He was born in Hamburg, Germany, and studied at the School of Music there. A multi-instrumentalist, he was hired by Hans Busch to play with his orchestra before serving as a bandsman in the German Navy during World War II. He later formed his own big band, toured with them, then worked as an arranger and producer, making hit records with Freddy Quinn and Ivo Robic. In 1961, he hired The Beatles to back Tony Sheridan on "My Bonnie (Lies Over the Ocean)," "When the Saints Go Marching In," "Ain't She Sweet" and "Cry for a Shadow," in a session for Polydor. These turned out to be the Beatles' first commercial recordings. When Beatles manager Brian Epstein asked Kaempfert about further promoting The Beatles, Kaempfert informed Epstein that the company was only interested in The Beatles as Tony Sheridan's backup group. (It also turned out British Decca executive Dick Rowe turned them down in favor of local beat combo Brian Poole and the Tremeloes.) He then released The Beatles from their contract with Polydor.
Talk
Bert Kaempfert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We were more than sweethearts,
It's so hard to understand.
Don't know why it happened,
Don't know how it started,
Why should we be strangers,
After all we planned.
I can't show my face,
Can't go anyplace,
People stop an' stare,
It's so hard to bear,
Everybody knows you left me,
It's the talk of the town
Every time we meet,
My heart skips a beat,
We don't stop to speak,
'Though it's just a week,
Everybody knows you left me,
It's the talk of the town
We send out invitations,
To friends and relations,
Announcing our weddin' day
Friends and our relations,
Gave congratulations,
How can you face them?
What can you say?
Let's make up sweetheart,
We can't stay apart,
Don't let foolish pride,
Keep you from my side,
How can love like ours be ended?
It's the talk of the town
How can you face them?
What can you say?
Let's make up sweetheart,
We can't stay apart,
Don't let foolish pride,
Keep you from my side,
How can love like ours be ended?
It's the talk of the town, hm
It's the talk of the town.
The lyrics of Bert Kaempfert's song "It's the Talk of the Town" convey a story of heartbreak and social humiliation. The song narrates about a past relationship where they were more than lovers and sweethearts, and they had planned a life together. However, something happened, and they don't know why or how it all fell apart, but they are now strangers. The persona is now suffering the consequences of the failed relationship as they can't show their face and can't go to any place without being stared at. Everyone knows about their break up, and it's the topic of discussion in town. Whenever they meet, their heart skips a beat, but they can't speak to each other. They sent out invitations announcing their wedding day, and everyone congratulated them. However, now that they are no longer together, the persona questions how they will face their friends and relations and what they will say. They then plead with their former lover to make up and not allow pride to keep them apart because they believe that their love should not end.
The lyrics of this song capture the theme of failed love and the emotional and social consequences of a relationship's end. The persona was once deeply in love, and they had plans for the future. However, the failure of the relationship has led to humiliation and societal gossip. The persona also questions how they will face the world after experiencing the hurt and emotional trauma of a failed love. The song reflects the hopelessness and helplessness that people feel after experiencing heartbreak, and it conveys the universal theme of love as a potent but fragile emotion that can have significant consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
We were more than lovers,
Our love was deeper than just being in a romantic relationship,
We were more than sweethearts,
We were not just two people in love, but we shared a special bond.
It's so hard to understand.
The reasons for our separation are difficult to comprehend.
Don't know why it happened,
We cannot figure out what went wrong.
Don't know how it started,
We cannot pinpoint the exact moment things began falling apart.
Why should we be strangers,
It's hard to imagine how we have become estranged from each other.
After all we planned.
We had many shared dreams and aspirations for our future.
I can't show my face,
I'm ashamed to be seen in public.
Can't go anyplace,
I'm avoiding going out and socializing.
People stop an' stare,
Everyone seems to be looking at me.
It's so hard to bear,
It's an unbearable situation to be in.
Everybody knows you left me,
Our breakup has become public knowledge.
Every time we meet,
Whenever we cross paths,
My heart skips a beat,
My heart rate increases.
We don't stop to speak,
We don't pause or engage in conversation.
'Though it's just a week,
Even though it's only been a short time since we last met.
We send out invitations,
We invited friends and family to a special occasion.
To friends and relations,
We invited close acquaintances and family members.
Announcing our weddin' day
We shared the news that we were getting married.
Gave congratulations,
They expressed happy wishes and excitement for our union.
How can you face them?
How will you be able to confront the people who congratulated us on our wedding now that it's not happening?
What can you say?
What words can you use to explain the cancellation of the wedding?
Let's make up sweetheart,
Let's reconcile with each other, my dear,
We can't stay apart,
We cannot continue to be separate.
Don't let foolish pride,
Don't allow pride to prevent us from being together.
Keep you from my side,
Don't let anything come between us.
How can love like ours be ended?
It's unimaginable that our love story can come to an end.
It's the talk of the town.
Our situation has become the center of gossip and speculation.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: AL J NEIBURG, JERRY LEVINSON, MARTY SYMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind