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.
Pledging My Love
Teresa Brewer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always and forever I'll love only you
Just promise me darling your love in return
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
My heart's at your command dear
To keep love and to hold
Making you happy is my desire dear
I'll forever love you
For the rest of my days
I'll never part from you
Or your loving ways
Just promise me darling your love in return
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
My heart's at your command dear
To keep love and to hold
Making you happy is my desire dear
loving you is my goal
I'll forever love you
For the rest of my days
I'll never part from you
Or your loving ways
Just promise me darling your love in return
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
The song "Pledging My Love" by Teresa Brewer is a declaration of everlasting love from one person to another. The lyrics emphasize the unconditional nature of this love, promising to love and stay loyal to the recipient forever. The singer declares their willingness to make their partner happy and keep them close, as they are their ultimate goal. The singer is burning with passion and desire to keep the flame of their love burning for eternity.
The lyrics are straightforward, yet powerful, conveying the depth and intensity of the singer's love for their partner. The repetition of certain phrases, such as “forever my darling” and “just promise me darling,” underscores the unwavering commitment of the singer to their beloved. The use of “my command” suggests a sense of surrender and devotion to the recipient of the love.
Overall, the song is a beautiful tribute to eternal love, conveying the depth of emotion and commitment between two people. It captures the essence of true love with the singer’s unwavering devotion and desire to keep their beloved happy.
Line by Line Meaning
Forever my darling our love will be true
Our love will last forever and be genuine.
Always and forever I'll love only you
I will never stop loving you, now and always.
Just promise me darling your love in return
Please promise to love me back.
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
I hope to keep the passion and love for you burning inside me forever.
My heart's at your command dear
I give you authority over my heart.
To keep love and to hold
To cherish and possess love within our relationship.
Making you happy is my desire dear
My ultimate goal is to bring happiness to you.
Keeping you is my goal
I will do everything in my power to keep you by my side.
I'll forever love you
I will love you for eternity.
For the rest of my days
For the remainder of my life.
I'll never part from you
I will never leave you.
Or your loving ways
I will always appreciate and reciprocate your affection.
Just promise me darling your love in return
Please promise to love me back.
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
I hope to keep the passion and love for you burning inside me forever.
My heart's at your command dear
I give you authority over my heart.
To keep love and to hold
To cherish and possess love within our relationship.
Making you happy is my desire dear
My ultimate goal is to bring happiness to you.
loving you is my goal
To love you is the most important thing to me.
I'll forever love you
I will love you for eternity.
For the rest of my days
For the remainder of my life.
I'll never part from you
I will never leave you.
Or your loving ways
I will always appreciate and reciprocate your affection.
Just promise me darling your love in return
Please promise to love me back.
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
I hope to keep the passion and love for you burning inside me forever.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Don Robey, Fats Washington
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lenny Buttz
The way that horn cries sends chills down my back. I love Teresa's version.
Yolanda Johnson
I love this song by both Teresa and Johnny. They both sung it in their own special way
TheLimePopsicle
It's an LP which collected many of Teresa's recent (at the time) single hits, including this one.
Bruce Powell
What a true artist who gave is so much.
Jim Sharp
One of the nicest to slow dance to. Thanks CatsPjamas1
#slowdance
Paul Kesler
Okay, a bit more "pop" than Ace's version, but still very nice, with a tasteful laid-back arrangement and superb trumpet work. Not easy to score with a cover version so soon after the original, but Teresa does it here.
Nicholas
AWESOME
cvueguy
She was born Teresa Breuer May 7,1931 in Toledo, Ohio. Debuted on Major Bowes Amateur Hour, age 5 and toured with show until age 12. Appeared on Pick & Pat radio show. First recorded for London 1949. In film "Those Redheads From Seattle" 1953.
Teresa passed away Oct.17,2007 at age of 76
Classic Cool 24/7 www.cvue.ca
Daniel Langlois
Love you forever and always, Teresa
Walter L.
...Intesting to hear this , far more 50s pop , arrangement . That illo of a 50s EP or an LP ? %Did this song , either way , originally appear on it ?