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.

Some People
Brenda Lee Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Some people see wrong in everything
In books that we read, in the songs that we sing
Some people just look for the dark side of life
They thrive on suspicion, sorrow and strife

Some people will see some wrong in our love
But we only answer to God up above
And we have our conscious to live with each day

So why should we care what some people say

Some people see wrong in everything
In books we read, in songs that we sing
Some people just look for the dark side of life
They thrive on suspicion, sorrow and strife

Some people will see wrong in our love
But we only answer to God up above

And we have our conscious to live with each day
So why should we care what some people say

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Brenda Lee's song "Some People" convey a powerful message about society's tendency to focus on the negative, even in something as pure and beautiful as love. The first verse highlights how some people tend to find fault and criticize everything, even things that are innocent and harmless, like books and songs. These people seem to thrive on negative emotions, such as suspicion, sorrow, and strife. The second verse focuses on how some people might judge or criticize a relationship, even when it is based on love and respect. But the singer of the song reminds us that our actions should be guided by our conscience and by God's values, not by what other people think or say. The song is a call for compassion, understanding, and acceptance, and a reminder to stay true to our values.

One interesting fact about the song is that it was written by Sonny Throckmorton and Brent Maher, two experienced songwriters who have written hits for a wide range of country and pop artists. Throckmorton is best known for writing "Why Not Me" and "Middle Age Crazy" for The Judds, while Maher has written songs for Kenny Rogers, Juice Newton, and others. "Some People" was released in 1988 as the lead single from Brenda Lee's album "Take Me Back," which was her first studio album in over a decade.

Another interesting fact about the song is that it was a modest hit on the country charts, reaching #23 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It also received positive reviews from music critics, who praised Brenda Lee's vocal performance and the song's positive message. The song's music video, which features Lee performing with a live band, was also well-received by fans and critics.

Interestingly, "Some People" was not Brenda Lee's first foray into country music. She had a successful career as a country singer in the 1960s and early 1970s, with hits such as "Fool #1," "Break it to Me Gently," and "All Alone Am I." However, after a series of personal and professional setbacks, she took a hiatus from music in the mid-1970s and focused on raising her family. "Take Me Back," her 1988 comeback album, marked a return to her country roots and earned her critical acclaim.

In terms of the song's musical style, "Some People" is a classic country ballad with a slow tempo, a simple melody, and traditional instrumentation. The song features acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar, piano, and drums, and Lee's vocals are front and center, conveying the emotion and sincerity of the lyrics. The song's structure is also simple, with two identical verses and a repetitive chorus that emphasizes the message of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Some people see wrong in everything
There are some individuals who tend to find negativity in every aspect of life.

In books that we read, in the songs that we sing
These people are even able to see flaws in the literature and music that we enjoy.

Some people just look for the dark side of life
Their mindset is fixated on seeking out the negative and gloomy aspects of existence.

They thrive on suspicion, sorrow and strife
These individuals find solace in being pessimistic and constantly suspicious, as well as wallowing in their emotions.

Some people will see some wrong in our love
There may be individuals who perceive flaws in our romantic connection.

But we only answer to God up above
However, we are only accountable to a higher power for the choices that we make.

And we have our conscious to live with each day
Furthermore, we must live with the consequences of our actions every day and make decisions based on our own principles.

So why should we care what some people say
Therefore, there is no reason for us to concern ourselves with the opinions of those who focus solely on negativity and criticism.

Contributed by Micah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS