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.
All The Way
Brenda Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Happy to be near you when you need someone to cheer you all the way
Taller than the tallest trees, that's how it's got to feel
Deeper than the deep blue sea is that's how deep it goes if it's real
If somebody needs you, it's not good unless he needs you all the way
Through the good or lean years and for all the in between years come what may
Who knows where the road may lead us only a fool would say
But if you let me love you, it's for sure I'm gonna love you all the way
All the way
Who knows, who knows where the road may lead us only a fool would say
But if you let me love you, I'm gonna love you all the way
All the way
All the way
The song starts by saying that when someone loves you, it's not enough unless it is a genuine love, with no reservations, an all-encompassing love. The next lines reinforce the intensity of that love by saying that the person should be happy to be near you, not just in the good times but also in the bad times, to support and cheer you all the way. The comparison to the height of trees and the depth of the sea emphasizes that true love should be bigger, taller, deeper, and more profound than anything else.
The next stanza states that if a person needs you, it should be an all-consuming need, not just a fleeting desire. This love should be able to weather any storm, from the best to the worst of times- through all the lean years and in-betweens that life may present. The next line, "Who knows where the road may lead us only a fool would say", is a reminder that life is unpredictable, and there are no guarantees when it comes to the future, but if you allow the singer to love you, she promises to love you all the way, with no reservations. The song concludes with a repetition of the refrain, "All the Way".
Line by Line Meaning
If somebody loves you it's not good unless he loves you all the way
It's not enough for someone to love you only partly; true love means being loved wholeheartedly.
Happy to be near you when you need someone to cheer you all the way
Being there for someone in their time of need is an important aspect of love, and brings joy to both partners.
Taller than the tallest trees, that's how it's got to feel
The feeling of love should be grand and overwhelming, surpassing even the greatest wonders of the natural world.
Deeper than the deep blue sea is that's how deep it goes if it's real
True love is incredibly profound, and has a depth that is unfathomable to those who have not experienced it.
If somebody needs you, it's not good unless he needs you all the way
Just as with love, true need requires an all-encompassing commitment and dedication to fulfilling the other person's needs.
Through the good or lean years and for all the in between years come what may
Love should be enduring and steadfast, sustaining through the ups and downs of life.
Who knows where the road may lead us only a fool would say
The future is unpredictable, and anyone who claims to know what lies ahead is likely misguided.
But if you let me love you, it's for sure I'm gonna love you all the way
The artist is promising to love the other person with her entire heart, without reservation or hesitation.
All the way
This chorus emphasizes the artist's commitment to loving the other person wholeheartedly, without exception.
All the way
Repeating the chorus reinforces the artist's promise of complete and unwavering love.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paige Marie
If somebody loves you it's not good unless he loves you all the way
Happy to be near you when you need someone to cheer you all the way
Taller than the tallest trees, that's how it's got to feel
Deeper than the deep blue sea is that's how deep it goes if it's real
If somebody needs you, it's not good unless he needs you all the way
Through the good or lean years and for all the in between years come what may
Who knows where the road may lead us only a fool would say
But if you let me love you, it's for sure I'm gonna love you all the way
All the way
Who knows, who knows where the road may lead us only a fool would say
But if you let me love you, I'm gonna love you all the way
All the way
All the way
Månōn
She is truly underrated, she got so much talent yet such a little number of people can appreciate it, it’s s shame the world we live in now
BIGDADDY IAM
When she was only 7 yrs old and sang Dynamite. It just blew me away. Great voice.🎙🎶
brent rau
My many thanks to the fine fellow who posted this, and also, for posting it in stereo! Miss Brenda invests this time-honored standard with a soul and feeling that is unmatched by anyone, and in my humble opinion, and in the process, created the definitive version of this classic.
June Marsh
She's untouchable!
Anibal Villagomez
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SONG AND WHAT A PERFECT VOICE!!!!! I just love this song and Brenda Lee is perfect.
Franki Lombardo
Estos temas son la gloria! Ojalá mi generación la apreciará de igual forma :'(
davidrlfield
Hear other performers wabbling through this song makes you wonder how it's a"standard'. Ms Lee's performaance is precise and quite marvelous.
lonelyneuron
Wow! Crystal clear sound of a Wonderful song and a not less Wonderful Performer. Thanks a lot.
landl47
A beautiful song and wonderfully sung at a time when Brenda was more mainstream than country. I had the album (also titled 'All The Way') from which this song is taken at the time it was first released and her performances were straightforward and lovely to listen to. A great talent.
Paulina Kretzer
Voz maravilhosa!