Born in Pitcairn, Pennsylvania, Weems attended the University of Pennsylvania where he organised a small dance band. Going professional in 1923, Weems toured for the MCA Corporation, recording for several years on Victor Records. “Somebody Stole My Gal” became the band’s first #1 hit in early 1924. Weems moved to Chicago with his band around 1928. He had more chart success in 1929 with the novelty song “Piccolo Pete”, and the #1 hit “The Man from the South”.
The band gained popularity in the 1930s, making regular radio broadcasts on Jack Benny’s Canada Dry and the Fibber McGee & Molly program. In 1936, the Ted Weems Orchestra gave singer Perry Como his first national exposure. Among Weems’ other discoveries were whistler-singer Elmo Tanner, sax player and singer Red Ingle, Marilyn Maxwell, who left the band for an acting career, and arranger Joe Haymes, who created the band’s unique jazz-novelty style.
During World War II, Ted Weems enlisted in the United States Merchant Marine. Reorganising his big band in 1947, he made records for Mercury, including the hits “Peg O’ My Heart” and “Mickey”. However, the biggest hit of Weems’ career was a reissue of his 1933 song “Heartaches”, which topped the national charts for 13 weeks. Despite this sudden popularity, the hits dried up after 1947. Weems toured until 1953. Ted Weems died of emphysema in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1963. His son Ted Jr. led a revival band at times during the 1960s and 1970s.
Talk Of The Town
Ted Weems & His Orchestra 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 to Ted Weems & His Orchestra's song "Talk of the Town" depict the aftermath of a failed relationship that was once filled with love and planned future. The singer expresses their confusion and hurt over the sudden end, as they cannot fathom how or why it started. They are left to deal with the public scrutiny and judgment from those around them, who all know about the breakup. Despite their desire to reconcile, the possibility is hindered by both parties' pride and fear of further humiliation.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the emotional landscape one traverses in a broken relationship's aftermath. The singer's angst is tangible as they feel trapped by their circumstances, unable to face the public or their former partner. The lyrics capture the universal feeling of heartbreak, as someone who believed in love is left alone to pick up the pieces of their shattered heart.
Line by Line Meaning
We were more than lovers,
Our relationship was more than just physical.
We were more than sweethearts,
We had a deeper emotional connection.
It's so hard to understand.
I can't comprehend why things fell apart.
Don't know why it happened,
I'm unsure of what caused our separation.
Don't know how it started,
I'm unclear on the beginning of the end.
Why should we be strangers,
Why should we act like we don't even know each other?
After all we planned.
We had a future together, what happened to that?
I can't show my face,
I feel ashamed and embarrassed.
Can't go anyplace,
I don't want to leave the house and see people.
People stop an' stare,
People are curious and gossiping about us.
It's so hard to bear,
It's difficult and painful to deal with.
Everybody knows you left me,
Our split has become common knowledge.
Every time we meet,
When we cross paths.
My heart skips a beat,
I still have strong feelings for you.
We don't stop to speak,
We avoid each other and don't communicate.
Though it's just a week,
Even though it hasn't been very long.
We send out invitations,
We made formal plans.
To friends and relations,
To our loved ones.
Announcing our weddin' day
Telling everyone when we're getting married.
Gave congratulations,
Our loved ones gave us their well wishes.
How can you face them?
How can you interact with our loved ones after what you've done?
What can you say?
What explanation or justification do you have for your actions?
Let's make up sweetheart,
Let's reconcile, my love.
We can't stay apart,
We can't continue to live separate lives.
Don't let foolish pride,
Don't let stubbornness get in the way.
Keep you from my side,
Prevent us from being together.
How can love like ours be ended?
How can something so strong and powerful come to an end?
It's the talk of the town
Our split has become the topic of everyone's gossip.
It's the talk of the town.
Our split has become infamous and widely known.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL J. NEIBURG, JERRY LIVINGSTON, MARTY SYMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pajiv Villanueva
GLORIOUS!!!!!
Art Howard
Sounds of the last year of the Jazz era and god stuff -
Cronus Kun
New instant favorite!
Jacinto Guevara
Who's the gal?
Jacinto Guevara
OH MAN, Jeanette Loff. NOBODY knows who she is! As I "reply"ed my question, the pic of JL at 1:14 came on. I have that image on a 5 x 7".