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


"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. The lyrics are an admonishment between parting lovers, where the singer asks the other to either speak nicely of her, or not at all.
Early hit versions in 1931 were by Gene Austin and Bert Lown.

Other notable recordings

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.
The song was used in the film House of Strangers 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, 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.