Brenda Mae Tarpley (born December 11, 1944), known professionally as Brenda… Read Full Bio ↴Brenda Mae Tarpley (born December 11, 1944), known professionally as Brenda Lee is an American country-pop singer who was popular during the 1950s and 1960s. She was given the nickname Little Miss Dynamite after recording Dynamite in 1957, and in the 1960s she had more charted hits than any other woman. Her father was an excellent left-handed pitcher in the Army, and her mother had a Cherokee great-grandparent. She first attracted attention performing in country music venues and her first single, 1957’s “One Step at a Time,” was a country hit.

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.

Love You Till I Die
Brenda Lee Lyrics

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"Love You Till I Die"

Love you till I die my baby,
Love you till I die my baby,
Love you till I die----

True love cannot die my baby,
True love cannot die my baby,

Love you till I die----

We'll be heavens' clover, someday when we are gone
And love will start all over
True love a goes on and on----

Love me till you die my baby,
Say you love me as my baby,
Love you till I die--

We'll be heavens' clover,
Someday when we are gone
And love will start all over
True love a goes on and on----

Love you till I die my baby,

Love you till I die my baby,
Love you till I die----

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Brenda Lee's "Love You Till I Die" express an unwavering, enduring devotion between two people in love. The repetition of "Love you till I die my baby" throughout the song emphasizes the everlasting nature of their love. The singer asserts that "true love cannot die," emphasizing the strength and depth of their connection. The lyrics also suggest a belief in an afterlife where their love will continue to thrive, as they envision themselves as "heaven's clover" and declare that "love will start all over."

The singer pleads with her lover to reciprocate her feelings by saying "Love me till you die my baby, say you love me" emphasizing the importance of mutual love and commitment in a relationship. The repetition of "Love you till I die" feels like a vow, an unbreakable promise of love until the end of time, a testament to the power of love that can transcend even death.

Overall, "Love You Till I Die" is a love song that celebrates the strength of true love that can withstand the test of time, death, and an afterlife.

Line by Line Meaning

Love you till I die my baby,
True love cannot die my baby,

Love you till I die----
Love you till the end of my life

We'll be heavens' clover, someday when we are gone
We will be together in heaven someday when we pass away

And love will start all over
Love will continue in the afterlife

True love a goes on and on----
True love endures forever

Love me till you die my baby,
Promise to love me until you pass away

Say you love me as my baby,
Tell me you love me every day

Love you till I die--
Love you until my last breath

Love you till I die my baby,
True love cannot die my baby

Love you till I die----
Love you until the end of my life

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRANK DOSTAL, ROLF SOJA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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