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.
Rock On Baby
Brenda Lee Lyrics
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When you croon croon a tune from the heart of Dixie
Just hang your cradle mammy mine right on that Mason Dixon Line
And swing it from Virginia to Tennessee with all the love that's in you
Weep no more my lady sing that song to me
Sing it soft and low just as though you had me on your knees
A million baby kisses I'll deliver the minute that you sing that Swanee River
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with the Dixie melody
Sing it soft and low
Brenda Lee's Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody is a song that conveys the love of the southern mother for her baby. The song is a lullaby that intends to soothe the baby to sleep, while celebrating southern culture at the same time. The song draws reference to the Mason-Dixon Line, which is a symbolic and cultural division between the north and south in the United States. The phrase rock-a-bye, which is repeated throughout the song, is commonly used in lullabies to calm babies and help them fall asleep.
The song's lyrics, particularly the chorus, encourage the mother to sing a tune from the heart of Dixie and hang the cradle on the Mason-Dixon Line. The song also mentions the Swanee River, which is a prominent river in the southern United States that has been a popular subject of songs and folklore. Overall, the song represents a mother's love for her baby, the southern culture, and the importance of music in soothing and calming people.
Line by Line Meaning
Rock-a-bye your baby with a Dixie melody
Sing your baby to sleep with a sweet tune inspired by Dixie
When you croon croon a tune from the heart of Dixie
When you sing a song that represents the culture of Dixie
Just hang your cradle mammy mine right on that Mason Dixon Line
Place your baby's cradle along the border between the North and South
And swing it from Virginia to Tennessee with all the love that's in you
Gently rock the cradle back and forth between Virginia and Tennessee with all your love for your baby
Weep no more my lady sing that song to me
Don't cry anymore, my love, sing that song that comforts you to me
Sing it soft and low just as though you had me on your knees
Sing it softly and tenderly, as if I were still a child sitting on your lap
A million baby kisses I'll deliver the minute that you sing that Swanee River
I'll give you a million kisses as soon as you sing that lovely song of the South
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with the Dixie melody
Lull your precious little one to sleep with a classic Southern tune
(Weep no more my lady sing that song again for me)
(Please don't cry, my love, sing that same comforting tune for me)
Sing it soft and low
Sing it very gently and with a low volume
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEAN SCHWARTZ, JOE YOUNG, SAM M. LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind