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.
Let me go
Teresa Brewer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
- Artist: Joan Weber
- peak Billboard position # 1 for 4 weeks in 1955
- competing versions charted by Teresa Brewer with The Lancers (#6),
Patti Page (#8), Sunny Gale (#17), and Peggy Lee (#26)
- Words and Music by Jenny Lou Carson and Al Hill
(Go . . . go . . . go)
Oh, let me go
Let me go
Let me go, lover
Let me be
Set me free
>From your spell
You made me weep
Cut me deep
I can't sleep, lover
I was cursed
>From the first
Day I fell
You don't want me
But you want me
To go on wanting you
Now I pray that
You will say that
We're through
Please turn me loose
What's the use?
Let me go, lover
Let me go
Let me go
Let me go
You made me weep
Cut me deep
I can't sleep, lover
I was cursed
>From the first
Day I fell
You don't want me
But you want me
To go on wanting you
Now I pray that
You will say that
We're through
Please turn me loose
What's the use?
Let me go, lover
Let me go
Let me go
Let me go
The lyrics to Joan Weber's song "Let Me Go, Lover" speak to the pain and frustration of being trapped in a love that is not reciprocated. The song's narrator begs her lover to release her from his spell and set her free, lamenting the way he has made her weep and cut her deep. Despite her feelings of love and devotion, she recognizes that she needs to break free from his hold and move on with her life.
The lyrics are simple but effective in conveying the emotions of the song's narrator. She is trapped in a cycle of longing and rejection, desperate to be released from the pain that her lover has caused her. The repetition of the phrase "Let me go" throughout the song emphasizes the singer's desperation and desire for freedom.
Overall, "Let Me Go, Lover" is a powerful song that captures the pain and frustration of unrequited love. It speaks to the universal experience of being trapped by our own desires and the struggle to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, let me go
I want to leave this relationship
Let me go
I am begging you to let me go
Let me go, lover
I don't love you anymore, please let me go
Let me be
I want to be free from your control
Set me free
I want to be released from your hold on me
>From your spell
You have enchanted me, but I want to break free
You made me weep
You have hurt me deeply
Cut me deep
Your actions have caused me immense emotional pain
I can't sleep, lover
You are causing me so much distress that I can't even rest
I was cursed
I feel like a curse has been placed on me since meeting you
>From the first
From the beginning of our relationship, things were not right
Day I fell
The day I fell in love with you was the beginning of my downfall
You don't want me
You don't truly want me, but you don't want anyone else to have me either
But you want me
You want me to stay with you against my will
To go on wanting you
You want me to continue to have feelings for you even though you don't reciprocate
Now I pray that
I am desperately hopeful that
You will say that
You will finally tell me that
We're through
Our relationship is over
Please turn me loose
Please release me from this loveless relationship
What's the use?
There is no point in holding on if there is no love between us
Let me go
I am begging you to let me go
Let me go
I want to leave this relationship
Let me go
Please let me go
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Benjamin Weisman, Fred Wise, Jenny Lou Carson, Kay Twomey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-uk2ji1yw5t
Songs like these takes me back when I was just a small boy in the 50's Thank you for posting this
@user-xu4rf2lx2v
I was told that 7 people who heard my mom sing said she sounded alot like Teresa Brewer...I was the eighth person to agree! They were spot-on!!! And so was I.
@videomillsy
I remember this coming out when I was a child and for some reason, it always set my mother off laughing until we were all in tears of laughter.
@gladyssanderson9556
These songs are unconnected distant memories. That's why they vary so much.
@ronaldgarrett409
One of my favorites growing up as a young fella .Early 50’s with some Johnny Ray songs ❤️🎼❤️ I loved Music ❤️🎼❤️
@davepolo1079
Yes Johnny Ray! "Cry" "Just Walkin' In The Rain"
@josantillan9370
One of my favorite singer...
@claytonbrown6929
Loved listening to her since the early 50's
@donnalayton6876
I was a teenager when this came out. That was a long time ago. Still love to hear Theresa.
@iandeans8709
My dad bought a pianola roll of this song.....it one of my favourites when I was a kid growing up.