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.
Dynamite
Brenda Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're dynamite!
Dynamite! Hey, baby when you kiss it's
Dynamite! Hey, baby when you hug and
Hold me tight, I just explode like dynamite
If I might do all that things I'd love to
Do tonight, then I would love you dear with
You do such big attraction chain reaction things to me
They ought make you wear sign of danger T.N.T.
Love me right
Hey,baby let's make history tonight
The power of one hour of love's delight
Just knocks me out like dynamite
You do such big attraction chain reaction things to me
They ought make you wear sign of danger T.N.T.
Love me right
Hey,baby let's make history tonight
The power of one hour of love's delight
Just knocks me out like dynamite
Because you're dynamite
Because you're dynamite
The lyrics of Dynamite by Brenda Lee are a clear expression of the overwhelming attraction the singer feels towards her significant other. She begins by telling her partner he is dynamite, an explosive substance that signifies his powerful and irresistible nature. She then describes his kisses and hugs as dynamite, emphasizing that their passionate moments make her explode, leaving her in a state of bliss.
The singer goes ahead to state that she would love her partner with all her might if she could do all the things she would love to do tonight. This indicates her longing desire to express her love freely, and her partner's dynamite characteristic makes this possible. She then compares her partner's effect on her to that of TNT, emphasizing the level of attraction she feels towards him.
The last stanza reiterates the initial idea of the singer finding her partner explosive like dynamite, emphasizing that it is the reason why she is so attracted to him. She then urges him to love her right, promising an explosive experience that will make history tonight. The chorus repeats the idea that her partner is dynamite, cementing the image of overwhelming power and attraction.
Overall, the lyrics of Dynamite emphasize the intense attraction the singer has towards her partner, describing him as a force to be reckoned with.
Line by Line Meaning
You're dynamite!
You are incredibly exciting and attractive to me!
You're dynamite!
You are incredibly exciting and attractive to me!
Dynamite! Hey, baby when you kiss it's
Your kisses are explosive and exhilarating, like dynamite!
Dynamite! Hey, baby when you hug and
Your hugs are powerful and fiery, like dynamite!
Hold me tight, I just explode like dynamite
When you hold me close, I feel an intense and explosive passion!
If I might do all that things I'd love to
If I could do all the things I want to do with you,
Do tonight, then I would love you dear with
Tonight, I would love you with all my heart,
All my might, because you're dynamite
Because you excite me like nothing else ever has!
You do such big attraction chain reaction things to me
You have an incredible effect on me, setting off a chain reaction of emotions!
They ought make you wear sign of danger T.N.T.
Your effect on me is so intense that you should be labeled as explosive, like T.N.T.!
Love me right
Love me the way I need to be loved!
Hey,baby let's make history tonight
Let's make tonight an unforgettable and historic moment in our relationship!
The power of one hour of love's delight
One hour of our love and passion is incredibly powerful!
Just knocks me out like dynamite
It overwhelms and exhausts me, just like an explosion of dynamite would!
Because you're dynamite
All of this is happening because of how electrifying and exciting you are to me!
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Tratore, Downtown Music Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mort Garson, Tom Glazer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheJonaco
This is probably the first chart hit with the Anita Kerr Singers on it. I'm a fan of their lovely harmony, which can be heard on a lot of great easy-listening LPs from the '60s as well as countless "Nashville Sound" hits of the era (Brenda, Patsy, and all Owen Bradley productions).
Of course, the sax had to be Boots Randolph; his sound is so identifiable. Fun fact: Anita moved to Europe (Switzerland) in the '70s and was active until recently; she's still alive.
Peter Emmert
Another song co-written (in this case, unbelievably) by folksinger Tom Glazer!
M1996A1
❤️
Son-of-a-Preacher Man
Fun song