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.
Remember When
Brenda Lee Lyrics
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Remember when we rode in Edeline
Switzerland, we loved it too
Although we left there black and blue
Remember when we tried to learn to ski
Those two days in London town
We Yankee doodled all around
We still get so many laughs looking at those photographs
Remember when we made these memories
Wasn't that some honeymoon I know I won't forget it soon
Not if I live to be a hundred years
Here's the one we snapped in Spain
I can't remember was it rain
Or were your eyes just filled with happy tears
All good things must end it's true
So back to USA we flew
But who was happier than you and me
To relive each wonderland
We open up this album, and
Remember when we made theses memories
Ah let's remember when we made these memories
The lyrics of Brenda Lee's song, "Remember When", evoke memories of a happy honeymoon spent traveling across different countries and experiencing various things together with a sense of joy and happiness. The lyrics mention different places and events such as pizza pies, carousels, fountains, wishing wells, the Edeline ride, Switzerland, London, and Spain. They reminisce learning to ski, rubbing elbows with the royal teas of London, and reliving every wonderland in the album.
The lyrics of "Remember When" beautifully capture and celebrate the joy and happiness of being in love and traveling to new places. They reflect on how time flies and how memories are the only thing that lasts. As the song concludes, the lyrics remind listeners that all good things must come to an end, but the memories that were made during the experience will stay with them forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Pizza pies and carousels, fountains, wishing wells
We enjoyed all the fun attractions such as pizza pies and carousels, fountains, and wishing wells.
Remember when we rode in Edeline
We remember the time we rode in Edeline.
Switzerland, we loved it too
We loved Switzerland as well.
Although we left there black and blue
We left Switzerland beaten up.
Remember when we tried to learn to ski
We remember the time we attempted to learn how to ski.
Those two days in London town
We reminisce about the two days we spent in London town.
We Yankee doodled all around
We happily explored all around as tourists.
Rubbed elbows there with all the royal teas
We were fortunate enough to meet and greet with the royal teas.
We still get so many laughs looking at those photographs
Even now, we reminisce and laugh at the old photographs we took.
Remember when we made these memories
We treasure and remember the memories we created.
Wasn't that some honeymoon I know I won't forget it soon
Our honeymoon was unforgettable and will be forever etched in our memories.
Not if I live to be a hundred years
Even if we live to be one hundred years old, we will not forget that special time.
Here's the one we snapped in Spain
We recall the time we took a photo in Spain.
I can't remember was it rain
We cannot recall whether it was raining, or your eyes were filled with happy tears while taking that photo.
Or were your eyes just filled with happy tears
We question if your eyes were just filled with happy tears.
All good things must end it's true
All good things, indeed, must come to an end.
So back to USA we flew
We flew back to the United States.
But who was happier than you and me
Nobody was happier than us.
To relive each wonderland
We relive each memorable moment and romantic time we spent together.
We open up this album, and
We open up this album with fondness and gratitude.
Remember when we made theses memories
We affectionately remember the memories we created.
Ah let's remember when we made these memories
Let's treasure and remember forever the memories we created together.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: BERT KAEMPFERT, CHARLES SINGLETON, EDDIE SNYDER, HERBERT REHBEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind