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.
Emotions
Brenda Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, don't you know, don't you know you'll be my ruin?
You've got me crying, crying again
When will you let this heartache end?
Emotions, you get me upset
Why make me remember what I want to forget?
I've been lonely, lonely too long
You worry my days, yes, you torture my nights
Never a dream, no, those dreams never turn out right
Emotions, ah, give me a break
Let me forget that I made a mistake
Oh, can't you see what you're doin' to me?
Emotions, please set me free
You worry my days, oh, you torture my nights
Never a dream, no, those dreams never turn out right
Emotions, ah, give me a break
Oh, let me forget that I made a mistake
Oh, can't you see what you're doing to me?
Emotions (ah, ah, ah) please set me free
Brenda Lee's song "Emotions" is a classic song about heartbreak and the emotions that come with it. The song is a plea to emotions to leave the singer alone as they have been causing heartache and pain. The lyrics begin with the singer asking emotions what they are doing and pointing out that they will be the ruin of her. The emotions are making her cry again and she wants to know when they will let her heartache end.
The singer then goes on to express her frustration with emotions, as they make her remember things she wants to forget. She has been lonely for too long and pleads with the emotions to leave her alone. They "worry" her days and "torture" her nights, and she never has dreams that turn out right. The singer asks emotions to give her a break and let her forget the mistakes she has made. She pleads for them to set her free at the end of the song.
Overall, the song is a classic representation of the raw emotions that come with heartbreak. The lyrics are powerful in their simplicity and the upbeat melody contrasts with the sad lyrics, making it a bittersweet song that captures the heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Emotions, what are you doin'?
Asking what emotions are causing the singer's distress.
Oh, don't you know, don't you know you'll be my ruin?
Expressing the idea that unchecked emotions will lead the singer to ruin.
You've got me crying, crying again
Acknowledging that the emotions are causing the singer to cry uncontrollably.
When will you let this heartache end?
Asking when the singer will be free from the heartache caused by their emotions.
Emotions, you get me upset
Acknowledging that emotions are making the singer very upset and agitated.
Why make me remember what I want to forget?
Asking why emotions are causing the singer to remember unpleasant memories that they want to forget.
I've been lonely, lonely too long
Admitting that the singer has been lonely for a long time due to their emotions.
Emotions, please leave me alone
Begging for the emotions to go away and leave the singer in peace.
You worry my days, yes, you torture my nights
Stating that emotions are causing the singer to feel anxious and uncomfortable both day and night.
Never a dream, no, those dreams never turn out right
Implying that even in the singer's dreams, their emotions are causing them to have unpleasant experiences.
Emotions, ah, give me a break
Asking for a brief respite from the overwhelming emotions.
Let me forget that I made a mistake
Asking for the ability to forget something that the singer regrets doing or saying.
Oh, can't you see what you're doin' to me?
Asking the emotions to recognize the harm they are causing the singer.
Emotions, please set me free
Begging for the emotions to let the singer go and stop causing them pain.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave
Written by: MEL TILLIS, RAMSEY KEARNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Smalls
Emotions, what are you doin'?
Oh, don't you know, don't you know you'll be my ruin?
You've got me crying, crying again
When will you let this heartache end?
Emotions, you get me upset
Why make me remember what I wanna forget?
I've been lonely, lonely too long
Emotions, please leave me alone
You worry my days, yes, you torture my nights
Never a dream, no, those dreams never turn out right
Emotions, give me a break
Let me forget that I made a mistake
Oh, can't you see what you're doin' to me?
Emotions, please set me free
You worry my days, oh, you torture my nights
Never a dream, no, those dreams never turn out right
Emotions, give me a break
Oh, let me forget that I made a mistake
Oh, can't you see what you're doing to me?
Emotions, please set me free
Sunburst
LYRICS
Emotions, what are you doin'?
Oh, don't you know, don't you know you'll be my ruin?
You've got me crying, crying again
When will you let this heartache end?
Emotions, you get me upset
Why make me remember what I wanna forget?
I've been lonely, lonely too long
Emotions, please leave me alone
Your worry my days, yes, you torture my nights
Never a dream, no, those dreams never turn out right
Emotions, aww, give me a break
Let me forget that I made a mistake
Oh, can't you see what you're doin' to me?
Emotions, please set me free
Your worry my days, oh, you torture my nights
Never a dream, no, those dreams never turn out right
Emotions, aww, give me a break
Oh, let me forget that I made a mistake
Oh, can't you see what you're doing to me?
Emotions, (ah, ah, ah) please set me free
(Ooh, ooh, ooh)
Joe DeRenzi
I’m 71 and I’m still in love with Brenda’s voice. Nothing can compare.
Richard Ortiz
2021
xoxoliz💋
@Richard Ortiz No, 2022, sadly
Sol Polina
💕💕
Luis Roberto de Souza
I ´m 71 too and still love this song
Christos Papadimitriou
I am 77
Smalls
Emotions, what are you doin'?
Oh, don't you know, don't you know you'll be my ruin?
You've got me crying, crying again
When will you let this heartache end?
Emotions, you get me upset
Why make me remember what I wanna forget?
I've been lonely, lonely too long
Emotions, please leave me alone
You worry my days, yes, you torture my nights
Never a dream, no, those dreams never turn out right
Emotions, give me a break
Let me forget that I made a mistake
Oh, can't you see what you're doin' to me?
Emotions, please set me free
You worry my days, oh, you torture my nights
Never a dream, no, those dreams never turn out right
Emotions, give me a break
Oh, let me forget that I made a mistake
Oh, can't you see what you're doing to me?
Emotions, please set me free
yungiin_juli3
😍LOVE U SM
Kíra Orosz
Thank You!
Ángela París
Thanks♡