“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. It charted first in 1931 and was sung by Gene Austin. It is regarded as a classic break-up song. The lyrics are an admonishment between parting lovers, where the singer asks the other to either speak nicely of her, or not at all.
In the first verse, the singer pleads with the listener to refrain from speaking negatively about them once they are no longer present. The phrase “Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone” expresses their vulnerability and sensitivity towards gossip or ill intentions in their absence. They acknowledge that their friendship has come to an end, adding a layer of finality to the situation. The line “though our friendship ceases from now on” reveals the bitter reality of a relationship that has run its course.
The second verse delves deeper into the dynamics of the failed friendship. The lyrics depict a situation where both parties are unable to find common ground, leading to a constant state of disagreement. The line “Doesn’t matter if I’m right or wrong” suggests that the singer has accepted the futility of the ongoing conflicts, emphasizing that it is not about winning or losing arguments, but rather the inability to find harmony.
Sidney Clare (1892-1972) was a Tin Pan Alley songwriter who got his start on the vaudeville circuit. Later on he found his way to Hollywood where he worked on music for over 50 films, including some very successful ones. He co-wrote Shirley Temple’s song, “On the Good Ship Lollipop” and I Think You’re Ducky which was used as the Looney Tunes theme song from 1933-1936.
The other writer, Sam Stept, was actually born in Russia in 1897. His family moved three years later to Pittsburgh where he grew up. Stept joined a publishing house as staff pianist, then tried vaudeville. During the 1920’s he began collaborating on songs with an assortment of writers. On such collaboration created Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone. Like Clare, he wound up writing for Hollywood but eventually focused on music publishing.
