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.
Too Many Rivers
Brenda Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I know that you want me too
But too much waters run under that old bridge
There's too many rivers between me and you
There's too many rivers to cross, dear
Too many dreams have been lost
And there's too many long nights that I've turned and tossed
Now, don't think for a moment
I blame only you
We both peeled the fruit on the vine
And when you try to put love back together
There's always a few little pieces that you can't find
Yes, there's too many rivers to cross, dear
And there's too many dreams that have been lost
And there's too many long nights that I've turned and I've tossed
There's too many rivers to cross
Brenda Lee's song "Too Many Rivers" explores the theme of a failed relationship and the emotional distance between two people who were once in love. The singer of the song wishes she could return to her former lover because she knows that he still wants her, but too many things have happened in the interim. The metaphor of the bridge with too much water running under it suggests that the past has been irretrievably lost, and the distance between the two people is too great to overcome. The lines "too many dreams have been lost" and "too many long nights that I've turned and tossed" evoke feelings of disappointment and regret, suggesting that they have both suffered from the breakdown of the relationship.
The singer is quick to point out that she does not solely blame her former lover for the breakdown of their relationship. She acknowledges that both of them have played a part in the eventual separation. The simile "we both peeled the fruit on the vine" suggests that they have both been responsible for the disintegration of their love affair. The line "When you try to put love back together, there's always a few little pieces that you can't find" furthermore develops the theme of regret. It highlights that even if they were to try to fix things, it would not be possible to recapture what they once had.
Overall, Brenda Lee's "Too Many Rivers" is a poignant exploration of emotional distance and the pain of failed love. It is a story that many people can relate to, and the lyrics offer a sense of catharsis for those who have experienced the same feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish I could come back to you, dear
I regret not being with you and wish to return.
'Cause I know that you want me too
I understand your desire for us to be together.
But too much waters run under that old bridge
Too much has happened between us.
There's too many rivers between me and you
There are too many obstacles between us.
There's too many rivers to cross, dear
There are too many challenges ahead of us.
Too many dreams have been lost
We have lost too many aspirations.
And there's too many long nights that I've turned and tossed
I have lost too much sleep thinking about us.
Now, don't think for a moment
Don't consider for a second.
I blame only you
I don't hold you solely accountable.
We both peeled the fruit on the vine
We both took part in our relationship.
And when you try to put love back together
When attempting to rebuild our love.
There's always a few little pieces that you can't find
There are always missing pieces that can't be repaired.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, LEGACY OF HARLAN PERRY HOWARD, LLC
Written by: Harlan Howard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MikeBlitzMag
Arguably her finest moment. Magnificent.
antonincorsham1
This really does take me back to such happy times in the 60's...
CanPat71
I've been a fan of Brenda for many years and also feel I've grown up listening to her music. I have many favourites but this one is a special "fave" of mine!!!
Jim R.
I I love the mood this puts me in.... I can hear it playing in the background when I was a kid around my grandfather's garage... smokey, dirty and innocent...
Lisa Parsons
My mom Joyce Parsons loved Brenda Lee, I remember her in1972, when I was 6😁
John Allen
Too many rivers have been crossed but the memories are lasting and I love to hear Brenda sing this.
Margaret Ross
A beautiful song beautifully performed.
Edna Hahn
I saw her in concert when she was sixteen! Loved her singing!❤️
patrick ryan
1965 was such a good year for so many genres of popular music; it rightfully claims this musical gem. 5/2019
jack kruger
Makes me thinking of my wife who passed away twelve years ago this song makes it so true 😢