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 Want to Be Wanted
Brenda Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alone, so alone that I could cry
I want to be wanted (wanted)
Alone, watching lovers passing by
I want to be wanted
When I am Kissed
I want his lips to really kiss me
I want his heart to really miss me
I want to know he loves me so his eyes are misting
That's the way, I want to be loved
Alone, just my lonely heart knows how
I want to be wanted (wanted) right now
Not tomorrow, but right now
I want to be wanted
I want someone to share my laughter and my tears with
Someone I know I'd love to spend a million years with
Where is this someone somewhere meant for me
Alone, just my lonely heart knows how
I want to be wanted (wanted) right now
Not tomorrow, but right now
I want to be wanted
I want someone to share my laughter and my tears with
Someone I know I'd love to spend a million years with
Where is this someone somewhere meant for me (someone, somewhere)
Meant for me
Brenda Lee's song "I Want to Be Wanted" is a poignant tune about the desire to be loved deeply and cherished by another person. The song begins with the singer expressing her loneliness and sadness, describing how she watches lovers pass by and longs for someone to call her own. She wants to be wanted by someone who will kiss her and miss her when they are apart. She wants to feel loved deeply and see it in the mistiness of her lover's eyes. The chorus emphasizes her longing for someone to share her laughter and tears with and spend a million years with. The final lines of the song express her desire to find this person and finally feel wanted.
What makes this song so touching is its universal message. Everyone wants to feel wanted and loved by someone special. The lyrics of the song capture this longing perfectly, and Brenda Lee delivers them with an emotional depth that makes the song resonate with listeners. The song is a reminder that no matter how alone we may feel, there is someone out there who wants to love us deeply and make us feel cherished.
Overall, "I Want to Be Wanted" is a powerful and emotional song that expresses a deep-seated human desire for love and companionship. Its lyrics capture the essence of that longing perfectly, and Brenda Lee's powerful delivery makes it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Alone, so alone that I could cry
Feeling very lonely and sad
I want to be wanted (wanted)
Desiring to be loved and valued
Alone, watching lovers passing by
Feeling envious of couples around me
When I am kissed, I want his lips to really kiss me
Desiring a passionate and genuine kiss
When we're apart, I want his heart to really miss me
Wishing to be missed when not together
I want to know he loves me so his eyes are misting
Wanting proof of the depth of his love
That's the way, I want to be loved
Desiring a love that is intense and emotional
Alone, just my lonely heart knows how
Feeling a deep sense of loneliness
I want to be wanted (wanted) right now
Needing affection and attention immediately
Not tomorrow, but right now
No time to waste
I want someone to share my laughter and my tears with
Desiring emotional intimacy with a companion
Someone I know I'd love to spend a million years with
Seeking a long-term, committed relationship
Where is this someone somewhere meant for me
Questioning where to find true love
Meant for me
Believing that there is someone out there destined to love me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GIUSEPPE SPOTTI, ALBERTO TESTA, KIM GANNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adolfo Guillermo Zeidler Iglesias
(Wanted, wanted)
Alone, so alone that I could cry, I want to be wanted
(wanted)
Alone, watching lovers passing by, I want to be wanted.
When I am kissed, I want his lips to really kiss me.
When we're apart, I want his heart to really miss me.
I want to know he loves me so his eyes are misting
. That's the way - I want to be loved.
Alone, just my lonely heart knows how I want to be wanted
(wanted) right now, Not tomorrow, but right now I want to be wanted.
I want someone to share my laughter and my tears with.
Someone I know I'd love to spend a million years with
.Where is this someone somewhere meant for me?
(Alone) Just my lonely heart knows how I want to be wanted
(right now ) Not tomorrow, but right now. I want to be wanted.
I want someone to share my laughter and my tears with.
Someone I know I'd love to spend a million years with.
Where is this someone somewhere meant for me?
(Someone somewhere meant for me)
bradentonguy50
I saw Brenda perform live many years ago. After her incredible performance, she sat at a table signing pictures and autograph books. As she was autographing a picture I bought of her, I told her that this was my favorite of all of her recordings. She smiled and thanked me. Then she said “You know where I got that song? I was touring Italy and heard somebody singing it in Italian. I knew in second that I wanted to record it. So I told my manager to try to find recording of it and, if he could, have it translated into English.” I’m not making this up!
Kaycee Ikeonu
just heard the italian version -- very, very good as well
Mostly Brenda
Brenda related in her book that this was one song that she worked on for months. Normally she was the quickest singer in the studio who could do 4 or 5 songs in a session. The first version was from the same session as "I'm Sorry" in March 1960 and this released version wasn't finalized until August.
Ben Greeson
I usually listen to metal and hip hop. But you cannot deny the raw emotion in this song
KY Stars
Metal ugh hip hop hoppity what? It just goes to show you, everybody has different tastes in music. I can't stand heavy metal. To me that is what they will play in HELL. Brenda Lee is like an angel from heaven above and so is this song.
James Powell
My Sweetheart Linda used to lay with her head in my lap and sing this to me. She looked so much my Brenda it took my breath away. That was many tears ago, I hope she had a happy life, I still miss her.
Mozon
That sounds beautiful❤️
victoria carroll
Ilyity
Shareef Salih
Awww❤️
m hawkyard
How many of us could echo that sentiment, over loves lost.
Coincidentally my first broken heart was by a lovely, petite Linda.