Kara Jackson Shares Riveting Take On Karen Dalton’s ‘Right Wrong Or Ready’

Singer-songwriter Kara Jackson occasionally begins her concerts by covering “Right Wrong Or Ready” which was popularized by late folk artist Karen Dalton. Jackson shared a recording of the haunting song, which was paired with an enchanting video vignette.

“Right Wrong Or Ready” was recorded by Dalton for her 1969 debut album It’s So Hard to Tell Who’s Going to Love You the Best. The song was written by Major Wiley, who – like Dalton – was a regular figure in the influential 1960s folk scene in New York City’s Greenwich Village.

Jackson wrote about her relationship with the song on social media. Jackson, who was named U.S. National Youth Poet Laureate in 2019, shared the message (edited for clarity) below:

“I’ve been performing this one for a really long time so I thought I’d finally put it out ahead of the tour! A lot of people after shows would ask me about this one, thinking it’s one of my songs. It’s really become a part of me in a lot of ways and I thank Karen Dalton the legend for showing so many of us the way! Thank you everyone who worked on this one and making it unique. Please enjoy.”

Jackson will embark on a tour beginning with an appearance on May 4 at the Belltown Bloom festival in Seattle. The singer-songwriter is touring in support of her acclaimed 2023 debut album, Why Does The Earth Give Us People To Love?

Watch the Jellystone Robinson-directed video vignette accompanying Kara Jackson’s cover of Karen Dalton’s “Right Wrong Or Ready” below: