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.
Little Jonah
Brenda Lee Lyrics
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Rock on your steel guitar, Little Jonah
Jonah′s just a making that guitar moan
Everybody got to feel it, in their bones
Rock on your steel guitar, Little Jonah
Well, roll on like a merry mack, Little Jonah, oh
Roll on like a merry mack, Little Jonah
Jonah, rock the shirt right off a-my back
Rock on your steel guitar, Little Jonah
Oh, can't stand still gotta shake your bones
Everytime he makes his guitar moan
Making all the dancers hop and turn
I got the rug smoking and ready to burn
You gotta rock on you steel guitar, Little Jonah, oh
Rock on your steel guitar, Little Jonah
Rock the rock top off the shanty top
If it ain′t nailed, it's bound to drop
Rock on your steel guitar, Little Jonah
Well, can't stand still gotta shake your bones
Every time he makes his guitar moan
Making all the dancers hop and turn
I got the rug smoking and ready to burn
You gotta rock on you steel guitar, Little Jonah, oh
Rock on your steel guitar, Little Jonah
Rock the rock top off the shanty top
If it ain′t nailed, it′s a-bound to drop
Rock on your steel guitar, Little Jonah
Rock on your steel guitar, Little Jonah
Rock on your steel guitar
The song "Little Jonah" by Brenda Lee is a fun and upbeat tune that encourages listeners to dance and feel the music. The lyrics describe Jonah, who is playing his steel guitar so well that everyone can feel the music "in their bones." The song encourages Jonah to keep playing and to "rock the shirt right off a-my back." The verses are repeated, with the main message being that Jonah should keep playing his steel guitar and making everyone dance.
The lyrics of "Little Jonah" are simple and repetitive, yet they effectively convey the energy and excitement of the music. The song encourages listeners to let go and enjoy the moment, and the steel guitar adds a distinct and lively sound to the tune. Overall, the lyrics of "Little Jonah" reflect the carefree and joyful spirit of rock and roll music.
Line by Line Meaning
Ya gotta rock on your steel guitar Little Jonah, ah
Little Jonah, you need to play your steel guitar and make it rock.
Rock on your steel guitar, Little Jonah
Keep playing that steel guitar and make it rock, Little Jonah.
Jonah’s just a making that guitar moan
You're playing that guitar so well, Jonah, that it sounds like it's moaning.
Everybody got to feel it, in their bones
Your music is so good that everyone can feel it deep in their bones.
Well, roll on like a merry mack, Little Jonah, oh
Keep playing your guitar and moving like a happy truck, Little Jonah.
Breaking all the china in the shack
Your guitar playing is so lively that it is breaking all the china in the shanty.
Jonah, rock the shirt right off a-my back
Your guitar playing is making me dance so much, it's like I'm losing my shirt.
Oh, can't stand still gotta shake your bones
The rhythm is so good that nobody can stand still, they have to dance and shake their bones.
Everytime he makes his guitar moan
Every time you play your guitar so well that it sounds like it's moaning, the crowd loves it.
Making all the dancers hop and turn
Your guitar playing is so good that everyone is hopping and turning on the dance floor.
I got the rug smoking and ready to burn
Your music is so energetic that the rug is almost on fire.
Rock the rock top off the shanty top
Play your guitar so well that the roof of the shanty flies off.
If it ain’t nailed, it′s bound to drop
If the roof isn't nailed down well, it's going to fall off with all the movement caused by your guitar playing.
Rock on your steel guitar, Little Jonah
Keep rocking on that steel guitar, Little Jonah.
Rock on your steel guitar, Little Jonah
Don't stop now, Little Jonah. Keep playing that steel guitar and making it rock.
Rock on your steel guitar
Keep playing that steel guitar and making it rock.
Writer(s): Stanley Kay
Contributed by Ian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.