Irma Jackson
Merle Haggard
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I'd love to shout my feelin's from a mountain high Tell the world I love her and I will till I die There's no way the world will understand that love is colour blind That's why Irma Jackson can't be mine I remember when no one cared about us bein' friends We were only children and it really didn't matter then But we grew up too quickly in a world that draws a line Where they say Irma Jackson can't be mine If my lovin' Irma Jackson is a sin Then I don't understand this crazy world we're livin' in There's a muddy wall between us standin' high But I'll love Irma Jackson till Idie She tells me she's decided that she'll go away And I guess it's right but she alone should have the final say But in spite of her decision forcin' us to say goodbye I'll still love Irma Jackson till I die If my lovin' Irma Jackson is a sin Then I don't understand this crazy world we're livin' in It's a muddy wall between us standin' high But I'll love Irma Jackson till Idie
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10 facts about this song
Song Classification"Irma Jackson" is classified as a country song that touches on themes of inter-racial love, prejudice, and society’s backlash.
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SongwriterThe song was written by Merle Haggard himself, who was known for his outspoken lyrics and tackling controversial topics.
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Release Date"Irma Jackson" was first released as part of Haggard's "Let Me Tell You About a Song" album in 1972.
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Political ControversyHaggard wanted to release "Irma Jackson" as a single after his hugely successful and patriotic song "Okie from Muskogee" but his record label, Capitol Records, refused because they did not think the public was ready for a song about interracial love. The song was seen as hugely controversial for that time period.
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Personal ExperienceHaggard reportedly stated that the song was based on his personal experience – as a white man having fallen in love with an African-American woman in the racially charged 1960s U.S.
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Song InspirationThe song was influenced by the Civil Rights Movement, and the ongoing fight for racial equality in America.
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Public ResponseThough the song wasn't released as a single, fans and critics alike praised Haggard for pushing the envelope in country music by addressing interracial relationships.
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Album ReceptionThe album that houses "Irma Jackson", "Let Me Tell You About a Song" peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Country Albums chart.
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Concert PerformancesDespite the controversy, Haggard often performed "Irma Jackson" during his live shows and it was received warmly by audiences.
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LegacyHaggard's bold move to write and perform "Irma Jackson" had a profound impact on future country singers, inspiring them to also take on socio-political issues in their songwriting.
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Citation
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"Irma Jackson Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/33352339/Merle+Haggard/Irma+Jackson>.
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