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.
Where Are You
Brenda Lee Lyrics
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I thought you cared about me
Where are you
Where is my heart, where is the dream we started
I can't believe we parted
Where are you
When we said goodbye love, was it just a game
All life though, must I go on pretending
Where is my happy ending
Where are you
When I gave you my love, was it all in vain
Oh, all life though must I go on pretending
Where is my happy ending
Where are you
Please tell me where
I ask you where are you
In the lyrics of Brenda Lee's song "Where Are You," the singer expresses feelings of confusion and heartache over a lost love. The repeated question "Where are you" reflects the longing and desperation to know the whereabouts of the person who has left. The lyrics convey a sense of disbelief and sadness as the singer wonders why the relationship has ended and where the other person has gone without them.
The lyrics suggest that the singer believed in the love and care of the person who has now left, raising questions about the sincerity of the emotions shared during their time together. The lines "When we said goodbye love, was it just a game / When I gave you my love, was it all in vain" convey a sense of betrayal and doubt, questioning the true intentions behind the farewell and the love that was given.
The song explores the emotional turmoil of moving on after a breakup, as the singer struggles to come to terms with the end of the relationship and the loss of shared dreams. The lines "All life though, must I go on pretending / Where is my happy ending" reflect a sense of disillusionment and a search for closure and happiness that seems out of reach in the aftermath of the breakup.
The repeated plea "Where are you" reinforces the singer's desire for answers and closure, seeking to understand the reasons behind the separation and the absence of the person they once loved. The emotional depth of the lyrics conveys the pain and confusion that often accompany the end of a relationship, capturing the universal experience of heartbreak and the longing to find peace and resolution in the midst of loss.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lew Pollack, Lou Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LoveTheOConnor
Just great, Jim! Such a pretty song, and I'm always amazed by Ms. Lee--such a big voice from such a little gal! Beautiful backgrounds as always! Thanks so much, you always brighten my day :))
nipstertunes
There is just no mistaking her voice, Heather. She is some kind of talent, for sure! Thank you so much for watching it! Your comments always brighten my day! Thank You! jim