He was the youngest of seven children: five boys, Larry (1895-1975), Everett (born 1896), Ted (born 1900), Harry (1903-1977, popularly known as Bing Crosby) and Bob; and two girls, Catherine (born 1905) and Mary Rose (born 1907). His parents were English-American bookkeeper Harry Lowe Crosby (1871-1950) and Irish-American Catherine Harrigan (1873-1964), (affectionately known as Kate), the daughter of a builder from County Mayo in Ireland. His paternal ancestors Thomas Prence and Patience Brewster were born in England and immigrated to the U.S. in the 17th century; Brewster's family came over on the Mayflower.
Bob Crosby started singing with Anson Weeks (1931-34) and the Dorsey Brothers (1934-35). He led his first band in 1935, when the former members of Ben Pollack's band elected him as titular leader. His most famous band, the Bob-Cats, was a Dixieland jazz group with members from the Bob Crosby Orchestra. Both the Bob Crosby Orchestra and the smaller Bob-Cats group specialized in Dixieland jazz, presaging the traditional jazz revival of the 1940s. Crosby's singing voice was remarkably similar to that of his brother Bing, but without its range.
The Bob Crosby Orchestra and the Bob Cats included (at various times) Yank Lawson, Billy Butterfield, Muggsy Spanier, Matty Matlock, Irving Fazola, Ward Silloway, Warren Smith, Eddie Miller, Joe Sullivan, Bob Zurke, Jess Stacy, Nappy Lamare, Bob Haggart, Walt Yoder, Jack Sperling, and Ray Bauduc.
Hits included "Summertime" (theme song), "In a Little Gypsy Tea Room," "Whispers in The Dark," "South Rampart Street Parade," "March of the Bob Cats," "Day In, Day Out," "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby," "Dolores" and "New San Antonio Rose" (last three with Bing Crosby). A remarkable bass and drums duet between Haggart and Bauduc, "Big Noise From Winnetka," became a hit in 1938-39.
The Big Noise From Winnetka
Bob Crosby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who was the hippest chick in town.
They call her Big Noise from Winettka.
Miss Birdie's sure to get around.
Big Noise flew in from Winnetka,
Stole each fellow's heart and then
Big Noise flew in from Winnetka,
Big Noise flew right out again.
Stop! Look! Listen! Here comes the Big Noise!
I am the one they call the Big Noise.
I'm looking fine and feeling sharp.
I just flew in from Winnetka, don't you know?
I'm gonna blow this joint apart!
I got my high heels! I don't need no wheels!
My footwork is an art!
You know the joint is jumpin',
My heart is pumpin',
And this is just the start!
Whoa! I was a big noise from Winnetka,
I'll be a big noise in your heart!
Whooooa!
Tempting when she's walkin',
Tempting when she's talkin'!
Listen to her squakin'!
There she goes 'round again,
Up and then down again,
In and then out, ooooh, bop!
"Hi! Welcome to another foul evening with the Divine Miss M!
"After many a summer dies the swan,"
But not when their stuck in a turkey as big as this one!
Watch us as we scratch and claw out hour
Upon the stage in yet another feeble-minded attempt
To turn chicken shit in to chicken salad.
Make no mistake about it, eggs will be laid tonight!
Ain't that right girls? Oh, my girls.
My three favorite schochkies on the breakfront of life.
I'll never forget the first time I found these girls,
Selling their papayas on 42nd Street. So flushed, so filthy.
The astonishing verbal abuse they heaped upon me made me certain
We were destined to share the stage someday.
Not only are my girls fine singers and dancers,
Not only are they gorgeous and talented,
But they also think I'm god!
Ain't that right, girls?
They function as a greek chorus.
These girls don't know shit about Euripides,
But they know plenty about Trojans.
Ladies and gentlemen, a rousing hand for the semi-classical
Harlettes! Laides!
Alright girls, sing 'em your siren song, go ahead.
Turn them men into pigs. Not the band, you idiots.
Those, that bunch right over there in the front row.
Not much of a challenge, huh?
This group is already well on its way to oink oink land.
Oops, so sorry. Once again behaving in a manner I had sworn to aschew.
Thank you. Once again falling into the vat of vulgarity.
Oh tut tut. I did so want to leave my sordid past behind and emerge
Form this project beathed in a new and ennobling light.
I wanted to come out and be the sweet, pure, honest,
Unadorned person that I really really am.
I wanted to show you the good beneath the gaudy,
The saint beneath all this paint, the sweet, pure,
Winsome little soul that lurks beneath this lurid exterior.
But fortunately, just as I was about to rush down the path
To repectability and righteousness,
A wee small voice called out to me in the night
And reminded me of the motto by which I've always tried to live my life:
F$CK 'EM IF THEY CAN'T TAKE A JOKE!"
[From the soundtrack:] "Hi! "After many a summer dies the swan,"
But not when she's stuck in a turkey the size of this one!
Make no mistake about it folks, eggs will be laid tonight!
Ain't that right girls? Oh, my girls.
My three favorite schochkies on the breakfront of life.
I'll never forget the first time I found these girls,
Peddling their papayas on 42nd Street.
Not only are my girls fine singers and dancers,
Not only are they gorgeous and talented,
But they also think I'm god!"
I am the one they call the bi-I-I-I-g noise!
I am a living work of art!
I just flew in from Winnetka, daddy-o!
I'm gonna blow this joint apart!
Everyone has a bit of big noise in his heart.
Everyone loves a little sin.
Well, I'm gonna be the first girl in the line
When the festivities begin!
I was a scandle, too hot to handle!
They said, "You'd best depart!"
Oh! Exit Big Noise from Winnetka.
Enter
Enter! Enter!
Big Noise in his heart!
The lyrics to Bob Crosby & His Orchestra Featuring The Bobcats’s song “Big Noise from Winnetka” tell the story of a young girl who was the hippest chick in town. The girl is called the big noise from Winnetka, and the song emphasizes how she stole every fellow's heart and then flew out of Winnetka. The lyrics also talk about how she just flew into town, is looking fine and feeling sharp, and is going to blow this joint apart. The big noise from Winnetka is not only an object of temptation when she walks and talks, but also a living work of art.
The song is an upbeat and joyful instrumental composition that features a clarinet and trumpet duet. The lyrics act as a compliment to the instrumental melody, driving the listener to move their feet and dance. The song is a classic swing jazz tune that was popular in the 1930s and 40s, during the swing era. The song showcases the classic swing jazz big band sound and features a fast-paced beat that is sure to get listeners moving.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the story of a young girl
Let me tell you about a young girl
Who was the hippest chick in town.
She was the coolest girl around.
They call her Big Noise from Winettka.
Everyone knows her as Big Noise from Winnetka.
Miss Birdie's sure to get around.
She's popular and moves around a lot.
Big Noise flew in from Winnetka,
She came to town from Winnetka.
Stole each fellow's heart and then
She captured the hearts of all the men.
Big Noise flew right out again.
But she didn't stay for long.
Stop! Look! Listen! Here comes the Big Noise!
Everyone stop and pay attention, because Big Noise is here!
I am the one they call the Big Noise.
I am Big Noise.
I'm looking fine and feeling sharp.
I look good and feel confident.
I just flew in from Winnetka, don't you know?
I just arrived from Winnetka, in case you didn't hear.
I'm gonna blow this joint apart!
I'm going to liven up this place!
I got my high heels! I don't need no wheels!
I'm wearing heels and don't need a car.
My footwork is an art!
I am a skilled dancer.
You know the joint is jumpin',
You can tell that the party is lively.
My heart is pumpin',
My heart beats faster.
And this is just the start!
This is only the beginning.
Whoa! I was a big noise from Winnetka,
I used to be Big Noise from Winnetka,
I'll be a big noise in your heart!
But I can still be an important part of your life.
Tempting when she's walkin',
She looks tempting when she walks.
Tempting when she's talkin'!
She sounds tempting when she talks!
Listen to her squakin'!
Listen to her speak loudly!
There she goes 'round again,
She's moving around again.
Up and then down again,
She goes up and then down.
In and then out, ooooh, bop!
She goes in and then out quickly!
"Hi! Welcome to another foul evening with the Divine Miss M!"
Introduction to a show with the Divine Miss M.
"After many a summer dies the swan,"
Quoting a poetic line.
But not when their stuck in a turkey as big as this one!
But not when they're stuck in a situation as silly as this one!
Watch us as we scratch and claw out hour
Watch us as we struggle and work hard for our performance
Upon the stage in yet another feeble-minded attempt
We are trying once again.
To turn chicken shit in to chicken salad.
To turn something bad into something good.
Make no mistake about it, eggs will be laid tonight!
We will have success tonight!
Ain't that right girls? Oh, my girls.
Don't you agree, my favorite girls?
"My three favorite schochkies on the breakfront of life."
My three favorite girls in the world.
I'll never forget the first time I found these girls,
I remember when I first met these girls.
Selling their papayas on 42nd Street. So flushed, so filthy.
Selling fruit and looking unclean on 42nd Street.
The astonishing verbal abuse they heaped upon me made me certain
The mean things they said to me made me determined
We were destined to share the stage someday.
We were meant to perform together.
Not only are my girls fine singers and dancers,
My girls are not only beautiful, but they are talented performers as well.
Not only are they gorgeous and talented,
They are both attractive and skilled.
But they also think I'm god!
They also admire me greatly!
Ain't that right, girls?
Isn't that true, girls?
These girls don't know shit about Euripides,
These girls do not know a lot about literature.
But they know plenty about Trojans.
But they know a lot about certain products!
Ladies and gentlemen, a rousing hand for the semi-classical Harlettes!
Please applaud the semi-classical Harlettes!
Alright girls, sing 'em your siren song, go ahead.
Girls, sing your best songs for the audience!
Turn them men into pigs.
Make them men fall in love with you.
Not the band, you idiots.
I'm not talking about the musicians!
Those, that bunch right over there in the front row.
I mean those people sitting in the front.
Not much of a challenge, huh?
It won't be hard to get them to like you!
This group is already well on its way to oink oink land.
They are already acting like pigs!
Oops, so sorry. Once again behaving in a manner I had sworn to aschew.
Oops, I'm sorry. I'm acting in a way I promised I wouldn't anymore.
Thank you. Once again falling into the vat of vulgarity.
Thanks. Once again acting vulgar.
Oh tut tut. I did so want to leave my sordid past behind and emerge
Oh dear. I was hoping to be better and more respectable.
Form this project beathed in a new and ennobling light.
To be part of this project with dignity and honor.
I wanted to come out and be the sweet, pure, honest,
I wanted to be seen as a kind, pure, and honest person.
Unadorned person that I really really am.
The unpretentious person I truly am.
But fortunately, just as I was about to rush down the path
But luckily, just as I was about to go down the wrong path
To repectability and righteousness,
To become more respectable and righteous,
A wee small voice called out to me in the night
I heard a tiny voice speak to me in the dark
And reminded me of the motto by which I've always tried to live my life:
And reminded me of my life's motto
F$CK 'EM IF THEY CAN'T TAKE A JOKE!"
Don't worry about those who can't handle humor!
[From the soundtrack:] "Hi! "After many a summer dies the swan,"
From the soundtrack, a reminder of the poetic line
But not when she's stuck in a turkey the size of this one!
But not when she's in a silly situation like this!
Make no mistake about it folks, eggs will be laid tonight!
We will have a successful performance tonight!
Peddling their papayas on 42nd Street.
Selling their fruit on a busy street.
But they also think I'm god!"
But they also admire me greatly!
I am the one they call the bi-I-I-I-g noise!
I am still Big Noise!
I am a living work of art!
I am a beautiful and impressive person!
I just flew in from Winnetka, daddy-o!
I just arrived from Winnetka, man!
Everyone has a bit of big noise in his heart.
Everyone has a part of Big Noise within them.
Everyone loves a little sin.
Everyone enjoys a little bad behavior.
Well, I'm gonna be the first girl in the line
I'll be the first one to start the party!
When the festivities begin!
When the party gets started!
I was a scandle, too hot to handle!
I was a scandalous person, too wild to control!
They said, "You'd best depart!"
They told me to leave!
Oh! Exit Big Noise from Winnetka.
And that's when Big Noise left Winnetka.
Enter
But now a new, even bigger Big Noise enters!
Enter! Enter!
Here comes the new and improved Big Noise in town!
Big Noise in his heart!
The memory of Big Noise is still in everyone's hearts!
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB CROSBY, BOB HAGGART, GIL RODIN, RAY BAUDUC, ROBERT HAGGART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@manfulify
The song that inspired Ed, Edd, n Eddy's theme! Definetly a classic! We need classy songs like this nowadays.
@postproductions2466
I came here straight from Ed Edd n Eddys wikipedia page
@ShizukuSeiji
Love how the drummer makes it look so effortless. What a cool cat.
@HotVoodooWitch
They both make it look SO EASY. I'm floored.
@porteii
Fantastically cool! 😎
@loumcconnell503
Ray Bauduc !
@michavandam
He's a Bobcat!
@UPdan
He's got a China cymbal on the bass drum. Trend setter.
@philipkreitzer8677
Just read an old letter from my father, a jazz buff, deceased at age 87, 2 years ago. He wrote, "one number that blew me away was performed by only two cats, Ray Bauduac and Bobby Hackett. I just listened. It blew me away and brought my dad back home. Nirvana
@sophiaperon
Bob Haggert on bass/whistling.