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 Orchestra
Alvin and The Chipmunks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Hi)
Theodore
(Hi)
Alvin, I see you got here early
And you're rehearsing the band
That's very good
What's that great big expensive
Orchestra waiting for over there?
Oh, boy, I'm sure glad they don't belong to
Alvin, Alvin, say something, Alvin
(Everybody ready Violins, saxophones, trumpets)
You mean you hired all those musicians
(You bet, I did)
You know how much a
Fifty piece orchestra costs
(Ready, boys)
Wait a minute, you don't need
A fifty piece orchestra to play for the three Chipmunks!
Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow
Back to this place I dare not go
For if I do, my mother will say
Did you ever see a tuba swimming off to Cuba?
Down by the bay
Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow
Back to this place I dare not go
For if I do, my mother will say
Did you ever see a trumpet munching on a crumpet?
Down by the bay
Did you ever see a drum chewing bubble-gum?
Did you ever see a trombone gnawing on a dog's bone?
Did you ever see a flute shake a parachute?
Did you see a violin kiss a monkey on the chin?
Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow
Back to this place I dare not go
For if I do, my mother will say
Did you ever see a cymbal sipping from a thimble?
Down by the bay
Alvin, put that baton down and listen to me
You just cannot go around
Listen, fifty musicians costs over
Let me see, two thousand times fifty
Do you realize?
Alvin, stop leading that expensive
Orchestra and come over here
Did you ever see a cello eat a bowl of Jello?
Did you ever see a French horn munch a bag of pop corn?
Did you ever see an oboe dancing with a hobo?
Did you see a clarinet take a kitten to the vet?
Did you ever see a harp playing checkers with a carp?
Did you see a viola eating some granola?
Did you see a bassoon talking to the moon?
Did you ever see a bass race a rocket into space?
Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow
Back to this place I dare not go
For if I do my mother will say
Alvin, will you cut it out?
What do you think we're
Gonna pay this orchestra with chestnuts
Now listen to
Slow down, buddy
I absolutely cannot understand
A single word you're saying
You can't understand a word I'm saying
(Down by the bay)
You can't understand a word I'm saying
Simon, Theodore, will you cut out that
Wah, wah, wah and listen to me
Orchestra, will you please go home?
Alvin, stop leading that orchestra
Alvin, Alvin
(Whole orchestra plays)
The song "Alvin's Orchestra" by Alvin and The Chipmunks is a humorous and playful tune about Alvin's desire to have a large orchestra to play for him and his brothers, Simon and Theodore. The song begins with Alvin rehearsing his band, and Simon and Theodore joining in. Alvin then unveils a large fifty-piece orchestra that he has hired for their performance. However, Simon and Theodore are perplexed as to why there is a need for such a large orchestra when they are only three chipmunks. The rest of the song includes the three chipmunks singing about various instruments doing strange things, such as a tuba swimming off to Cuba or a cello eating Jello.
The lyrics in "Alvin's Orchestra" are both comical and nonsensical, and the song plays on the idea of childlike wonder and imagination. The chipmunks' fascination with the various instruments and the silly scenarios they make up about them add to the whimsy of the song. The use of the orchestra as a prop in this story serves to emphasize Alvin's desire for extravagance and over-the-top entertainment, as well as to provide a contrast between the band and the much larger group of musicians. Ultimately, the song is a fun and light-hearted tune that encourages listeners to let their imaginations run wild.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, hi, Simon
Alvin greets Simon
(Hi)
Simon responds to Alvin's greeting
Theodore
Alvin greets Theodore
(Hi)
Theodore responds to Alvin's greeting
Alvin, I see you got here early
Simon notices that Alvin arrived early
And you're rehearsing the band
Simon notices that Alvin is rehearsing the band
That's very good
Simon praises Alvin for rehearsing the band
You know I would
Alvin responds positively to Simon's praise
What's that great big expensive Orchestra waiting for over there?
Simon asks Alvin about the expensive orchestra waiting nearby
Oh, boy, I'm sure glad they don't belong to Alvin, Alvin, say something, Alvin
Simon is relieved that the orchestra doesn't belong to Alvin and asks him to respond
(Everybody ready Violins, saxophones, trumpets)
Alvin is getting ready to conduct the orchestra
You mean you hired all those musicians
Simon realizes that Alvin hired the orchestra
(You bet, I did)
Alvin confirms Simon's realization
You know how much a fifty piece orchestra costs
Simon comments on the cost of hiring a large orchestra
(Ready, boys)
Alvin ignores Simon's comment and gets ready to conduct the orchestra
Wait a minute, you don't need a fifty piece orchestra to play for the three Chipmunks!
Simon questions the need for such a large orchestra for just the three Chipmunks
Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow
The song begins with the Chipmunks singing about a place called 'down by the bay'
Back to this place I dare not go
The Chipmunks mention a place they don't want to go back to
For if I do, my mother will say
The Chipmunks mention a warning they received from their mother
Did you ever see a tuba swimming off to Cuba?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about a tuba swimming to Cuba
Down by the bay
The Chipmunks sing the chorus of the song
Did you ever see a trumpet munching on a crumpet?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about a trumpet eating a crumpet
Did you ever see a drum chewing bubble-gum?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about a drum chewing bubble-gum
Did you ever see a trombone gnawing on a dog's bone?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about a trombone gnawing on a dog's bone
Did you ever see a flute shake a parachute?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about a flute shaking a parachute
Did you see a violin kiss a monkey on the chin?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about a violin kissing a monkey on the chin
Did you ever see a cymbal sipping from a thimble?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about a cymbal sipping from a thimble
Alvin, put that baton down and listen to me
Simon tells Alvin to stop conducting the orchestra and listen to him
You just cannot go around
Simon cautions Alvin against reckless behavior
Listen, fifty musicians costs over
Simon starts to explain the cost of hiring a fifty piece orchestra
Let me see, two thousand times fifty
Simon calculates the cost of hiring a fifty piece orchestra
Do you realize?
Simon asks Alvin if he understands the cost of the orchestra
Alvin, stop leading that expensive Orchestra and come over here
Simon tells Alvin to stop conducting the orchestra and come to him
Did you ever see a cello eat a bowl of Jello?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about a cello eating jello
Did you ever see a French horn munch a bag of pop corn?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about a French horn munching popcorn
Did you ever see an oboe dancing with a hobo?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about an oboe dancing with a hobo
Did you see a clarinet take a kitten to the vet?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about a clarinet taking a kitten to the vet
Did you ever see a harp playing checkers with a carp?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about a harp playing checkers with a carp
Did you see a viola eating some granola?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about a viola eating granola
Did you see a bassoon talking to the moon?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about a bassoon talking to the moon
Did you ever see a bass race a rocket into space?
The Chipmunks ask a silly question about a bass racing a rocket into space
Alvin, will you cut it out?
Simon tells Alvin to stop whatever he is doing
What do you think we're
Simon asks Alvin a rhetorical question
Gonna pay this orchestra with chestnuts
Simon makes a sarcastic comment about the payment for the orchestra
Now listen to
Simon starts to give instructions
Slow down, buddy
Simon tells Alvin to slow down
I absolutely cannot understand
Simon expresses difficulty in understanding Alvin
A single word you're saying
Simon emphasizes that he can't understand Alvin's words
Simon, Theodore, will you cut out that
Alvin asks Simon and Theodore to stop making noise
Wah, wah, wah and listen to me
Alvin asks Simon and Theodore to focus on him
Orchestra, will you please go home?
Alvin asks the orchestra to leave
Alvin, stop leading that orchestra
Simon tells Alvin to stop conducting the orchestra
Alvin, Alvin
Simon calls Alvin's name
(Whole orchestra plays)
The orchestra plays the outro of the song
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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