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.
Let The Four Winds Blow
Brenda Lee Lyrics
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I like the way you talk
Let me hold your hand
Try to understand
I want a girl like you
To tell my troubles to
Don't you be afraid
You heard what I said
Let 'em blow let 'em blow
From the east to the west
I'll love you the best
Let the four winds blow
Let 'em blow let 'em blow
From the east to the west
I'll love you the best
I like the way you walk
I like the way you talk
Let me hold your hand
Try to understand
I want a girl like you
To tell my troubles to
Don't you be afraid
You heard what I said
Let the four winds blow
Let 'em blow let 'em blow
From the east to the west
I'll love you the best
Let the four winds blow
Let 'em blow let 'em blow
From the east to the west
I'll love you the best
These lyrics from Brenda Lee’s song "Let The Four Winds Blow" express a desire for a girl who the singer likes the way she walks and talks. The singer asks the girl to let him hold her hand and tries to reassure her that she need not be afraid. He wants a girl like her to tell his troubles to. The lyrics then shift focus to the idea of the four winds blowing from east to west and how he will love her the best throughout it all. The repetition of the line “Let the four winds blow, let 'em blow let 'em blow” emphasizes the idea of the unpredictability and uncertainty of life, but the singer is steadfast in his love for this girl.
On a deeper level, the four winds blowing can be interpreted as a metaphor for the ups and downs of life. The singer is acknowledging that there will be difficult times ahead, but he wants this girl by his side through it all. He wants her to understand that he will love her through the good times and the bad. The lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability and a desire for companionship in the face of life’s challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
I like the way you walk
I find your walking style particularly attractive and pleasing to my eyes.
I like the way you talk
I find your way of speaking particularly pleasing to my ears.
Let me hold your hand
Allow me to hold your hand and express my affection for you through physical touch.
Try to understand
Please try to comprehend my feelings and intentions towards you.
I want a girl like you
I desire a person who possesses qualities and traits similar to yours.
To tell my troubles to
Someone I can confide in and share my burdens with.
Don't you be afraid
Do not succumb to fear or anxiety, as I am expressing my honest intentions towards you.
You heard what I said
I want to emphasize that I am not speaking in jest or insincerity.
Let the four winds blow
Let fate take its course and see what happens between us.
From the east to the west
No matter where life may take us, my feelings for you will remain consistent and unwavering.
I'll love you the best
Out of all the potential romantic interests in my life, you are the one I care for most.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Antoine Domino, Dave Bartholomew
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind