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.
Speak to Me Pretty
Brenda Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quote me those wonderful phrases once or twice
Speak to me softly speak to me sweet
Make like a fabulous poet each time we meet
Words are like rainbows bright as the stars
Ah they're always with you ah where ever you are
They'll follow speak to me softly as you do my heart will happily follow you
Speak to me pretty speak to me sweet oh oh words can knock me off my feet
[ sax ]
I say that words are like rainbows...
In Brenda Lee’s song Speak to Me Pretty, she speaks about wanting her love interest to speak to her using flowery and romantic language. She asks him to "speak to me pretty, ah speak to me nice" and "quote me those wonderful phrases once or twice." She further requests him to speak to her softly and sweetly, making him appear like a fabulous poet every time they meet. Brenda believes words are powerful tools, and she likens their effervescence to 'rainbows bright as stars' always with you wherever you go. She is persuaded that the words of her love interest would follow her, making her heart happily chase him after every encounter.
Brenda Lee is utilizing various figures of speech in her lyrics to talk about the subtle art of communication between two individuals in love. The rainbows she mentions signify the happiness that communication and poetic language can bring into a relationship. Her use of personification with words follows and speaks to her further strengthens the idea that the words of the one she loves have a life of their own in her heart. The track urges people to pay attention to their words, tone, and effort they put into communicating with their partners. It highlights that the right words and language can bring two hearts closer.
Line by Line Meaning
Speak to me pretty ah speak to me nice
Please use pleasant and kind words when talking to me
Quote me those wonderful phrases once or twice
Repeat those lovely sayings you have said before
Speak to me softly speak to me sweet
Speak gently and affectionately to me
Make like a fabulous poet each time we meet
Imitate a skillful writer and speak beautifully every time we see each other
Words are like rainbows bright as the stars
Words can be as vibrant and luminous as natural phenomena
Ah they're always with you ah where ever you are
Words can accompany and stay with you always, no matter where you are
They'll follow speak to me softly as you do my heart will happily follow you
If you speak sweetly to me, my heart will be content and I'll want to be near you
Speak to me pretty speak to me sweet oh oh words can knock me off my feet
If you express yourself to me charmingly, I'll be overwhelmed with happiness
Speak to me speak to me speak to me
Please keep talking to me; I am enjoying our conversation
[ sax ]
Instrumental break
I say that words are like rainbows...
Reinforcement of the simile that words can be as vibrant and colorful as natural phenomena
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: HENRY VARS, WILLIAM D DUNHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind