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.
I'M SORRY
Brenda Lee Lyrics
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That I was such a fool
I didn't know
Love could be so cruel
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, yes
You tell me mistakes
Are part of being young
The wrong that's been done
(I'm sorry) I'm sorry
(So sorry) So sorry
Please accept my apology
But love is blind
And I was too blind to see
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, yes
You tell me mistakes
Are part of being young
But that don't right
The wrong that's been done
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, yes
I'm sorry, so sorry
Please accept my apology
But love was blind
And I was too blind to see (sorry)
Brenda Lee's song "I'm Sorry" talks about regretting mistakes made in a relationship, particularly not realizing how painful love could be. The lyrics reflect the singer's remorse and desire to apologize for hurting their partner. In the first verse, we can see the guilt the singer feels as they describe feeling like a fool for not understanding how cruel love could be. The repetition of "oh" illustrates the depth of their emotions and sorrow.
The second verse shows the singer acknowledging that mistakes are part of being young, but that doesn’t excuse the hurt caused. They repeat the chorus, apologizing and asking for forgiveness. By admitting that love is blind and that they were too blind to see, the singer highlights their own shortcomings and lack of understanding. They hope that their apology will be accepted, but recognize that it may not be enough to make up for the damage that has been done.
Overall, "I'm Sorry" is a powerful and emotional song about the pain of regretting the mistakes made in a relationship. It acknowledges the complexity of love and relationships and demonstrates the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions and making amends.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sorry, so sorry
I regret my actions deeply
That I was such a fool
I made unwise decisions
I didn't know
I did not have the understanding
Love could be so cruel
Love can cause pain and suffering
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, yes
Expression of sadness and regret
You tell me mistakes
You say that errors are natural
Are part of being young
Are common in youth
But that don't right
But that doesn't make it right
The wrong that's been done
The harm caused by my actions
(I'm sorry) I'm sorry
I apologize
(So sorry) So sorry
Extremely apologetic
Please accept my apology
I am asking for forgiveness
But love is blind
Love can cloud one's judgment
And I was too blind to see
I was unaware of the consequences
I'm sorry, so sorry
I regret my actions deeply
But love was blind
Love can cloud one's judgment
And I was too blind to see (sorry)
I was not aware of the harm caused by my actions
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ronnie Self, Dub Allbritten
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind