Helen O'Connell (b. May 23, 1920, in Lima, Ohio – September 9, 1993, in San… Read Full Bio ↴Helen O'Connell (b. May 23, 1920, in Lima, Ohio – September 9, 1993, in San Diego, California) was a singer, actress, and dancer.
Helen O'Connell joined the Jimmy Dorsey band in 1939 and achieved her best selling records in the early forties with "Green Eyes", "Amapola", and "Tangerine". In each of these Latin-influenced numbers, Bob Eberly crooned the song which Helen then reprised in an up-tempo arrangement. Helen won the 1940 Metronome magazine poll for best female vocalist. She was one of the first "girls" on NBC's The Today Show, and at one point had her own television show.
Helen retired from show business upon her first marriage in 1943. Helen had four daughters and eight grandchildren. When the first marriage failed, she embarked on a solo career in 1951, achieving some chart success and becoming a regular television performer. Helen has married a total of four times.
She co-hosted the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants with Bob Barker from 1972 to 1980.
In her last marriage, she was married to arranger/conductor/composer Frank De Vol when she died in San Diego, California from a battle with hepatitis C resulting in primary liver cancer (hepatoma).

We Never Talk Much
Helen O'connell Lyrics

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We never talk much
We never have much to say
We never talk much
We do without reparte
We never talk much
You ask what we do all day
We play some records
Discuss a novel

And we just sit around

We never walk much
Such crowds in the street below
We never walk much
And where would we want to go
We never walk much
'Cause walkin' fatigues you so
We look at pictures
I work at puzzles
And we just sit around

We planned a lovely day tomorrow
We've thought of everything
We found a canary that we can borrow
And tomorrow we'll sit around and let it sing

We suit each other
We both think the same as one
With one another
Just starin' at walls is fun
I must tell Mother
Her warnings were overdone
Don't know what you do
What is there to do
We just sit around

We suit each other
We both think the same as one
With one another
Just starin' at walls is fun
I must tell Mother
Her warnings were overdone
Don't know what you do

What is there to do
We just sit around, sit around, sit around

Overall Meaning

The song We Never Talk Much talks about a couple who never talk much nor do they have much to say but they still enjoy each other's company. The lyrics explain how they spend their time together, doing simple activities like listening to records, discussing novels, looking at pictures, working on puzzles, and just sitting around. The couple is content just being in each other's presence, enjoying the comfortable silence they share. Despite the continual questioning from others about their lack of activity, they don't feel the need to do much more than be with one another.

The song seems to suggest that sometimes, just being with someone and enjoying their company is enough. The couple in the song does not need to talk much because they understand each other intuitively. It does not matter whether they are walking in crowded streets or just sitting around because they are happy with each other's presence. The lyrics also suggest that other people's views may not matter, as the couple is content with their arrangement even though others may question why they don't do more.

Overall, the song conveys a sense of companionship and acceptance. The theme of the song is about finding contentment in each other and validating one's own choices instead of conforming to societal norms.

Line by Line Meaning

We never talk much
We don't talk a lot

We never have much to say
We don't have a lot to talk about

We do without reparte
We don't engage in witty conversation

You ask what we do all day
You're curious about how we spend our time

We play some records
We listen to music

Discuss a novel
We talk about a book we read

And we just sit around
We spend most of our time sitting and being idle

We never walk much
We don't go out for walks often

Such crowds in the street below
The streets are busy with people

And where would we want to go
We don't have a specific destination in mind

Cause walkin' fatigues you so
We don't like walking because it tires us out