by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood, who took it to different countries. ↓ Skip to chords C
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From the album
At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash · 1968 · Track 12