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.
At Last
Brenda Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
my lonely days are over, and life is like a song
At last,the skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped in clover
Every since the night I looked at you
And I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream to call my own
A thrill I'd never known
When you smiled, and then the spell was cast
And here we are in Heaven, I found my love at last
I found a dream that I could speak to,
A dream to call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to
A thrill like I had never known
You smiled, when you smiled at me that was how the spell was cast
And here we are in Heaven
I found my love at last
In the song "At Last" by Brenda Lee, the lyrics convey a sense of longing and fulfillment in love. The singer expresses a profound relief and joy as they proclaim that their love has finally arrived. The opening line, "At last, my love has come along," signifies the end of a period of loneliness and the beginning of a new chapter filled with happiness. The imagery of life becoming like a song suggests that the singer's existence has been transformed into something beautiful and melodious now that their love has entered their life.
The mention of the blue skies above and the heart wrapped in clover further enhances the idyllic and euphoric atmosphere of the song. These natural elements symbolize a clear and bright future ahead, as well as a sense of luck and good fortune in finding love. The line "Every since the night I looked at you" hints at an almost magical encounter that led to the blossoming of this romance, emphasizing the power of that singular moment in changing the singer's life.
The lyrics also speak to the discovery of a dream and a thrill in this newfound love. The singer finds a dream that they can finally speak to and call their own, suggesting a deep emotional connection and sense of purpose in their relationship. The thrill mentioned in the song represents an exhilarating and intoxicating feeling that the singer had never experienced before, highlighting the intensity and excitement of being in love. The imagery of pressing one's cheek to a thrill conveys a sense of intimacy and closeness with their beloved.
The chorus of the song reflects on the transformative effect of love, particularly the impact of the beloved's smile. The smile is described as casting a spell, suggesting that it had a magical and enchanting quality that drew the singer in. The reference to being in Heaven conveys the idea of experiencing a blissful and perfect love, where the singer feels like they have finally found their true soulmate. The repetition of finding a dream and a thrill reinforces the idea that this love has brought new meaning and joy into the singer's life, making them feel complete and fulfilled.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Warren, Mack Gordon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind