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.
Broken Trust
Brenda Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Injured love slowly falls apart
Say goodbye 'cause love can't rise
Above the lies of a broken trust
Young love is such a special thing
It spoils the heart for less
But sure as time, all things must change
With wicked ease, temptation breeds
A strong and binding spell
But the honeymoon is over when
You're out with someone else
'Cause a broken trust makes a jealous heart
Injured love slowly falls apart
Say goodbye 'cause love can't rise
Above the lies of a broken trust
This world is full of hungry eyes
But they can't turn your head
If you place the one you cherish
Far above the rest
For wild desires of careless fires
Where everyone gets burned
Just look at me and you will see
A lesson too late learned
Broken trust makes a jealous heart
Injured love slowly falls apart
Say goodbye 'cause love can't rise
Above the lies of a broken trust
Above the lies of a broken trust
Brenda Lee's song Broken Trust speaks of the frailty of young love, and how a broken trust can easily lead to the downfall of a relationship. The lyrics suggest that once trust has been broken, the love that once held the two people together, slowly disintegrates. A jealous heart takes over and just as love should be rising, it is instead overshadowed by the lies of the broken trust.
The song aptly brings out how young love can be quite intense, and it's important to cherish it, but as time changes, things can also change, and not always for the better. Temptation can also be a powerful force, making it difficult for some to resist. When a relationship is young, everything seems perfect, but as soon as the other party starts spending time with someone else, then the honeymoon is over and the real issues begin.
The importance of trust is emphasized throughout the song, highlighting how it’s a foundation of any relationship, and once it has been broken, it's hard for love to overcome the lies. The lyrics are powerful, emotive and certainly speak to anyone who's been through a similar experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Broken trust makes a jealous heart
When trust is broken, it fuels a feeling of jealousy in one's heart
Injured love slowly falls apart
Love that has been damaged by mistrust gradually fades away
Say goodbye 'cause love can't rise
If trust has been violated, it is best to end the relationship because love cannot survive without trust
Above the lies of a broken trust
Trust is the foundation of love, and it cannot be sustained if it is based on lies
Young love is such a special thing
Inexperienced love is unique and precious
It spoils the heart for less
It sets high standards for future relationships
But sure as time, all things must change
Everything in life is bound to change, including love
Not always for the best
Change can sometimes bring negative consequences
With wicked ease, temptation breeds
It's easy to be tempted by something that is not good for us
A strong and binding spell
The power of temptation can be intense and difficult to overcome
But the honeymoon is over when
The initial excitement of a relationship fades away
You're out with someone else
When one partner is unfaithful to the other
This world is full of hungry eyes
There are many people who are eager for romance and companionship
But they can't turn your head
If you truly value your partner, you won't be swayed by the advances of others
If you place the one you cherish
When you prioritize the person you love
Far above the rest
Above all other potential romantic partners
For wild desires of careless fires
The reckless pursuit of lustful desires
Where everyone gets burned
When people engage in reckless behavior, it often leads to negative consequences for themselves and others
Just look at me and you will see
The singer offers their own life experiences as evidence of the lessons learned
A lesson too late learned
A realization that comes after a painful experience, rather than before
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY HINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ashley Smith
Will Forever eternity be a powerful and truthful song! Sung by a woman with The voice of Angel!!!!
Lester Parfitt
no matter which song she sings they r all number ones a true songstess
glenn h Friedman
The Oaks were perfect for this one
Rodney Collman
Another Song that Charted Well For Brenda reaching 9 on the Billboard Top 100
spending 14 weeks there
Hannah Rose
When the person you thought was your future breaks your trust, and you find out they are not trustworthy, it really does lead to a broken heart.
Bud Maxwell
From the days of REAL music !!!!!!
suesongs
@musicmandon1 My favorite song by Brenda Lee. The guy that wrote it also wrote "Party Crowd" for David Lee Murphy. Great fiddle and keyboard too!
Joe Kelly
If Miss Brenda ever did sing a prettier one I sure as hell never know'd it.
suesongs
I met Brenda at a Sam's Club in Nashville, and told her that Broken Trust was my favorite song. It was written by Jim Bo Henson, and he was a wild one.
John O'Dowd
@lw bren Rude, ill, and pathetic