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.
Fools Rush In
Teresa Brewer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where angels fear to tread
And so I come to you my love
My heart above my head
Though I see
The danger there
If there's a chance for me
Fools rush in
Where wise men never go
But wise men never fall in love
So how are they to know
When we met
I felt my life begin
So open up your heart and let
This fool rush in
The lyrics to Teresa Brewer's "Fools Rush In" describe the impulsive nature of someone in love who is willing to take a chance despite the potential danger of being hurt. The metaphor of "fools rush in where angels fear to tread" means that someone is venturing into a situation where they may regret their decision, but they do so anyway because of the overwhelming emotions they are feeling. The next line, "and so I come to you, my love, my heart above my head," further emphasizes the idea that the person is following their heart rather than their head.
Despite acknowledging the potential danger, the singer is still willing to take a chance on love: "though I see the danger there, if there's a chance for me, then I don't care." The second verse emphasizes the folly of the singer's decision as they state that "wise men never fall in love." However, the singer argues that wise men are unable to know the joys of love because they never take the risk.
The lyrics reach their emotional climax in the final lines of the song as the singer recalls the moment they fell in love: "when we met, I felt my life begin. So open up your heart and let this fool rush in." Here, the singer is pleading with their love interest to open themselves up to the possibility of love, even if it means taking a chance and risking everything.
Line by Line Meaning
Fools rush in
Impulsive people take risks without considering the consequences
Where angels fear to tread
These risks are usually dangerous or unwise
And so I come to you my love
The singer is addressing her loved one
My heart above my head
The singer is following her emotions rather than her logic
Though I see
Despite recognizing
The danger there
The potential risks of the situation
If there's a chance for me
If there is still hope for a positive outcome
Then I don't care
She is willing to take the risk regardless of the possible danger
Fools rush in
Repeating the notion that impulsive people take risks without consideration
Where wise men never go
It's not rational to take these risks
But wise men never fall in love
The rational approach doesn't always lead to love
So how are they to know
Wise men cannot understand the irrational behavior of falling in love
When we met
Referring to the moment of meeting her loved one
I felt my life begin
The singer felt a newfound sense of purpose and happiness
So open up your heart and let
The singer is asking her loved one to be vulnerable
This fool rush in
She acknowledges her impulsive behavior, but is still willing to take the risk
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Mercer, Rube Bloom
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Benn
Wonderful song by a true musical superstar. Teresa certainly had a great voice & will always be remembered by her many fans.
mrob75
AWESOME! Had never heard this version until now...This has to be the Song Thrush at her best!
C W
THIS WHOLE ALBUM IS GREAT. I WAS ABLE TO BUY IT WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT. JUST ABOUT WORE IS OUT.
Ian Blakesley
Wow! I don't believe either Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Lena Horne or anyone could better this. I had no idea we'd lost this amazing voice so long ago. Thank you so much for posting this.
DJ Reid
So true. I have the album and every song is such a stellar performance, each one, by Teresa Brewer. Fools Rush In is the final song on this album When Your Lover is Gone, and the Love themes Teresa Brewer sings in each line is the perfect voice. I feel this was one of her best works with voice I've ever heard.
TheLimePopsicle
You're welcome! This is my favorite version of "Fools Rush In", it's really beautiful.
Dominique Love
Beautiful,lovely and angel ❤
Ronnie Bishop
What a sex fresh voice. So crispy.
Ronnie Bishop
How many people cut this