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.
Stormy Weather
Teresa Brewer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stormy weather
Since my gal and I ain't together
Keeps rainin' all the time
Life is bare, gloom and misery everywhere
Stormy weather
Just can't get my poor old self together
So weary all the time
When she went away, the blues walked in and they met me
If she stays away, that old rockin' chair's gonna get me
All I do is pray the Lord above will let me
Walk in the sun once more
Can't go on, everything I had is gone
Stormy weather
Since my gal and I ain't together
Keeps rainin' all the time
Keeps rainin' all the time
(When she went away, the blues walked in and met me)
(If he stays away, old rockin' chair will get me)
(All I do is pray the Lord above will let me)
(Walk in the sun once more)
Can't go on, everything I had is gone
Stormy weather
Since my gal and I ain't together
Keeps rainin' all the time, the time
Keeps rainin' all the time
Teresa Brewer's song Stormy Weather is a reflection of the singer's emotions and mood after a break-up with her lover. The first two lines set the mood and the setting for the song by referencing the lack of sunlight in the sky, which is symbolic of the singer's gloomy state of mind. The singer notes that it's been raining all the time since the separation, which signifies the constant pain and sadness that she is experiencing. She further goes on to describe how her life is filled with misery and despair, and she can't seem to get herself back together.
The second verse talks about how the singer's joy has left her life, and she is left with nothing but sorrow and gloom. The motif of the rain and bad weather continues, serving as a metaphor for the singer's emotional state, which is dismal and unproductive. The third verse highlights the extent of the singer's pain and suffering by reflecting on her future without her lover. She prays to God for a chance to walk in the sun once again, signifying her hope for a brighter and better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't know why there's no sun up in the sky
I am puzzled why the sky is gloomy and dark all the time.
Stormy weather
The weather is unpleasant and distressed, signifying my inner emotions.
Since my gal and I ain't together
My lover and I have parted ways, which has caused this emotional turmoil within me.
Keeps rainin' all the time
I feel like there is no end to my sadness and distress; it just keeps pouring out.
Life is bare, gloom and misery everywhere
Everything around me feels empty, sad, and hopeless, which adds to my emotional distress.
Just can't get my poor old self together
I cannot seem to pull myself together and feel better, no matter how hard I try.
I'm weary all the time, the time
I feel tired and drained, both physically and emotionally, all the time.
When she went away, the blues walked in and they met me
After my lover left, a deep sadness and depression consumed me.
If she stays away, that old rockin' chair's gonna get me
If my lover never returns, I fear I will become completely consumed by my sadness and never get up from my rocking chair again.
All I do is pray the Lord above will let me
All I can do is hope and pray that God will lift me out of this emotional abyss and let me feel happy again.
Walk in the sun once more
I long to feel happy, joyful, and carefree again, like I used to be when my lover and I were together.
Can't go on, everything I had is gone
I feel like I cannot continue living this way, as everything I held dear, including my lover, has been taken away from me.
Keeps rainin' all the time
No matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to shake this feeling of sadness and misery; it just keeps pouring out and never stops.
Keeps rainin' all the time
Reiterating the point that my emotional distress seems never-ending; it won't stop raining.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, S.A. MUSIC
Written by: Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind