Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone

For Nelson Algren's 1947 story, see The Neon Wilderness.

"Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" is a song published in 1930. It was written by Sam H. Stept with lyrics by Sidney Clare. The original publication also credited singer Bee Palmer as co-composer. ^[1]

Background

The lyrics are an admonishment between parting lovers, where the singer asks the other to either speak nicely of her, or not at all. ^[2]

1931 recordings

Early hit versions in 1931 were by Gene Austin and Bert Lown. ^[3]

Other notable recordings

• Ethel Waters – recorded February 10, 1931 for Columbia Records (catalog No. 2409D). ^[4]
• Doris Day – in her album Lullaby of Broadway (1951). ^[5]
• The Mills Brothers with Tommy Dorsey and His Sentimentalists (1951). ^[6]
• Johnnie Ray (1953) ^[7] This charted briefly in the No. 29 spot. ^[8]
• Billie Holiday – included in her album Velvet Mood (1956). ^[9]
• Bing Crosby (1957) ^[10]
• Bill Haley & His Comets – for the album Rockin' the Oldies (1957). ^[11]
• Kay Starr – included in her album Losers, Weepers (1960) ^[12]
• Dean Martin – for his album This Time I'm Swingin'! (1960). ^[13]
• Mose Allison – for his album Takes to the Hills (1961). ^[14]
• Frank Sinatra – for his album Swing Along with Me (1961). ^[15]
• Sammy Davis Jr. – included in the album The Sounds of '66 (1966). ^[16]
• Connie Francis – included in her album Connie & Clyde – Hit Songs of the 30s (1968). ^[17]
• Helen Humes – for her album Songs I Like To Sing! (1961). ^[18]
• Ann-Margret – for her album The Vivacious One (1962). ^[19]
• Ray Price – included in the album Portrait of a Singer (1985). ^[20]
• Piano Red – in the album Percussive Piano "Dr. Feelgood" (1976). ^[21]
• Leon Redbone – for his album Champagne Charlie (1978). ^[22]
• Ella Fitzgerald – with Count Basie & His Orchestra, in the album A Perfect Match (1979). ^[23]
• Pete Seeger & Arlo Guthrie – on the 1981 live recorded album Precious Friend. ^[24]
• Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys – this can be found on the album The Tiffany Transcriptions Vol. 3: Basin Street Blues (1984). ^[25]
• Rita Reys – included in the album Live at the Concertgebouw (1986). ^[26]
• Harry Connick Jr. and Carmen McRae – included in the album 20 (1988). ^[27]
• Jerry Lee Lewis – included in the compilation box set All Killer, No Filler: The Anthology issued in 1993. ^[28]
• Willie Nelson – for his album Moonlight Becomes You (1994). ^[29]
• Barney Bigard – in the album Barney Bigard in Chronology 1944-1945 (1997). ^[30]
• Dean Martin and Robbie Williams – included in the album Forever Cool (2007) ^[31]
• Deana Martin – included on her album Volare, ^[32] released in 2009 by Big Fish Records.
• The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band in 2009

Film appearances

• This song is sung by Norma Shearer's character Mary Haines in the 1939 film The Women as a joke when she leaves her girl friends alone at tea while she takes a call from her philandering husband Stephen Haines. ^[33]
• The song was used in the film House of Strangers (1949) when it was performed by Dolores Parker at the restaurant.
• In the 1950 film The Breaking Point , it was sung by Patricia Neal at the bar.
• In Lullaby of Broadway (1951), it was sung by Gladys George.
• The song was also sung by the character Michigan J. Frog in the 1955 Warner Bros. animated short, One Froggy Evening .

In popular culture

• Television anchor Edwin Newman sang the song during his hosting of Saturday Night Live in 1984.
• Jamie Cullum also performed the song on the last Michael Parkinson chat show in December 2007.

References

1. H, Stept, Sam; Sidney, Clare; Bee, Palmer; Harry, Connick Jr; Brothers, The Mills; Ella, Fitzgerald; Frank, Sinatra; Carmen, McRae; Billie, Holiday (5 April 2010). "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
2. "Billie Holiday - PLEASE, DON'T TALK ABOUT ME WHEN I'M GONE Lyrics". Metrolyrics.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2008. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
3. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p.  568. ISBN   0-89820-083-0.
4. "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
5. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
6. "Mills Brothers And Tommy Dorsey And His Sentimentalists - Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
7. "Johnnie Ray -". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
8. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p.  362. ISBN   0-89820-083-0.
9. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
10. "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
11. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
12. "Kay Starr - Losers, Weepers". Discogs.com. 1960. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
13. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
14. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
15. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
16. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
17. "www.discogs.com". www.discogs.com. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
18. "Helen Humes - Songs I Like To Sing!". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
19. "Miss Ann-Margret* - The Vivacious One". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
20. "Ray Price – Portrait Of A Singer (1986, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
21. "Piano Red – Percussive Piano "Dr. Feelgood" (1976, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
22. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
23. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
24. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
25. "Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys – The Tiffany Transcriptions Vol. 3: Basin Street Blues (1988, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1988. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
26. "Rita Reys, Trio Pim Jacobs, Louis van Dijk – Live At The Concertgebouw (1986, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1986. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
27. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
28. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
29. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
30. "www.discogs.com". www.discogs.com. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
31. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
32. "www.discogs.com". www.discogs.com. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
33. "Songs P-Q | Billie Holiday Songs". www.billieholidaysongs.com. Retrieved 2025-08-17.