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.
There Goes My Heart
Brenda Lee Lyrics
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There goes the girl I wasn't worthy of
There goes my happiness, it couldn't be
There goes somebody else in place of me
Goodbye romance, it couldn't last somehow
I had my chance but it's all over now
I never thought that she could pass me by
I never thought that she could pass me by
There goes my heart and here am I
In these lyrics, Brenda Lee expresses a sense of loss and heartbreak as she reflects on a lost love. The repetition of the line "There goes my heart" reinforces the idea that her heart is leaving with the person she loves, indicating a deep emotional connection that has now been severed. She acknowledges her own feelings of unworthiness, recognizing that she may not have deserved the love and affection she once received.
The lyrics also convey a feeling of sadness and resignation as Brenda Lee acknowledges the end of her happiness. She reflects on the fact that someone else has taken her place in the heart of the person she loves, further emphasizing the feeling of being replaced and left behind. The phrase "There goes somebody else in place of me" hints at a sense of betrayal and the realization that the relationship has moved on without her.
The lyrics continue with a sense of finality, as Brenda Lee says goodbye to the romance that once brought her joy. She reflects on the realization that her chance for love and happiness has come to an end, creating a tone of acceptance and closure. This suggests that she has processed her feelings, acknowledged the ending of the relationship, and must now move on.
Finally, she acknowledges her own surprise and disbelief that the person she loved could simply pass her by. This line adds a touch of vulnerability, highlighting the unexpectedness of the situation and Brenda Lee's own vulnerability in the face of heartbreak. "There goes my heart and here am I" further emphasizes the loneliness and sense of being left behind, as she is left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and move forward on her own.
Line by Line Meaning
There goes my heart, there goes the one I love
My heart is leaving with the person I love. They are walking away from me.
There goes the girl I wasn't worthy of
The girl I am talking about is leaving, and I believe I was not good enough for her.
There goes my happiness, it couldn't be
My happiness is leaving with her, and it seems impossible to hold onto it now.
There goes somebody else in place of me
Someone new has replaced me in her life. I have been replaced by another person.
Goodbye romance, it couldn't last somehow
Our romance is ending. It feels like it was never meant to last.
I had my chance but it's all over now
I had an opportunity with her, but now everything is finished and there are no more chances.
I never thought that she could pass me by
I never expected that she would simply move on from me without a second thought.
There goes my heart and here am I
My heart is leaving with her, and I am left alone, feeling empty.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Abner Silver, Benny Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind