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.
Boll Weevil
Teresa Brewer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now, some of you may not know
But a boll weevil is an insect
And he's found mostly where cotton grows
Now, where he comes from, hm, nobody really knows
But this is the way the story goes
"I see you're on the square"
Boll weevil said to the farmer
"Say yep, my whole darn family's here"
The farmer said to the boll weevil
"Say, why do you pick my farm"
The weevil just laughed at the farmer 'n' said
"We ain't gonna do ya much harm"
Ho-o-o-o-o,-o-o-o, -o-o-o, o-o-ome"
And the boll weevil spotted a lightning bug.
He said "Hey, I'd like to make a trade with you
But, ya see if I was a lightning bug
I'd search the whole night through"
And the boll weevil called the farmer, 'n' he said
"Ya better sell your old machines
'Cause when I'm through with your cotton
Heh, you can't even buy gasoline
"Stake me a home, gotta have a home
And the boll weevil said to the farmer, said " Farmer
I'd like to wish you well"
Farmer said to the boll weevil
"Yeah, an' I wish that you were in " home
Lookin' for a home
(Ahh, you have a home all right, you have a home
(A real hot home, ahhh
The song "Boll Weevil" by Teresa Brewer is a traditional song that tells a story about the infamous boll weevil, an insect that feeds on cotton. The song explains the relationship between the boll weevil and the cotton farmer. The lyrics describe a conversation between the farmer and the boll weevil as they discuss the impact of the boll weevil on the cotton fields. The boll weevil tells the farmer that his whole family is there and that they are not going to harm him much. The boll weevil also tells the story of how he encountered a lightning bug and that he would trade places with it if he could. The insect then warns the farmer that his machines will be of no use because the cotton will be destroyed. The song ends with the boll weevil wishing the farmer well and the farmer wishing the boll weevil away.
The story told in the song is one that is well known in the South, especially among cotton farmers. The arrival of the boll weevil devastated the cotton industry, and many farmers lost their livelihoods. The lyrics of the song suggest that the boll weevil was an unstoppable force that was almost a force of nature. The song also contains a warning about the dangers of greed and taking things for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me tell ya a story about a boll weevil
I am about to recount a tale regarding a certain type of beetle
Now, some of you may not know
Not everyone is aware
But a boll weevil is an insect
A boll weevil is a type of bug
And he's found mostly where cotton grows
This beetle prefers environments where cotton crops are present
Now, where he comes from, hm, nobody really knows
The origin of this insect is not definitively known
But this is the way the story goes
However, here is what I have heard about the boll weevil
The farmer said to the boll weevil
The farmer spoke to the beetle
"I see you're on the square"
"I notice that you have arrived"
Boll weevil said to the farmer
The beetle responded to the farmer
"Say yep, my whole darn family's here"
"Yes, my entire family is present with me"
The farmer said to the boll weevil
The farmer addressed the insect
"Say, why do you pick my farm"
"Why have you chosen to infest my farm?"
The weevil just laughed at the farmer 'n' said
The beetle merely chuckled and replied
"We ain't gonna do ya much harm"
"We will not inflict significant damage upon you"
Ho-o-o-o-o,-o-o-o, -o-o-o, o-o-ome"
This is a nonsensical filler line
And the boll weevil spotted a lightning bug.
At this point, the boll weevil observed a different type of insect, a lightning bug
He said "Hey, I'd like to make a trade with you
"Greetings, I would like to make an exchange with you
But, ya see if I was a lightning bug
However, if I myself were a lightning bug
I'd search the whole night through"
"I would spend the entire night searching"
And the boll weevil called the farmer, 'n' he said
The boll weevil contacted the farmer by some means and conveyed
"Ya better sell your old machines
"You ought to dispose of your outdated machinery
'Cause when I'm through with your cotton
Because once I am done affecting your cotton harvest
Heh, you can't even buy gasoline
You will not have enough funds to purchase gasoline
"Stake me a home, gotta have a home
"Provide me with a home, as I require one
And the boll weevil said to the farmer, said "Farmer
Next, the beetle directed the following words to the farmer: "Farmer
I'd like to wish you well"
I offer you well wishes
Farmer said to the boll weevil
The farmer responded to the insect
"Yeah, an' I wish that you were in " home
"I desire that you were confined to a place where you belong, such as a home"
Lookin' for a home
This is a repetition of the prior statement, requiring no additional explanation
(Ahh, you have a home all right, you have a home
This is a repeating chorus, it does not add any new meaning
(A real hot home, ahhh
This is a repeating chorus, it does not add any new meaning
Contributed by Michael P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ernie De Vera
Once you hear the voice, you know it’s Teresa. Won’t mistake for anyone else’s. There will never be another one like her.
mkl62
This hit by Teresa Brewer hit #17 on the Top 40 charts and finished at #99 for the year, 1956. On July 9, 1955, Bill Haley and His Comets hit #1 with Rock Around the Clock, signifying the start of the Rock Era. In 1956, a black haired boy from Tupelo, Mississippi hit #1 with Heartbreak Hotel. His name was Elvis Presley and he shot this new sound into the stratosphere.
ed barker
Absolutely fabulous voice
Carol Ward
I listened to this many times in my childhood. Also, A Tear Fell. Thank you for posting.
Jerry Young
Carol Wa
Maria Estrellita Gonzales-Meyer
With this, A Tear Fell & other songs of her (also of Brenda Lee, Connie Francis, Edna Savage, Sue Thompson, etc.) made me won in different amateur singing contest in my childhood. For 5 decades singing became my career including 26 yrs abroad. Now in my Golden Year, I enjoy looking back to my cherished memories but am still singing @ home to my # 1 fan (my husband & Maltese twin fur babies), maybe til my last breath. I earnestly thank God for my gift of talent. 🙏❤️✌️🍀
Gerard Larkin Haverstock Esq
I so love this song.
Jd Haynes
I was in love with Teresa, still am after all these years....
Theresa Mooney
Sing with all her songs. Makes me remember my dad💗
LoloDads (IamJun66)
one all-time favorite when I was a kiddo ... those were the days♥♥♥💛💛💛