The purpose of the band was to stir pro-Nazi sympathy, draw attention to World War II Allied losses, and carry Adolf Hitler's messages in an entertaining form. The songs stressed how badly the war was going for the target audience, and how it was only going to be a matter of time before they would be beaten.
Led by German accented front man Karl Schwedler ("Charlie"), conducted by Lutz Templin, and paced by drummer Fritz "Freddie" Brocksieper, the band included Kurt Abraham on reeds and Willy Berking on trombone. The group formed in 1940, making over 90 recordings between March 1941 and February 1943. Arrangements were by Templin, Willy Berking, and Franz Mück, with lyrics written by the Propagandaministerium. Schwedler was allowed permission to travel to neutral and occupied countries to collect jazz and dance music, which helped the band and propaganda ministry to craft more recordings.
Popular American swing songs - and popular British tunes/songs - were initially performed true to the original, until about the second or third verse which were replaced by pro-German lyrics and monologues. For example, in the tune You're Driving Me Crazy, Schwedler croons about the confusion of new love, and in the third verse continues: Here is Winston Churchill's latest tear-jerker: Yes, the Germans are driving me crazy / I thought I had brains / But they shot down my planes..." Later, the entire lyric would be modified, clearly based on the original. The band even recorded some "cover versions" of the originals, unaltered.
Indeed, anecdotal accounts indicate that Winston Churchill enjoyed the broadcasts, finding the lyrics hilarious.
Many of the members of Charlie and his Orchestra went on to successful careers in music after the war.
Adieu Mon Père
Charlie and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah ah ah ah ah
Adieu monsieur mon amour
Ah ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah ah
Adieu monsieur mon amour
Adieu monsieur
De notre adieu
Un autre amour pourra renaître
Celui qui part abandonnant celle qu'il aime
En disant "au revoir"
Qui sait, lui dit peut-être "adieu"
Peut être à demain
Peut-être à jamais
Adieu monsieur mon amour
Peut être à demain
C'est vous que j'aimais
Adieu monsieur mon amour
Voici mon cœur
Emportez-le dans vos bagages
C'est une fleur
Que j'ai cueilli à mon corsage
Si par hasard
Vous le gardez dans vos voyages
Ce n'est qu'un au revoir
Mais je vous dis quand même adieu
Peut-être à demain
Peut-être à jamais
Adieu monsieur mon amour
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
The song Adieu Mon Père by Charlie and His Orchestra is a melodramatic piece about a woman saying farewell to her lover. The song starts with repeated ah's in the background which gives a sense of mourning or sadness. In the first verse, the woman bids adieu to her love and reminds him that it’s not necessarily forever (ce n'est qu'un au revoir peut-être). The second verse, the woman remarks that even though the man is leaving her, she believes he’ll find another love after her (un autre amour pourra renaître). The woman then goes on to accept the man's goodbye but hopes that he'll come back to her. The chorus is repeated twice and emphasizes that the woman isn't sure if it's a definitive goodbye or if the two will see each other again.
The next verse has the woman offer her heart to the man and asks him to take her heart with him on his journeys as a symbol of their love. She then says that while it's just a "goodbye for now," she's still saying "goodbye" (Ce n'est qu'un au revoir, mais je vous dis quand même adieu"). The song ends with a repetition of the chorus and the lamenting ah's in the background.
Overall, the song showcases a feeling of melancholy, sadness, and loss. The woman is clearly heartbroken yet accepting of the man's departure, choosing to opt for a hopeful outlook that they may see each other again.
Line by Line Meaning
Adieu monsieur
Goodbye sir
Ce n'est qu'un au revoir peut-être
It's only a goodbye, perhaps
De notre adieu
From our farewell
Un autre amour pourra renaître
Another love may be born
Celui qui part abandonnant celle qu'il aime
He who leaves behind the one he loves
En disant "au revoir"
Saying "goodbye"
Qui sait, lui dit peut-être "adieu"
Who knows, maybe he says "farewell"
Peut être à demain
Maybe until tomorrow
Peut-être à jamais
Maybe forever
Adieu monsieur mon amour
Goodbye sir, my love
C'est vous que j'aimais
It is you that I loved
Voici mon cœur
Here is my heart
Emportez-le dans vos bagages
Take it with you in your luggage
C'est une fleur
It is a flower
Que j'ai cueilli à mon corsage
That I picked from my corsage
Si par hasard
If by chance
Vous le gardez dans vos voyages
You keep it in your travels
Mais je vous dis quand même adieu
But I still say goodbye to you
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jean Broussolle, Sidney Norman, Ted Gilbert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marylenedsg2978
Merci beaucoup aux musiciens de Johnny Hallyday c était beau et émouvant merci beaucoup cordialement Marylène
@franckymadadi833
C'est le plus grand Plus de quatre-vingt millions de disques en France
@lilinana7266
Oh punaise jen nai chialer pendant la vision en direct dans mon salon..il part avec tout nos souvenir dans ces musiques...un grand monsieur...
@edithpautot-pc1cc
Merci les musiciens accompagnés jonny Hallyday c est un beau partage il repose en paix
@chrisv3918
Bordel quel accompagnement a notre jojo, le meilleur rif de guitare possible.. je peux la revoir 1000fois …❤️🔥❤️🔥
@willm301
Merci JJG pour JH, superbe chanson avec l'envie
@melindabenzerrouk6232
Je suis et je serai toujours en larmes devant notre Elvis Presley français. Je t'aime et on t aime Johnny ❤❤💖💖💖
@phillipcharmois2694
Tout comme moi je suis en larme lorsque je regarde ces vidéo repose en paix Johnny
@EA-cq2pw
Je suis libanais et tellement attache a johnny . Que son ame repose en paix ❤
@bernadettecarlen8474
Tout le monde était la pour toi Johnny