Her musical career began in earnest when she was discovered in 1930 by Columbia Records vice president Ted Collins, who became her longtime partner and manager and who put her on the radio in 1931. She sang the controversial top twenty song of 1931, "That's Why Darkies Were Born". She starred in the 1932 movie Hello Everybody!, with co-stars Randolph Scott and Sally Blane, and in 1943 she sang "God Bless America" in the wartime picture This is the Army. Irving Berlin had written the song in 1938 for her, and it is considered "the second National Anthem" of the United States. Its popularity and constant airplay led Woody Guthrie to pen the original version of "This Land Is Your Land" in protest at the Berlin tune's unquestioning complacency.
Kate began making records in 1926; among her biggest hits were "River, Stay 'Way From My Door" (1931), "The Woodpecker Song" (1940), "The White Cliffs of Dover" (1941), "Rose O'Day" (1941), "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" (1942), "There Goes That Song Again" (1944), "Seems Like Old Times" (1946), and "Now Is the Hour" (1947). Her theme song was "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain", the lyrics of which she helped write. She greeted audiences with "Hello, everybody!" and signed off with "Thanks for listenin'."
Her oversized figure made her the occasional butt of derision from fellow performers and managers. Despite the occasional ridicule, Smith was a major star of radio, usually backed by Jack Miller's Orchestra. She began in 1931 with her twice-a-week NBC series, Kate Smith Sings (which quickly expanded to six shows a week), followed by a series of shows for CBS: Kate Smith and Her Swanee Music (1931-33), sponsored by La Palina Cigars; The Kate Smith Matinee (1934-35); The Kate Smith New Star Revue (1934-35); Kate Smith's Coffee Time (1935-36), sponsored by A&P; and The Kate Smith A&P Bandwagon (1936-37).
For eight years (1937-45), The Kate Smith Hour was a leading radio variety show, offering comedy, music and drama with appearances by top personalities of films and theater. The nationwide audience was introduced to comedy by the show's resident comics, Abbott and Costello and Henny Youngman, while a series of sketches led to The Aldrich Family as a spin-off in 1940. She continued into the 1950s on the Mutual Broadcasting System, CBS, ABC and NBC, doing both music and talk shows.
An unusual part of her career began on December 11, 1969, when the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team played her rendition of "God Bless America" before the game. Philadelphia beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 6-3. The team would begin to play the song before home games every once in a while, and the perception developed that the team was more successful on these occasions, so the tradition grew.
Kate Smith, who never married, died of diabetes at the age of 79 in Raleigh, North Carolina, several years after converting to Roman Catholicism. (from Wikipedia)
Please Don't Talk about Me When I'm Gone
Kate Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seems we can't get along,
No matter what I do
I don't appeal to you
Makes no difference whether
I am right or wrong
If we can't be sweethearts
This much you can do
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, that's 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
Makes no difference how I carry on
Just remember
Please don't talk about me when I'm gone.
The lyrics of Kate Smith's song "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" convey a message of resignation and finality to a doomed romantic relationship. The singer has been with their partner for years, but they cannot seem to get along no matter how hard they try. The singer pleads with their partner that if they cannot be sweethearts, the least they can do is not speak ill of them when they are no longer together. The singer recognizes that their friendship is ending, and encourages their partner not to say anything bad about them once they have gone their separate ways.
The song is marked by a sense of sadness and regret, but also a resigned acceptance of the situation. The singer knows that they have tried their best to make the relationship work, but it is clear that it is not meant to be. The chorus of the song, with its plea for the partner not to talk about the singer when they are gone, is a poignant reminder of how much words can hurt and how important it is to be kind to one another, even in the midst of a difficult breakup.
Overall, "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" is a song that deals with themes of love, loss, and the power of words. It is a reminder that even in the midst of a painful breakup, it is important to treat each other with kindness, and to remember that what we say to each other can have a profound impact on our relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Years we've been together
We have been in a relationship for a long time
Seems we can't get along,
It appears that we cannot have a positive relationship
No matter what I do
Regardless of my actions
I don't appeal to you
I am not attractive to you
Makes no difference whether
It does not matter if
I am right or wrong
Whether I am correct or not
If we can't be sweethearts
If we cannot be in a romantic relationship
This much you can do
At least do this
Please don't talk about me when I'm gone
Do not speak negatively of me after I leave
Oh, Honey, though our friendship ceases from now on
Even though our friendship will end starting now
And listen, if you can't say anything real nice
If you are unable to speak kindly
It's better not to talk at all, that's my advice
It is best not to speak at all, that is my suggestion
We're parting, you go your way, I'll go mine
We are ending our relationship, you will continue your life, and I will continue mine
It's best that we do
This is the most appropriate course of action
Here's a kiss, I hope that this brings lots of luck to you
I am giving you a kiss, and I hope it brings you a lot of fortune
Makes no difference how I carry on
It does not matter how I behave
Just remember
Keep in mind
Please don't talk about me when I'm gone.
Do not speak negatively of me after I leave.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bee Palmer, Sidney Clare, Sam Stept
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mia manning
János-lurkó György-Fetty Years we've been together
Seems we can't get along,
No matter what I do
I don't appeal to you
Makes no difference whether
I am right or wrong
If we can't be sweethearts
This much you can do
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, that's 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
Makes no difference how I carry on
Just remember
Please don't talk about me when I'm gone.
George Harhen
My grandma could sing like this and it's so classic and so pure and joyful...no one can sing like this anymore....
Heather Denson
Yea
William Cooper
1947 or 1960's Kate swings and sings so wonderfully!
David Walsh
Simply wonderful lady what a joy to listen to
JOHN HINDS
Great Record! Do you have any information on her orchestra or the label it was issued on?
KFaughter43
JOHN HINDS all I know is that before she died of cancer, she gave out millions of free tickets to a free show where she sung all of here songs. She died 7 days later. I went and it was beautiful
Donna Cooper
Check out Kate singing this song on her 1950's tv show on Hello,Everybody: Kate Smith
James Wawrzaszek
So so good
Tom Dockery
The Yankees and the Flyers have honored her wish.
KFaughter43
the fucking frog did the best semi - cover but this is my favorite actual version