Lee was a musical prodigy and by the time she was two she would hear songs on the radio once and be able to whistle the complete tune. She was five years old when she started to gain wider attention when she won a local singing contest sponsored by the elementary schools. At age 11, she was offered a recording contract with Decca Records and released the song “Dynamite,” leading to her lifelong nickname, “Little Miss Dynamite.”
Lee was popular in the UK very early in her career, and her 1961 rockabilly release “Let’s Jump the Broomstick” did not chart in the US, but went to #12 in the UK. Her biggest hits during this time include a rockabilly version of the country classic “Jambalaya (On the Bayou),” “Sweet Nothin’s,” “I Want to Be Wanted,” “All Alone Am I,” and “Fool #1.”
In 1960, she recorded her signature song, “I’m Sorry,” which hit number one on the Billboard pop chart and was her first gold single. Her last top-10 single on the pop charts was 1963’s “Losing You,” while she continued to have other chart songs such as her 1966 song “Coming On Strong” and “Is It True?” in 1964.
During the early 1970s, Lee re-established herself as a country music artist, and earned a string of Top 10 hits on the country charts. Her biggest selling track of her career is, oddly enough, a Christmas song: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” It was released in 1958, but it sold only 5,000 copies. However, it eventually sold over five million copies and remains a perennial radio favorite each December. In December 2023, Lee became the oldest artist to ever top the Hot 100, when "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" topped the chart 65 years after its release.
Over the ensuing years, Lee has continued to record and perform all around the world, previously cutting records in four different languages. She is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. In 1992, she recorded a duet with Willy DeVille; Chuck Berry also wrote a song about her. Lee has been married to Ronnie Shacklett since 1963, and they have two daughters and three grandchildren. She is the second recipient of the Jo Meador-Walker Lifetime Achievement award.
Throughout her career, Brenda Lee has released 41 studio albums, 12 compilation albums, and over 100 singles. She has had numerous top twenty hits on the Billboard Hot 100, Country, and AC charts in the US, UK, and Canada.
A Marshmallow World
Brenda Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a marshmallow world in the winter
When the snow comes to cover the ground
It's the time for play, it's a whipped cream day
I wait for it the whole year around
Now those marshmallow clouds being friendly
In the arms of the ever green trees
It's shining so your nose won't freeze
Oh, the world is your snowball, see how it grows
That's how it grows whenever it snows
The world is your snowball just for our soul
So get up and roll it along
It's a yum yummy world, made for sweet hearts
Take a walk with your favorite guy
It's a sugar date, what a spring is late
In winter it's a marshmallow world
[Chorus]
Those marshmallow clouds being friendly
In the arms of the ever-green-trees
And the sun is red like a pumpkin head
It's shining so your nose won't freeze
Oh, the world is your snowball, see how it grows
That's how it grows whenever it snows
The world is your snowball just for our soul
You better get up and roll it along
Oh, it's a yumm yummy world, made for sweet hearts
Take a walk with your favorite guy
It's a sugar date, what a spring is late
In winter it's a marshmallow world
It's a marshmallow world
It's a snow covered world
It's yummy, yummy world
It's a marshmallow world
Brenda Lee's song "A Marshmallow World" is a cheerful celebration of winter and its delightful pleasures. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a world made entirely of marshmallows, where the snow comes to blanket the ground, and the sky is filled with "marshmallow clouds." The singer revels in the delights of the season, declaring that it's "the time for play" and "a whipped cream day." She waits for it eagerly all year round, and when it finally arrives, she embraces the snowy wonderland with open arms.
The chorus of the song celebrates the joys of winter, portraying the world as a giant snowball that just keeps growing and growing. The marshmallow clouds are friendly, and they wrap themselves around the evergreen trees, while the sun shines like a pumpkin head, keeping noses from freezing. The singer encourages her listeners to get up and roll along with the world, enjoying all the pleasures that it has to offer.
Overall, "A Marshmallow World" is a cheerful, whimsical song that captures the magic of winter in a joyful and festive way. It's a reminder to embrace the cold and snow, and to savor all the sweet and tasty treats that the season has to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a marshmallow world in the winter
The world in winter is like a marshmallow, soft and sweet
When the snow comes to cover the ground
The snow blankets the earth in white, like a marshmallow covering
It's the time for play, it's a whipped cream day
Winter is a time to have fun and indulge in sweet treats like whipped cream
I wait for it the whole year around
The singer eagerly anticipates the winter season all year long
Now those marshmallow clouds being friendly
The clouds in the sky resemble marshmallows and seem welcoming
In the arms of the ever green trees
The trees are always green and provide a cozy shelter for the marshmallow clouds
And the sun is red like a pumpkin head
The sun sets with a warm orange glow, like a pumpkin head
It's shining so your nose won't freeze
The sun's brightness warms the singer's face and prevents their nose from getting too cold
Oh, the world is your snowball, see how it grows
The world around you is like a snowball, and you can shape it into whatever you want it to be
That's how it grows whenever it snows
The snow serves as a blank canvas for you to create your own world
The world is your snowball just for our soul
Winter is a time for personal reflection and growth, to create your own world that nourishes your soul
So get up and roll it along
Take action and shape your own world, don't just let it passively pass you by
It's a yum yummy world, made for sweet hearts
The world is full of sweet things and is meant for those with a kind, loving heart
Take a walk with your favorite guy
Winter is a time for spending time with loved ones and creating happy memories
It's a sugar date, what a spring is late
Winter activities can be sweet and romantic, especially when spring is still far away
In winter it's a marshmallow world
Winter turns the world into a soft, sweet, marshmallow-like dreamland
It's a snow covered world
The snow transforms the world into a beautiful, serene wonderland
It's yummy, yummy world
Winter is a time for indulging in sweet treats and enjoying the world's simple pleasures
It's a marshmallow world
Overall, winter is like a marshmallow in its soft, sweet, and cozy nature
Lyrics © O/B/O CAPASSO, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Carl Sigman, Peter De Rose
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Smorfnimda
Brenda Lee has the best version of this song. Her voice makes it sound melancholy and 1960's yet pleasant.
David Martinez Torres
@Egbert Souce her version is good, but it goes too fast for my taste. I like medium slow Christmas tunes
Egbert Souce
Smorf Hound.......Brenda Lee is great........but Darlene Love owns this tune !!! 12-15-17
Ramon Alvarez
Es la mejor voz navideña de estados unidos memorable me encanta su voz sus canciones y sobre todo es muy linda
Juiceston21m8
I love this song 🎵 with Brenda singing
Bond James Bond
I grew on this Christmas music. The Classic Christmas songs are the best ever
Positive Vibes
This song is on the "Step Brothers" movie!!!! Love it!!!!!!!!!!
Holly Gaskin
Thank you for uploading this! My mom passed down her love of Brenda Lee to when I was a small child. Merry Christmas
!
45rpmChristmas
Way to go, Mom! Thanks for sharing this memory with us, Holly.
Blackice 12345
Dec 2022 still standing and listening to my favorite CHRISTMAS SONG. ❤