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.

Organ Grinder's Swing
Brenda Lee Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Who's that coming down the street?
Good old organ grinder Pete
He's the latest rhythm king
With his organ grinder's swing
Dadya, Pa swings it, so does Ma
Dadya, Ma swings it, so does Pa
Dadya, you swing it, so do I
Dadya, I swing it so do you

When he turns that handle down
Music goes around and 'round
Ev'rybody starts to sing
To that organ grinder's swing
Trala, Pa swings it, so does Ma
Trala, Ma swings it, so does Pa
Trala, you swing it, so do I
Trala, I swing it so do you

All the children tag along
Just to listen to his song
Monkey dancing on a string
To the organ grinder's swing
O-hum, Pa swings it, so does Ma
O-hum, Ma swings it, so does Pa

O-hum, you swing it, so do I
O-hum, I swing it so do you

Overall Meaning

Brenda Lee's song "Organ Grinder's Swing" talks about the arrival of a street performer called Organ Grinder Pete, who takes on the role of the rhythm king in the street. The singer describes how everyone, including the children, follows him around to listen to his music, which is played by turning the handle of an organ, creating an irresistible sound. The key phrase "organ grinder's swing" is a reference to the lively and upbeat rhythm of the music that Pete plays, which gets everyone singing and dancing along.

The lyrics of the song are a celebration of the joyous spirit of street music and its power to bring people together. The repetition of the lines "Pa swings it, so does Ma" and "you swing it, so do I" emphasizes the idea of community and the shared experience of listening to the music. The various onomatopoeic sounds -- "Dadya", "Trala", "O-hum" -- also contribute to the festive and light-hearted mood of the song.

The imagery of the monkey dancing on a string, which is a common sight in some street performances, adds to the sense of whimsy and playfulness in the song. Overall, "Organ Grinder's Swing" is a cheerful and catchy tune that captures the magic of street music and its ability to create a sense of connection and togetherness among people.

Line by Line Meaning

Who's that coming down the street?
Who is that person walking down the street?

Good old organ grinder Pete
It's the well-known organ player Pete

He's the latest rhythm king
He's the newest sensation in music

With his organ grinder's swing
Playing his organ and making people dance

Dadya, Pa swings it, so does Ma
Father, mother, and everyone swings to his music

Dadya, Ma swings it, so does Pa
Mother and father also dance to the swing

Dadya, you swing it, so do I
Everyone swings to the organ grinder's rhythm

Dadya, I swing it so do you
We are all enjoying and swinging to the music

When he turns that handle down
When he starts to play the organ

Music goes around and 'round
His music fills the air

Ev'rybody starts to sing
Everyone around starts to join the music