Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
Mildred Bailey · Other Songs - Mildred Bailey
Honey, though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can't say anything uptight
It's better not to talk at all, is my advice
We're parting, you'll go your way, I'll go mine
I have just this to do
Give a little kiss and hope that it brings
Lots of love to you
Makes no difference how Jerry carries on (but I'll make it, baby!)
Please don't talk about me when I'm gone
Please don't talk about me, honey, when I'm gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can't say anything real nice
You better not talk at all, is Jerry's advice
We're parting, you'll go your way, I'll go mine
I have just this to do
Here's a little kiss, I hope it brings
Lots and lots of love to you
Makes no difference how I carry on
Please don't talk about me
Please don't talk about me
Please don't talk about me
Please don't talk about me
Please don't talk about me
Please don't talk about me, honey
Please don't talk about me when I'm gone
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
Mildred Bailey's 1934 recording of "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" stands as a quintessential example of the Great American Songbook, showcasing her exceptional vocal control and emotional depth. Performed in the swing era, the track features the iconic composition by George and Ira Gershwin, which Bailey delivered with a blend of cool detachment and underlying melancholy that defined her signature style. As one of the most recorded versions of the standard, her interpretation highlights the song's themes of betrayal and the passage of time, cementing her status as a leading interpreter of Gershwin's work during the mid-1930s. This recording remains a critical reference point for understanding the vocal nuances of the swing era and the enduring appeal of the Gershwin brothers' theatrical ballads.