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.
Papa Noël
Brenda Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to see the Christmas Tree, dance o- fais dodo
Have a big time and cut a shine, where all will be gay-o
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
Papa Noel will bring the bells and all will be gay-o
I'm gonna be at the Christmas tree with my ma chère ami-o
So ring the chimes, it's Christmas time and pick the old banjo
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
See ma Nannan and ma Parrain, I know they'll all be there-o,
See Ol' Quelqu'un and Mamoun, Bébé and Jo-Jo,
See Jolivet oh my sweet pet and get me some sugar,
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
So roll the rug, let's kiss and hug and let's all be gay-o,
A merry Christmas to you all and a happy bonne année-o
I'm gonna dance all through the night, 'til daylight with my babe-o,
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
Dionne wants a push-y-on, a pistolette and yo-yo,
My Jolivet, oh my sweet pet, Lord cher ami-o,
Oh Auntie Luce will cook the goose, and she will serve the gumbo,
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
Papa Noel will bring the bells and all will be gay-o
I'm gonna be at the Christmas tree with my ma cher ami-o
So ring the chimes, it's Christmas time and pick the old banjo
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
The lyrics of Brenda Lee's Papa Noel depict a festive Christmas celebration in Louisiana, specifically in the bayou. The singer invites her friend Beau to join her as they navigate the bayou in a pirogue (a small boat), in search of the Christmas tree. The "dance o- fais dodo" suggests they will party until sunrise. Throughout the song, the singer alludes to various people who will be present at the celebration, such as Nannan, Parrain, Quelqu'un, Mamoun, Bébé, Jo-Jo, and Jolivet, whom she adoringly calls her "sweet pet." She references the Cajun French phrases, "ma chère ami-o" (my dear friend) and "bonne année-o" (happy new year), adding to the festive atmosphere.
The singer anticipates the arrival of Papa Noel, a variation of Santa Claus in Louisiana's French-Catholic culture. The line "Papa Noel will bring the bells," echoes the tradition of church bells ringing on Christmas Eve. Auntie Luce will cook the goose and serve gumbo, further emphasizing the cultural context. In the final stanza, the singer expresses her excitement to dance all night with her "babe-o." Overall, the song paints a joyful picture of a unique Christmas celebration in a Louisiana bayou.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Beau, let's go and get pirogue and push-pole down the bayou,
Let's go get a canoe and paddle down the river
I want to see the Christmas Tree, dance o- fais dodo
I want to see the Christmas Tree dance and fall asleep
Have a big time and cut a shine, where all will be gay-o
Let's have a lot of fun and dance where everyone will be happy
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
Santa Claus is coming tonight, down on the river
Papa Noel will bring the bells and all will be gay-o
Father Christmas will bring the bells and everyone will be happy
I'm gonna be at the Christmas tree with my ma chère ami-o
I'm going to be at the Christmas tree with my dear friend
So ring the chimes, it's Christmas time and pick the old banjo
Let's ring the bells and play the banjo because it's Christmas time
See ma Nannan and ma Parrain, I know they'll all be there-o,
I will see my grandmother and godfather because I know they will all be there
See Ol' Quelqu'un and Mamoun, Bébé and Jo-Jo,
See Old Somebody, Mamoun, Bebe, and Jo-Jo
See Jolivet oh my sweet pet and get me some sugar,
See Jolivet, my sweet pet and get me some candy
So roll the rug, let's kiss and hug and let's all be gay-o,
Let's roll out the rug, kiss, and hug each other so that we will all be happy
A merry Christmas to you all and a happy bonne année-o
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
I'm gonna dance all through the night, 'til daylight with my babe-o,
I'm going to dance with my sweetheart all night until morning
Dionne wants a push-y-on, a pistolette and yo-yo,
Dionne wants a toy wagon, bread roll and yo-yo
My Jolivet, oh my sweet pet, Lord cher ami-o,
My Jolivet, my sweet pet, my dear friend
Oh Auntie Luce will cook the goose, and she will serve the gumbo,
Auntie Luce will prepare and serve the goose and gumbo
Papa Noel will bring the bells and all will be gay-o
Father Christmas will bring the bells and everyone will be happy
I'm gonna be at the Christmas tree with my ma cher ami-o
I'm going to be at the Christmas tree with my dear friend
So ring the chimes, it's Christmas time and pick the old banjo
Let's ring the bells and play the banjo because it's Christmas time
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
Santa Claus is coming tonight, down on the river
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES EDWARD MORGAN, JULIETTE LOUISE BARKBY POCHIN, JACK VINCENT TOPPING, MYKOLA LEONTOVYCH, DP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@e.j.1384
Hey Beau, let's go and get pirogue and push-pole down the bayou,
I want to see the Christmas Tree, dance o- fais dodo.
Have a big time and cut a shine, where all will be gay-o
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
Papa Noel will bring the bells and all will be gay-o
I'm gonna be at the Christmas tree with my ma chère ami-o
So ring the chimes, it's Christmas time and pick the old banjo
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
See ma Nannan and ma Parrain, I know they'll all be there-o,
See Ol' Quelqu'un and Mamoun, Bébé and Jo-Jo,
See Jolivet oh my sweet pet and get me some sugar,
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
So roll the rug, let's kiss and hug and let's all be gay-o,
A merry Christmas to you all and a happy bonne année-o
I'm gonna dance all through the night, 'til daylight with my babe-o,
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
Dionne wants a push-y-on, a pistolette and yo-yo,
My Jolivet, oh my sweet pet, Lord cher ami-o,
Oh Auntie Luce will cook the goose, and she will serve the gumbo,
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
Papa Noel will bring the bells and all will be gay-o
I'm gonna be at the Christmas tree with my ma cher ami-o
So ring the chimes, it's Christmas time and pick the old banjo
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
@sbeers88
Hey Beau, let's go and get pirogue and push-pole down the bayou,
I want to see the Christmas Tree, dance o- fais dodo
Have a big time and cut a shine, where all will be gay-o
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
Papa Noel will bring the bells and all will be gay-o
I'm gonna be at the Christmas tree with my ma chère ami-o
So ring the chimes, it's Christmas time and pick the old banjo
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
See ma Nannan and ma Parrain, I know they'll all be there-o,
See Ol' Quelqu'un and Mamoun, Bébé and Jo-Jo,
See Jolivet oh my sweet pet and get me some sugar,
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
So roll the rug, let's kiss and hug and let's all be gay-o,
A merry Christmas to you all and a happy bonne année-o
I'm gonna dance all through the night, 'til daylight with my babe-o,
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
Dionne wants a push-y-on, a pistolette and yo-yo,
My Jolivet, oh my sweet pet, Lord cher ami-o,
Oh Auntie Luce will cook the goose, and she will serve the gumbo,
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
Papa Noel will bring the bells and all will be gay-o
I'm gonna be at the Christmas tree with my ma cher ami-o
So ring the chimes, it's Christmas time and pick the old banjo
Oh, Santa Claus will come tonight, down on the bayou
@orance2526
All Louisianans, bow down to our Christmas Anthem.
@Darkhalo314
Love this song so much! It's got such a great Louisiana/Cajun tone and feeling to it and since i'm from New Orleans, I really connect with it
@poppaluv
me too, but i also have kin down the road from NOLA and west to cajun country , near Thibadoux
@elisabethhughes6005
@@poppaluvDamn I’m from Thibodaux. St Philip street by the St Patrick bridge.
@poppaluv
@@elisabethhughes6005 i think some are also around abbeville as well
@LunaStar_Asmr
Me too Louisiana proud
@elisabethhughes6005
@@poppaluvare you back this year listening again Pop? I am. Merry Christmas to you and all the family ✌️
@user-kz1qy1zb1c
It's not Christmas till I hear this song
@bradjbourgeois73
Merry Christmas from Paulina, Louisiana! This is a standard around here!
@iandowney4630
Hmmm, I can’t imagine why! Merry Christmas, Nola🎄