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.
Out in the Cold Again
Brenda Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You called it our love refrain
It's gone and I'm left completely, out in the cold again
I dreamed that our love would linger
But just memories remain
I gaze at a ring less finger,
And I'm out in the cold again.
To step aside for somebody new
But deep down inside
My whole world depended on you
I wanted your arms around me
To shelter me from the rain
But now I'm back where you found me
Out in the cold again.
Yes, I wanted your arms all around me
To shelter me from the rain
But now, now I'm back where you found me
Out in the cold again, out in the cold again
In Brenda Lee's song "Out in the Cold Again," the lyrics convey a sense of heartbreak and devastation after a failed love affair. The opening lines, "The song that you sang so sweetly, You called it our love refrain," suggest that the couple had a special song that symbolized their love. However, the singer reveals that the love they once shared has vanished, leaving them feeling abandoned and alone.
The line "I dreamed that our love would linger, But just memories remain" further emphasizes the disappointment and longing for what once was. The singer had hopes that their love would endure, but now all that remains are bittersweet memories. The mention of a "ring less finger" adds a visual representation of the void left by the absence of the relationship. It signifies the loss of commitment and connection.
The next stanza delves into the singer's emotions and the internal struggle they face. They admit that it hurts their pride to step aside for someone new, but deep inside, their world revolved around the person they loved. This reveals the extent of their dependency on the relationship and the sense of abandonment they feel. They yearned for the security and comfort of their partner's embrace, seeking shelter from the stormy emotions they now face alone.
The repetition of the phrase "out in the cold again" throughout the song serves as a metaphor for the emotional state of the singer. It represents the loneliness, isolation, and emotional detachment they experience. The mention of rain symbolizes the hardships and difficulties they encounter without the support and love they once had. The closing lines reiterate the feeling of being returned to a state of vulnerability and despair, where they were before the relationship began.
Overall, "Out in the Cold Again" captures the deep emotional pain and longing one experiences after the end of a relationship. The lyrics paint a picture of a person left shattered and alone, reminiscing on what once was and wrestling with the emptiness and longing for their lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
The song that you sang so sweetly,
The beautiful song you used to sing, representing our love.
You called it our love refrain
You referred to it as the recurring melody of our love.
It's gone and I'm left completely, out in the cold again
The love we had is over, leaving me feeling abandoned and alone once more.
I dreamed that our love would linger
I had hoped that our love would last and continue.
But just memories remain
Only memories of our love are left behind now.
I gaze at a ring less finger,
I look at my finger without a ring, symbolizing the absence of commitment.
And I'm out in the cold again.
I am once again left feeling lonely and isolated.
True, it hurts my pride
Admittedly, it is painful for my self-esteem.
To step aside for somebody new
To make way for someone else in your affections.
But deep down inside
However, on a deeper level.
My whole world depended on you
My entire world revolved around you and relied on your love.
I wanted your arms around me
I longed for the warmth and comfort of your embrace.
To shelter me from the rain
To protect me from the hardships and challenges of life.
But now I'm back where you found me
Yet now, I find myself in the same lonely place where you first discovered me.
Out in the cold again.
Once again, left feeling deserted and isolated.
Yes, I wanted your arms all around me
Indeed, I desired your embrace encircling me completely.
To shelter me from the rain
To provide refuge and protection from life's hardships.
But now, now I'm back where you found me
However, now I find myself exactly where you discovered me originally.
Out in the cold again, out in the cold again
Once again, left feeling abandoned and alone, just as I was before.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, O/B/O DistroKid, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TomElvisSmith
It won't be in the batch of Brenda Lee records I upload tonight, but it should be in the batch next time. I listened to it today and also found it interesting that it was a sad song with an uptempo feel. I was surprised when I found it, and thought of your request right away.
@TomElvisSmith
I think I found the recording you are looking for in my collection, so it looks like I do have it after all. It was released on a 45 around 1968. Look for it soon.