Talk Back Trembling Lips
Ernest Ashworth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Talk back trembling lips
Shaky legs don't just stand there
Don't let her know that she's getting through with you
Talk back trembling lips
Burning eyes don't start crying
Heart don't let her know that you're breaking in two
Everyday our love's a battle royal
Dear, it seems that fighting's all we do
But if I let you know how much I love you
You'll do things to me you shouldn't do so
[Chorus]
Every time you up and hurt my feelings
I pretend it couldn't matter less
I'm just hiding all of my emotions
Behind my broken heart I guess so
[Chorus]
Heart don't let her know that you're breaking in two
The lyrics of Ernest Ashworth's song 'Talk Back Trembling Lips' express the struggle of a person in love with someone who constantly hurts and disappoints them. The chorus of the song advises the person to speak up and stop hiding their feelings behind shaky reactions, trembling lips, shaky legs, and burning eyes. The fear of revealing all the emotions and expressing love enables the other person to take advantage of them, and so the chorus urges them to hold back and not let the other person know that they are getting through to them.
The verses of the song explain how the person deals with their heartbreak inside. They fight daily and pretend that the other person's hurtful actions don't affect them, putting on a façade of toughness to protect themselves. However, the truth is that their heart is breaking in two, but they can't let the other person know that they have the power to hurt them. The song's message can be interpreted as a warning to people in toxic relationships not to let the other person's actions go unchecked and instead talk back and express their feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Talk back trembling lips
Don't show your vulnerability to your love interest by speaking up with a scared voice
Shaky legs don't just stand there
Don't be stiff and expressionless, show some confidence despite your fears
Don't let her know that she's getting through with you
Don't let your love interest know that she is affecting you emotionally
Burning eyes don't start crying
Don't show your tears and let her know how much she has hurt you
Heart don't let her know that you're breaking in two
Don't let your love interest know how much pain you are going through
Everyday our love's a battle royal
Every day is a struggle to keep our love alive
Dear, it seems that fighting's all we do
Our relationship is filled with arguments and disagreements
But if I let you know how much I love you
If I show you how much I care, I fear that you will take advantage of me
You'll do things to me you shouldn't do so
You could potentially hurt me more if I display my true emotions
Every time you up and hurt my feelings
Every time you say or do something hurtful
I pretend it couldn't matter less
I act like it doesn't bother me and hide my true feelings
I'm just hiding all of my emotions
I'm concealing all of my true feelings
Behind my broken heart I guess so
I'm keeping all of my pain hidden and pretending like everything is okay
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Loudermilk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1963 {October 6th} "Talk Back Trembling Lips" by Ernest Ashworth peaked at #1* {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart...
"Talk Back Trembling Lips" reached #102 on Billboard's Bubbling Under The Top 100 chart...
Between 1960 and 1970 the Huntsville, Alabama native had twenty-one records on the Hot Country Singles chart, seven made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, the above "Talk Back Trembling Lips"...
His next biggest hit was "Everybody But Me", it peaked at #3 {for 1 week} on September 2nd, 1962...
Ernest Bert Ashworth passed away at the age of 80 on March 2nd, 2009...
May he R.I.P.
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Hot Country Singles' Top 10 on October 6th, 1963:
At #2. "Love's Gonna Live Here" by Buck Owens
#3. "Abilene" by George Hamilton IV
#4. "Make The World Go Away" by Ray Price
#5. ""8 x 10" by Bill Anderson
#6. "You Comb Her Hair" by George Jones
#7. "Guilty" by Jim Reeves
#8. "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash
#9. "Faded Love" by Patsy Cline
#10. "Detroit City" by Bobby Bare
@hillbilly2bill
Please remember the family of my good friend Ernie Ashworth, he passed away Monday 3/2/09 from a heart attack, his son Mark said he did not suffer. He will now be with the love of his life Bettye Rose, He became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in March 1964..45 years ago this month. not only was he a great singer but a great songwriter also, He will be missed..
@greggonzales979
I just love classic country. I grew up listening to these songs. This is just great music, so real, so emotional, so fun to listen to.
@chrstnclmn28
Who ever the 5 where that didn't like this song cannot have a very good music sense, if they like what they do today, its all rubbish...the 50's and 60's where the best era of all, there will be no icons of today in 50 yrs time, be lucky to last a couple of years.
@butchjean
I talked to Ernie the day before he died, sounded like Old Ernie. I thanked him for everything he had done for me and he thanked me for all I had done for him. Two friends saying goodbye. RIP Uncle Cuz, WYXE Radio, Gallatin, Tennessee
@chvfd687
i had the chace to meet just briefly Mr. Ashworth thru a former employer of mine. really seemed to be a geniune person. not like a lot of the stars i met in my time with this company
@SpeedyNeutrino43
Way back in the day I was a disc jockey for WAGF, a small radio station in Dothan, Alabama. Best job I ever had. Since that time I've been self employed. I enjoy my work a great deal..but that radio job was more fun than a man should be allowed to have. 12 years and I enjoyed every minute.
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1963 {October 6th} "Talk Back Trembling Lips" by Ernest Ashworth peaked at #1* {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart...
"Talk Back Trembling Lips" reached #102 on Billboard's Bubbling Under The Top 100 chart...
Between 1960 and 1970 the Huntsville, Alabama native had twenty-one records on the Hot Country Singles chart, seven made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, the above "Talk Back Trembling Lips"...
His next biggest hit was "Everybody But Me", it peaked at #3 {for 1 week} on September 2nd, 1962...
Ernest Bert Ashworth passed away at the age of 80 on March 2nd, 2009...
May he R.I.P.
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Hot Country Singles' Top 10 on October 6th, 1963:
At #2. "Love's Gonna Live Here" by Buck Owens
#3. "Abilene" by George Hamilton IV
#4. "Make The World Go Away" by Ray Price
#5. ""8 x 10" by Bill Anderson
#6. "You Comb Her Hair" by George Jones
#7. "Guilty" by Jim Reeves
#8. "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash
#9. "Faded Love" by Patsy Cline
#10. "Detroit City" by Bobby Bare
@ALLRSMUSIC
Ernie and Bettye were great friends. sure miss the talks Ernie and I would have about Music and The Music Business
@ramjet174
Proud to say Ernie was a friend of mine and we'll all miss him. rip Erine
@larrynapier5003
He was a great person ! I miss him !