At the age of two, Teresa was brought by her mother to audition for a radio program, "Uncle August's Kiddie Show" on Toledo's WSPD. She performed for cookies and cupcakes donated by the sponsor. Although she never took singing lessons, she took lessons to tap dance. From age five to twelve, she toured with the "Major Bowes Amateur Hour," then a popular radio show, both singing and dancing. She travelled with her aunt Mary until she married in 1949 and was devoted to the aunt, who lived with her until 1993, when Teresa's aunt Mary died.
At the age of 12, Teresa was brought back to Toledo, ceasing touring to have a normal school life. She did, however, continue to perform on local radio.
In January 1948 the sixteen-year-old Teresa won a local competition and (with three other winners) was sent to New York to appear on a talent show called "Stairway to the Stars," featuring Eddie Dowling. It was about that time that she changed the spelling of her name, as she won a number of talent shows and played night clubs in New York (including the famous Latin Quarter).
An agent, Richie Lisella, heard her sing and took her career in hand, and soon she was signed to a contract with London Records. In 1949 she recorded a record called "Copenhagen" with the Dixieland All-Stars. The B side was a song called "Music! Music! Music!" by Stephen Weiss and Bernie Baum. It turned out that this side was the one that took off, selling over a million copies, and became Teresa's signature song.
Another novelty song, "Choo'n Gum," hit the top 20 in 1950, followed by "Molasses, Molasses." Although she preferred to sing ballads, the only one of those that made the charts was "Longing for You" in 1951.
In 1951 she switched labels, going to Coral Records. By this time she was married with a daughter. Since she never learned to read music, she had a demo sent to her to learn the tunes of her songs. Even so, she had a number of hits for Coral, though one of her recordings, "Gonna Get Along Without You Now," (1952) was better known in a 1956 version by Patience and Prudence and was also a hit in 1964 for Skeeter Davis as well as Tracey Dey. Also that year she recorded "You'll Never Get Away" in a duet with Don Cornell, and in 1953 came her best selling hit, "Till I Waltz Again with You."
More 1953 hits were "Dancin' with Someone," "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall," and another gold record, "Ricochet." In later years she followed with "Baby, Baby, Baby," "Bell Bottom Blues," "Our Heartbreaking Waltz" (written by Sidney Prosen, who had written "Till I Waltz Again With You"), and "Skinnie Minnie." During those years she continued to play the big night clubs in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, and elsewhere.
In the mid-50s, she did a number of covers of rhythm and blues songs like "Pledging My Love," "Tweedle Dee," and "Rock Love." She also covered some country songs like "Jilted," "I Gotta Go Get My Baby," and "Let Me Go, Lover!," (better known by Joan Weber).
In 1956 she had a two-sided hit with "A Tear Fell" and "Bo Weevil," covers of R&B songs. This was followed by "Sweet Old-Fashioned Girl." Also that year she co-wrote "I Love Mickey," about New York Yankees center fielder Mickey Mantle, who appeared on the record with Teresa. Another big hit for Teresa in 1956 was "Mutual Admiration Society."
Though she is often dismissed as another pop singer, most of her songs have a decidedly pre-rock beat to them, especially "Ricochet", "Jilted" and "A Sweet Old Fashioned Girl".
In 1957 she made more covers: of country song "Teardrops in My Heart" and R&B songs "You Send Me" and "Empty Arms.". The last chart hit of hers was "Milord" in 1961, an English language version of a song by Édith Piaf.
In 1962 she switched labels again, to Philips Records, and subsequently made a few recordings for other companies, but no more big chart hits.
In the 1970s, she recorded for Flying Dutchman Records' Amsterdam label owned by her husband Bob Thiele.
All together, she recorded nearly 600 song titles. For her contribution to the recording industry, Teresa Brewer has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Brewer died on October 17, 2007 in New Rochelle, New York.
A Tear Fell
Teresa Brewer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A tear fell when I saw you in the arms of someone new
A tear fell when you left me all alone and feeling blue
A tear fell when you told me that your love was not for me
I didn't miss the teardrops but I miss you constantly
A fool am I, a fool am I, in love
The teardrops that you stepped on as you danced across the floorWere crushed like my poor heart was when you walked out of my door
A tear fell when you told me that the flame in your heart died
Darlin', have I lost you like these teardrops from my eyes?
A fool am I, a fool am I, in love
A tear fell when you told me that your love was not for me
I didn't miss the teardrops but I miss you constantly
A fool am I, a fool am I, in love
The song "A Tear Fell" by Teresa Brewer is a heartbreaking ballad about a person still in love with someone who has moved on to someone else. The opening line, "A fool am I, a fool am I, in love," sets the tone for the rest of the song. This person is lovestruck and, despite being hurt, they still long for the one who left them.
The tears, which are a recurring motif throughout the song, represent the pain and sorrow that the singer feels. The lyrics refer to tears falling in different scenarios – when they see their former lover with someone else, when they are left alone, and when they are told that the love is not reciprocated. The teardrops being stepped on and crushed symbolize the singer's shattered heart, as they feel their former lover has moved on without even looking back.
The chorus, "A fool am I, a fool am I, in love," emphasizes the desperate and hopeless nature of the singer's love. They realize that they may be seen as foolish to hold onto someone who has clearly moved on, but they cannot help how they feel.
Overall, "A Tear Fell" is a poignant and relatable song about the pain of unrequited love and the struggle to let go.
Line by Line Meaning
A fool am I, a fool am I, in love
I am foolishly in love.
A tear fell when I saw you in the arms of someone new
I cried when I saw you with someone else.
A tear fell when you left me all alone and feeling blue
I cried when you abandoned me and left me sad.
A tear fell when you told me that your love was not for me
I cried when you confessed that your love was not directed at me.
I didn't miss the teardrops but I miss you constantly
I wasn't focused on the tears, but I constantly miss you.
The teardrops that you stepped on as you danced across the floor
You carelessly stepped on my tears as you danced.
Were crushed like my poor heart was when you walked out of my door
My heart was broken when you left just like the tears you crushed under your feet.
A tear fell when you told me that the flame in your heart died
I cried when you said that your love had faded away.
Darlin', have I lost you like these teardrops from my eyes?
I wonder if I have lost you as easily as I shed these tears.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dorian Burton, Eugene Randolph
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lindacruz7378
T.B. was my favorite singer since the early 50s. Still like listening to her.
@joanwood9480
Teresa was my father's favorite singer.
@theresamariegoesplaces9688
Mine too! That's where I got my name
@TomElvisSmith
Thank you for this beautiful Teresa Brewer video, and re-mastered too! This song was her biggest hit in the United Kingdom charting at #2 there and getting to #5 in the U.S. I LOVE all the Teresa Brewer videos! Thank you again Ed Sullivan channel!
@simone222
This is my mother's most favourite song by her most favourite singer, Teresa Brewer. She's 81 now, currently ill, and I'm 37. We have a huge age gap yet I am well-versed in the golden songs of the past and I have come to love them because of her. I'm sure she will be very delighted to see another video of Teresa esp. this one which features her most favourite song. Thank you so much, TESS.
@simone222
@@42NORRIS I was referring to my mother.
@42NORRIS
@@simone222 Oh my, I'm so sorry! Please forgive my terrible misunderstanding.
@DeZug
Great songs and singer never old. Your mother have taste
@michaelbrooke6326
Your mother has good taste, it was my mother's favorite as well
@daniellanglois89
Thanks to everyone online keeping Teresa's Music alive!