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.
Fool #1
Brenda Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How many other girls have been fooled by you?
I suppose that the number is far from being small
And I'll bet that I'm the biggest fool of all
If I had the chance I guess I'd do it all again
I'd go down that same old road even knowing at the end
You'll leave me when your heart hears a new love call
Am I fool number one or am I fool number two?
How many other girls have been fooled by you?
I suppose that the number is far from being small
And I'll guess that I'm the biggest fool of all
The lyrics to Brenda Lee's "Fool #1" reflect on the heartbreak and regret of being led on by someone who constantly plays with emotions. The singer questions her own vulnerability and foolishness as she tries to come to terms with the fact that she may not be the only one to have fallen for this person's charm. She asks, "Am I fool number one or am I fool number two?" as she challenges whether she is the only one who has been a victim of this person's manipulation. She goes on to admit that she knows the number of other women in the same position is likely high and that she may be the "biggest fool of all" for not seeing through the facade.
Despite the heartbreak and knowing that this person may leave her for someone else, the singer would still choose to go down the same "old road" if given the chance. This demonstrates the cyclical nature of love and how it can be difficult to break free of familiar patterns even if the outcome is often predictable.
Overall, the lyrics of "Fool #1" speak to the universal experience of love and heartbreak, and the ways in which we often find ourselves repeating the same mistakes despite knowing the potential for pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I fool number one or am I fool number two?
I wonder if I'm the first or second girl you've fooled in a relationship.
How many other girls have been fooled by you?
I'm curious about the number of girls you've tricked in your past relationships.
I suppose that the number is far from being small
I think the number of girls fooled by you must be quite significant.
And I'll bet that I'm the biggest fool of all
I'm pretty sure I'm the biggest fool because I let this happen to me.
If I had the chance I guess I'd do it all again
If given the opportunity, I'd still enter into a relationship with you despite knowing the outcome.
I'd go down that same old road even knowing at the end
I'd still go down the same path even if it means getting hurt again.
You'll leave me when your heart hears a new love call
I know you'll leave me as soon as you find someone else you're interested in.
So I'll guess that I'm the biggest fool of all
Therefore, I'll conclude that I'm the biggest fool for allowing myself to be deceived by you.
Am I fool number one or am I fool number two?
Once again, I'm questioning if I'm the first or second girl you've fooled.
How many other girls have been fooled by you?
I'm still wondering the number of girls you've tricked in your past relationships.
I suppose that the number is far from being small
I still believe that the number of girls you've fooled must be quite significant.
And I'll guess that I'm the biggest fool of all
And once again, I'll conclude that I'm the biggest fool for believing in you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Bluewater Music Corp., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Alan Gordon Anderson, Raul Malo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Raccoon Don
I’m 71 years old. I’ve loved the way she sings for decades !!! 👍👍
William Sellers
me too
SandViolet
Me too.
D Doeser
Was mijn idool vanaf mijn tienertijd ! Onvergetelijke periode ❤🇳🇱🌹🎼👋 ( 🌹) 😘
Elaine Caudill
I am 71 and still listen to them they were best days of my life
Krzysztof Obidowski
Ooo.71? Uff!!
Todd Bonin
One of the best voices America ever produced. I had the honor of meeting Miss Lee once. She was an absolute delight ... everything I had dreamed she'd be.
SuperBeachbum74
Met her too, same reaction
Sq12Sq22u22
It wasnt a brilliant voice it was mediocre to pleasant..in her time she was ok
SuperBeachbum74
@Sq12Sq22u22 obviously you’ve never heard her live, if you did, you’d never say that garbage ! Incredible voice of many octaves ! I saw her live twice ! Still amazed !