Jackie Blue If You Wanna Get To Heaven Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Jackie Blue Album: It'll Shine When It Shines (1975)
If You Wanna Get To Heaven Album: Ozark Mountain Daredevils (1973)
by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Rich men in splendid surroundings plan the demise of their own cattle.
All wars are Bankers Wars.

This was the Southern Rock band's first major hit, and it was fairly typical of their sound. The song was written by band members Steve Cash and John Dillon and released on their first album. Ozark Mountain Daredevils were from Springfield, Missouri, and sported long hair and a hell-raising attitude, which is the theme of this song: "If you wanna get to heaven, you've got to raise a little hell."

The biggest hit for the band was 1975's "Jackie Blue," which was not like their other releases.

Radio stations usually played an edited version of "If You Wanna Get To Heaven" omitting the last verse. This verse pretty well sums up what the whole tune is about:

Everyday in your indigo eyes
I watch the sunset but I don't see it rise
Moonlight and stars in your strawberry wine
You'd take the world but you won't take the time

This was written by band members Steve Cash and Larry Lee. It's inspired by someone they met in Los Angeles who was strung out on drugs.

Smashing Pumpkins covered this song. Their version shows up on various rarities and compilation albums.

Writers: LARRY M. LEE, STEVE CASH

Ooh, Jackie Blue
Lives her life from inside of her room
Hides a smile when she's wearin' a frown
Ooh, Jackie you're not so down

You like your life in a free-form style
You'll take an inch but you'd love a mile
There never seems to be quite enough
Floating around to fill your lovin' cup

Ooh, Jackie Blue
What's a game girl, if you never lose?
Ask a winner and you'll probably find
Ooh, Jackie they've lost at sometime

Don't try to tell me that you're not aware
Of what you're doing and that you don't care
You say it's easy, just a natural thing
Like playing music, but you never sing

Ooh, Jackie Blue
Making wishes that never come true
Going places that you've never been
Ooh, Jackie Blue, you're going again

Ooh, Jackie Blue
Lives a dream that can never come true
Making love is like sifting through sand
Ooh, Jackie, it slips through your hand

Every day, in your indigo eyes
I watch the sunset but I don't see it rise
Moonlight and stars in your strawberry wine
You'd take the world but you won't take the time

Ooh-hoo-hoo, Jackie Blue
Lives her life from inside of a room
Makes you think that her life is a drag
Ooh Jackie, what fun you have had

Ooh, Jackie
Ooh, Jackie
Ooh, Jackie
Ooh, Jackie
Hey, hey, hey, hey

If You Wanna Get To Heaven
Writers: JOHN DILLON, STEVE CASH

I never read it in a book
I never saw it on a show
But i heard it in the alley on the weird radio.

If you want a drink of water
You got to get it from the well.
If you wanna get to heaven
You got to raise a little hell.

I never felt it in my feet
Or felt it in my soul
But i heard it in the alley
Now its in my rock and roll.

If you wanna know a secret
You got to promise not to tell.
If you wanna get to heaven
You got to raise a little hell.

I never thought it'd be so easy
I never thought it'd be so fun.
But I heard it in the alley
Now I got it on the run.

If you wanna see an angel
You got to find it where it fell.
If you wanna get the heaven
You got to raise a little hell.

If you wanna get to heaven
If you wanna get to heaven
If you wanna get to heaven
If you wanna get to heaven