Don Cornell was a popular Italian-American balladeer from the early 1940s (… Read Full Bio ↴Don Cornell was a popular Italian-American balladeer from the early 1940s (with the Sammy Kaye orchestra) to his last nationally-charted song in 1958, "Play Some Music For Broken Hearts", which appeared in the Cashbox magazine top 100. Along the way, million or near-million sellers included "I Came Here To Talk For Joe", "I'm Yours", "It Isn't Fair" and "Hold My Hand".

It's The Talk Of The Town
Don Cornell Lyrics

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We were more than lovers,
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.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Don Cornell's song It's The Talk Of The Town depict a shattered love story that has left the singer in a state of despair. The song opens with the lines "We were more than lovers, We were more than sweethearts," which highlights the fact that the love shared between the two individuals was beyond romanticism. However, their relationship fell apart with seemingly no explanation, leaving the singer in a place of confusion and hurt. Despite having made plans together, they are now strangers to each other, and the singer finds it hard to cope with the reality of the situation. That is why he says, "I can't show my face, Can't go anyplace, People stop an' stare, It's so hard to bear."

Furthermore, the singer addresses the fact that their breakup has become the talk of the town, making it even harder for him to move on. Everywhere he goes, people are aware of his heartbreak, which only serves to exacerbate his pain. The lines "Every time we meet, My heart skips a beat, We don't stop to speak, 'Though it's just a week," suggest that the singer still has feelings for his ex-partner, which further intensifies the pain.

In the final stanza, the singer tries to appeal to his former lover with lines like "Let's make up sweetheart, We can't stay apart, Don't let foolish pride, Keep you from my side," emphasizing how the love between them should not have ended. However, their once joyful occasion has now become the talk of the town, and it is hard to predict how outsiders will react. The final line encapsulates all the hurt and pain the singer has felt since the breakup, as he repeats "It's the talk of the town," reminding listeners of the devastating nature of their love story.

It's The Talk Of The TownDon Cornell Lyrics

It's The Talk Of The Town
Don Cornell Lyrics