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.
Jambalaya
Brenda Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou
My Yvonne the sweetest one me oh my oh
Son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou
Well jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
I'm gonna pick guitar fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Well son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou
Thibodaux Fontaineaux the place is buzzin'
Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen
Yeah dress in style and go hog wild, me oh my, oh
Well son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou
Well jambalaya and a crawfish pie
Settle down far from town get me a pirogue
And I'll catch all the fish in the bayou
Yeah swap my mon to buy Yvonne what she need-o
Son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou
Well jambalaya and a crawfish pie
The song "Jambalaya" by Brenda Lee is centered on the lively Cajun culture of Louisiana. The first verse introduces Joe, who has to "go pole the pirogue down the bayou," leaving behind his sweet Yvonne to set up for a big celebration. Joe promises to join the festivities later and enjoy some jambalaya and filé gumbo. The second verse describes the arrival of kinfolk from Thibodaux Fontaineaux, all dressed up and ready to go wild at the party. Joe, in the final verse, speaks of settling down far from town and catching fish for Yvonne with his pirogue. The song ends with a reiteration of the happy times to be had on the bayou.
Line by Line Meaning
Well goodbye Joe me gotta go, me oh my, oh
I have to bid farewell to Joe and leave now.
Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou
I have to navigate my boat down the bayou by using a pole.
My Yvonne the sweetest one me oh my oh
My beloved Yvonne is the sweetest person I know.
Son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou
We will have a lot of fun on the bayou.
Well jambalaya and a crawfish pie and fillet gumbo
We will feast on jambalaya, crawfish pie, and fillet gumbo tonight.
Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Tonight, I am going to see my dear friend.
I'm gonna pick guitar fill fruit jar and be gay-o
I am going to play my guitar, fill up a jar with fruit, and have fun.
Thibodaux Fontaineaux the place is buzzin'
Thibodaux Fontaineaux is lively and bustling with activity.
Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen
Lots of my relatives are coming to see Yvonne.
Yeah dress in style and go hog wild, me oh my, oh
We will dress up nicely and have a lot of fun.
Settle down far from town get me a pirogue
I will settle down away from town and get myself a boat.
And I'll catch all the fish in the bayou
I will catch all the fish in the bayou.
Yeah swap my mon to buy Yvonne what she need-o
I will trade money to buy Yvonne whatever she needs.
Son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou
We will have a lot of fun on the bayou.
Well jambalaya and a crawfish pie
We will eat jambalaya and crawfish pie.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mollygoodwin7625
Brenda is still a legend. My grandfather is/was the drummer of The Casuals and I will tell you she hasn't lost a drop of her fiery spirit.
@chantaltaille7391
C est super, quelle Femme!❤
@lucyfernandez8304
@@chantaltaille7391 Merry Christmas
@bealestreator8940
Your grandfather is really rocking there!!!
@robertfieldsjr.5919
Fantastic beautiful energy!
@gakirk1971
The band all seems genuinely thrilled to be with her. She must be something to see in person.
@FC-hj9ub
I'm glad she's still alive to see her success
@cmennenger
I'm only 50 but my parents grew up rockabilly and nobody is better than Brenda Lee
@KevinCGleason
No lip syncing, no auto-tune real talent.
@lisarice4402
She was the first singer I ever saw in concert in the 80's. It was Dwight Yoakum's start on the concert scene - great concert!!