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.
Bei Mir Bist Du Shon
Teresa Brewer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Until I first met you, I was lonesome
And when you came in sight, dear, my heart grew light
And this old world seemed new to me
You're really swell, I have to admit you
Deserve expressions that really fit you
And so I've racked my brain, hoping to explain
Bei mir bist du schön, please let me explain
Bei mir bist du schön means you're grand
Bei mir bist du schön, again I'll explain
It means you're the fairest in the land
I could say "Bella, Bella", even say "Wunderbar"
Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are
I've tried to explain, bei mir bist du schön
So kiss me and say you understand
Bei mir bist du schön, you've heard it all before
But let me try to explain
Bei mir bist du schön means that you're grand
Bei mir bist du schön, it's such an old refrain
And yet I should explain
It means I am begging for your hand
I could say "Bella, Bella", even say "Wunderbar"
Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are
I could say "Bella, Bella", even say "Wunderbar"
Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are
I've tried to explain, bei mir bist du schön
So kiss me and say that you will understand
The song Bei Mir Bist Du Shon by Teresa Brewer portrays a sense of excitement and joy that comes with finding your true love. The lyrics express the singer's excitement in finding someone who has transformed her world, bringing new light and meaning to her life that she never knew was possible. Until she met this person, she was lonely and searching for someone who could make her world seem new. The singer acknowledges that this person is special and deserving of all the accolades that could be bestowed upon them.
The lyrics reveal the singer's attempt to explain just how much this person means to her. She uses phrases like "Bella, Bella" and "Wunderbar" to try to capture how grand this person is. However, she is aware that words alone may not be enough. Therefore, she uses the title of the song, "Bei Mir Bist Du Shon," to express just how much this person means to her. The phrase translates to "To me, you are wonderful." The singer has tried to explain the meaning of the phrase throughout the song, hoping that her love interest would understand how much they mean to her.
Line by Line Meaning
Of all the boys I've known, and I've known some
I have met many boys in my life
Until I first met you, I was lonesome
Before I met you, I was lonely
And when you came in sight, dear, my heart grew light
When I saw you, my heart felt happy
And this old world seemed new to me
You made me see the world in a new way
You're really swell, I have to admit you
You are amazing, I have to confess
Deserve expressions that really fit you
You deserve words that fit how great you are
And so I've racked my brain, hoping to explain
I have tried hard to find the right words to describe you
All the things that you do to me
All the wonderful things you make me feel
Bei mir bist du schön, please let me explain
Let me explain what 'bei mir bist du schön' means
Bei mir bist du schön means you're grand
'Bei mir bist du schön' means you are wonderful
Bei mir bist du schön, again I'll explain
Let me explain again what 'bei mir bist du schön' means
It means you're the fairest in the land
'Bei mir bist du schön' means you are the most beautiful person
I could say "Bella, Bella", even say "Wunderbar"
I could use any language to express how great you are
Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are
Every language can only help me describe how amazing you are
Bei mir bist du schön, you've heard it all before
You have heard this before
But let me try to explain
But let me try to describe it to you
It's such an old refrain
It's an old song
And yet I should explain
But I want to explain it to you
It means I am begging for your hand
It means I want to be with you
I've tried to explain, bei mir bist du schön
I have tried to explain what 'bei mir bist du schön' means
So kiss me and say you understand
So kiss me and tell me you understand
Writer(s): JACOBS JACOB, CAHN SAMMY, SECUNDA SHOLOM SHOLEM, CHAPLIN SAUL
Contributed by Xavier R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Antonio Jiménez
Muchas gracias!
Roberta Ladieu
This is the very best singer of this song.