branched out into music, but that is the opposite of how they began. After first being brought to life in Bagdasarian's 1950s novelty recordings under the name David Seville and the Chipmunks, the characters were an unprecedented success, and the singing Chipmunks and their manager were given life in several animated cartoon series and motion pictures.
The voices of the group were all performed by Bagdasarian, who sped up the playback to create the higher pitched, squeaky voices. This process was not entirely new; Bagdasarian had also used it for a previous novelty song project, "The Witch Doctor", but it was so unusual and well executed it earned the "trio" two Grammy Awards for engineering. Although the characters were fictional, they did release a long line of "real" albums and singles, with "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" becoming a number-one hit single in the United States. After his death in 1972, the voices of the Chipmunks were subsequently recorded by his son, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., and his wife, Janice Karman, in all subsequent incarnations to date.
Alvin's Harmonica
Alvin and The Chipmunks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
D:Alvin, put that harmonica down.
A:Why?
D:Because we're gonna sing, that's why
A:Not again!
D:Never mind. Now look fellas, this is a pretty song so let's try not
to goof it up. Are you ready, Simon?
D:All set, Theodore?
T:Hot dog, you bet!
D:Are you ready, Alvin? Ready, Alvin? Alvin!!
A:Aw, nuts!
C:We sure like girls all kind of girls
From Annie to Veronica
We like them small or fat or tall
A:I want to play my harmonica!
D:Now cut that out
C:And everyone to get a kiss
We take them through for popcorn
Because they always fall in love
A:When I play my harmonicorn (sic)!
D:Alvin!!
D:Will you put that thing down and sing?
A:OK!
C:We sure like girls all kind of girls
From Annie to Veronica
We like them small or fat or tall
A:I'm gonna play my harmonica!!
D:All right, Alvin. Make a fool of yourself. Play the harmonica
After a few bars of harmonica music, the Chipmunks suddenly
burst out with "Cha-cha-cha!"
D:Now wait a minute, you guys! Alvin, you're goofing it all up!
This was a pretty song, it's not supposed to be a-
C:Cha-cha-cha! (continue to "cha-cha-cha" while David Seville speaks)
D:Now look what you did! You got them all cha-chaing and singing
and wrecking the song! Theodore...Simon...orchestra will you cut
that out?! Alvin put that harmonica down! Alvin! Alvin! (fades)
The lyrics to Alvin and The Chipmunks' song, "Alvin's Harmonica," begin with David Seville asking Alvin to put his harmonica down, as they are going to sing a song. Alvin protests because he wants to play his harmonica. David Seville tries to get the group focused on singing a pretty song, but Alvin keeps interrupting to play his harmonica. The Chipmunks describe their preference for all kinds of girls, and Alvin interrupts again to play the harmonica. The song continues with David Seville scolding Alvin for goofing up the song and for getting everyone to "cha-cha-cha" and sing along.
The song seems to satirize the idea of a boy band innocently singing about their love of all girls and the danger of one member disrupting the group's harmony. Alvin's disregard for the rules is quite similar to certain members of boy bands who defy their managers' guidelines and try to hog the spotlight. The song is meant to be light-hearted and funny as the Chipmunks try to stick to the rules of the song while Alvin tries to make the song his own by playing his harmonica.
Line by Line Meaning
Alvin, put that harmonica down.
D tells Alvin to stop playing harmonica and join them for singing.
Why?
Alvin is asking why he should stop playing harmonica.
Because we're gonna sing, that's why
D replies that they will sing together hence he should stop playing.
Not again!
Alvin is complaining about singing again.
Never mind. Now look fellas, this is a pretty song so let's try not
to goof it up. Are you ready, Simon?
D asks others to focus as it is a pretty song and begins taking their readiness.
Sure, let's go
Simon agrees to begin the song.
All set, Theodore?
D confirms Theodore's readiness for the song.
Hot dog, you bet!
Theodore confirms his readiness to sing in his own way.
Are you ready, Alvin? Ready, Alvin? Alvin!!
A distracted Alvin's readiness is asked multiple times by D.
Aw, nuts!
Alvin expresses his annoyance and disappointment.
We sure like girls all kind of girls
From Annie to Veronica
We like them small or fat or tall
Chipmunks sing about the kind of girls they like.
I want to play my harmonica!
Alvin is still distracting himself with the harmonica.
Now cut that out
D commands Alvin to stop playing the harmonica.
And everyone to get a kiss
We take them through for popcorn
Because they always fall in love
Chipmunks talk about their plan of getting a kiss from girls they like.
When I play my harmonicorn (sic)!
Alvin is trying to justify playing harmonica with their plan of getting a kiss.
Will you put that thing down and sing?
D again tells Alvin to put the harmonica down and start singing.
OK!
Alvin finally agrees to sing.
I'm gonna play my harmonica!!
Alvin still insists on playing the harmonica.
All right, Alvin. Make a fool of yourself. Play the harmonica
D sarcastically permits Alvin to play the harmonica.
Cha-cha-cha!
Chipmunks suddenly start singing and cha-chaing in between the song.
Now wait a minute, you guys! Alvin, you're goofing it all up!
D interrupts the song and blames Alvin's distracting behavior for ruining it.
This was a pretty song, it's not supposed to be a-
D is frustrated and stops himself from speaking further about the song's undesired direction.
Cha-cha-cha! (continue to "cha-cha-cha" while David Seville speaks)
Chipmunks keep singing and cha-chaing despite D's interruption.
Now look what you did! You got them all cha-chaing and singing
and wrecking the song! Theodore...Simon...orchestra will you cut
that out?! Alvin put that harmonica down! Alvin! Alvin! (fades)
D blames and scolds Alvin for ruining the song and commands others to stop. The scene fades while D continuously calls Alvin's name to stop him from playing the harmonica.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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