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.
Around the World
Brenda Lee Lyrics
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I traveled on when hope was gone to keep a randezvous
I knew somewhere sometime somehow
You'd look at me and I would see the smile you're smiling now
It might have been in county down or in New York in Gaparee or even London town
No more will I go all around the world for I have found my world in you
Around the world I've searched for you...
[ sax ]
For I have found my world in you
The lyrics to Brenda Lee's song "Around the World" tell the story of a person who has been searching for their significant other all around the world. The singer says that they traveled far and wide, not giving up hope, until they finally found the person they were looking for. The song suggests that the journey to find love can take you all around the world, but it's worth it if you finally find that special someone.
One interesting interpretation of the song is that it's not just about finding love, but also about personal growth and self-discovery. The singer has gone on a journey to find someone else, but during that journey, they've also learned a lot about themselves and what they really want in life. The idea of traveling "around the world" can be taken literally or figuratively, as a physical journey or a journey of personal growth.
Another interesting aspect of the song is the use of specific locations like "county down," "New York," and "London town." These places are all very different, but they all represent different parts of the world that the singer might have traveled to in search of their love. The fact that the singer mentions these specific places adds to the sense of a long and wide-ranging journey.
Overall, "Around the World" is a song about the journey to find love, but it's also about personal growth and discovery. The singer suggests that finding love is a journey that can take you all around the world, but it's ultimately worth it if you find the person you're looking for.
Line by Line Meaning
Around the world I've searched for you
I've looked everywhere for you
I traveled on when hope was gone to keep a randezvous
I continued my search even when I lost all hope of finding you, because I was determined to meet you
I knew somewhere sometime somehow
I was confident that someday, somewhere, somehow, I would find you
You'd look at me and I would see the smile you're smiling now
When we finally met, I knew by your smile that you were the one I had been searching for
It might have been in county down or in New York in Gaparee or even London town
I searched across the world, in places like County Down, New York, and Gaparee, and even as far as London town
No more will I go all around the world for I have found my world in you
I don't need to search the world anymore because I've found my happiness and meaning in life through finding you
Around the world I'm searching for you...
Even before I found you, I kept searching for you because I knew that you were out there somewhere
For I have found my world in you
Now that I've found you, you are my entire world and everything I need to be happy
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Adamson, Victor Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind