Abbey Lincoln (born Anna Marie Wooldridge on August 6, 1930, Chicago, Illin… Read Full Bio ↴Abbey Lincoln (born Anna Marie Wooldridge on August 6, 1930, Chicago, Illinois – died August 14, 2010, Manhattan, New York), was a jazz vocalist, songwriter, and actress.

Her first album, Abbey Lincoln's Affair, A Story of a Girl in Love was released in 1956. Also that year Lincoln starred in the film The Girl Can't Help It, for which she famously wore a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe.

Lincoln sang on the 1960s landmark jazz civil rights recording, We Insist! - Freedom Now Suite in 1960 by jazz musician and Lincolns husband from 1962-1970, Max Roach. Especially since this album, Abbey Lincoln was connected to the political fight against racism in the United States.

She co-starred with Sidney Poitier and Beau Bridges in 1968's For Love of Ivy and received a 1969 Golden Globe nomination for her appearance in the film. She also starred in the 1990 Spike Lee movie Mo' Better Blues.

In 2003, she received the National Endowment for the Arts NEA Jazz Masters Award.

Lincoln died on August 14, 2010 in Manhattan at the age of 80. Although no official cause of death was given, Lincoln had suffered deteriorating health following open heart surgery in 2007. She passed away in a Manhattan nursing home.

Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
Abbey Lincoln Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Please don't talk about me when I'm gone
Oh honey, though our friendship ceases from now on
And listen, if you can't say anything real nice
It's better not to talk at all is my advice
We're parting, you go your way I'll go mine
It's best that we do
Here's a kiss I hope that this brings lots of luck to you
Oh makes no difference how I carry on

Remember, please don't talk about me when I'm gone
We're parting, you go your way I'll go mine
It's best that we do
Here's a kiss I hope that this brings lots of luck to you
Makes no difference how I carry on
Remember, please don't talk about me

Please don't talk about me
Please don't talk about me when I'm gone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Abbey Lincoln's song "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" is a plea from one friend to another. The song's subject is leaving a friend and moving on in life, and the singer is asking their friend not to speak ill of them after they go their separate ways. The singer suggests that if their friend has nothing nice to say, it's better to say nothing at all. The song's opening line implies a sense of finality. The friend's actions make it clear that their friendship has ended, and the singer is resigned to this. They only hope that their friend can refrain from speaking negatively about them to others.

Abbey Lincoln's soulful, slow delivery adds to the song's sense of sadness and longing. She delivers the lyrics in a way that expresses the pain of parting, and the deep hope that the friend she is leaving behind will treat her kindly when she is gone. The song's emotional intensity comes from both the lyrics and the delivery, making it a classic of the jazz and blues genres.

In conclusion, "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" is a song about the pains of parting and the importance of keeping your words kind. The singer acknowledges that their friendship is over, but hopes that their friend will remember them fondly and not speak ill of them.

Line by Line Meaning

Please don't talk about me when I'm gone
Don't speak of me unfavorably when I'm not around

Oh honey, though our friendship ceases from now on
Even if our friendship ends, please don't speak ill of me

And listen, if you can't say anything real nice
If you don't have something positive to say, don't say anything at all

It's better not to talk at all is my advice
Silence is better than speaking negatively

We're parting, you go your way I'll go mine
We are going separate ways and moving on

It's best that we do
It is for the best that we part ways

Here's a kiss I hope that this brings lots of luck to you
Wishing you well with a farewell kiss

Oh makes no difference how I carry on
My actions may not matter, but please still refrain from speaking poorly of me

Remember, please don't talk about me when I'm gone
Please keep in mind to not gossip negatively about me once I'm not present

Please don't talk about me
Once again requesting to not speak negatively about me

Please don't talk about me when I'm gone
A final request to not gossip negatively about me once I've left

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bee Palmer, Sidney Clare, Sam Stept

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS