1966 Top Ten: The Box It Came In (#5)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86939)
United States
April 26, 2026 11:04am CST
The Derby Festival is under way! The balloon race was canceled because of fog yesterday morning, but they got the Friday “rush hour” race in. The Pegasus Parade is today, my appointment is Tuesday, and then it’s time to leave the madness. I’lll take you with me, and we’ll wrap up celebrating songs that are now 60 years old. Here’s another song, also from my 100 favorites list (Linda? NO!).
#5: The Box It Came In - Wanda Jackson
Hey, wasn’t she on the 1956 list too? Yes, she was, thanks for noticing! 
But in ‘56 she was a rockabilly queen. Here, she’s straight up country.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, right? That’s the gist of this song, in the best country music fashion: woman left with nothing but the box from her wedding gown as her husband took off with another woman. Fear not, she’s got it all planned out: “somewhere I’ll find him, then I’ll have peace of mind, and the box he comes home in will be all satin-lined.”
The punch line to this song is not the last line, but the fact that a man wrote this. (Want another shocker? The Dixie Chicks’ “Goodbye Earl” was also written by a man!)
Why do we love such vicious songs as this? I guess we like like seeing the dish of revenge served…and sometimes that means poured over the head of the one deserving it.
The Box It Came In
Written by Vic McAlpin
Recorded by Wanda Jackson
From Reckless Love Affair, 1966
I’m walking on cardboard:
But in ‘56 she was a rockabilly queen. Here, she’s straight up country.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, right? That’s the gist of this song, in the best country music fashion: woman left with nothing but the box from her wedding gown as her husband took off with another woman. Fear not, she’s got it all planned out: “somewhere I’ll find him, then I’ll have peace of mind, and the box he comes home in will be all satin-lined.”
The punch line to this song is not the last line, but the fact that a man wrote this. (Want another shocker? The Dixie Chicks’ “Goodbye Earl” was also written by a man!)
Why do we love such vicious songs as this? I guess we like like seeing the dish of revenge served…and sometimes that means poured over the head of the one deserving it.
The Box It Came In
Written by Vic McAlpin
Recorded by Wanda Jackson
From Reckless Love Affair, 1966
I’m walking on cardboard:Your browser isn’t supported anymore. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn moreRemind me later
11 people like this
10 responses
@Ineeddentures (35522)
•
27 Apr
A other gap in my knowledge.
Wanda Jackson.
Nope, never heard of her before
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (35522)
•
27 Apr
@FourWalls
She is definitely who Michael Jackson based himself on
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
27 Apr
Well, let’s have a party! 
(“Let’s Have a Party,” one of Wanda’s biggest hits.)
(“Let’s Have a Party,” one of Wanda’s biggest hits.)2 people like this
@JudyEv (382693)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Apr
@FourWalls It's hard to believe so many haven't heard of her. 
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122379)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
26 Apr
I enjoyed the song sung by Wanda Jackson.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
27 Apr
Glad you liked it. She has such a good and unique voice.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (122379)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
27 Apr
@FourWalls Wanda Jackson is one artist that I never heard of before.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (59444)
•
27 Apr
I am sorry to say the artist and the song ring no bells here....but I did learn about an artist and a song I didn't know about, so it's all good!
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
27 Apr
As long as you got something out of it!
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
26 Apr
She’s a very devout woman.
The guy who wrote “Goodbye Earl” also wrote Elvis’ hit “Burning Love.”
2 people like this
@luisadannointed (11886)
• Philippines
27 Apr
I don't like that kind of song, not even for a drama.
hehehehe that's really shocking for a man to wrote that way, maybe he witnessed it and wrote a song about it.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
27 Apr
I look at songwriters the way I look at authors or screenwriters: vivid imaginations.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
27 Apr
Southerners, especially people near Texas (she’s from Oklahoma), are masters at getting four syllables out of one-syllable words! One of our great traits.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
28 Apr
@JudyEv — back in those days it was mandatory to be different. Even the crooners were different.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382693)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Apr
@FourWalls It's good to be unique! 
1 person likes this
