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.
I'll never say "never again"
Charlie and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause here I am in love again,
Head over heels in love again with you.
I'll never say "never kiss you" again
Cause here I am kissing you again.
That's just the thing I said I'd never do.
I walked away and said goodbye.
I missed you so, I thought I'd die
But it's all over now.
My hat's in the sky.
I'll never say "never again" again
Cause here I am in love again,
Head over heels in love again with the same sweet you.
The lyrics to Charlie and His Orchestra's "I'll Never Say 'Never Again' Again" are a reflection of the singer's love for someone. The singer confesses that they had previously promised themselves that they would never return to this person, but now they find themselves head over heels in love with them once again. The chorus repeats the title phrase multiple times, emphasizing the singer's realization that their previous vow was shortsighted and naive.
The verses provide more context for the singer's feelings. They describe a prior moment when they walked away and said goodbye to their loved one, expressing regret for their hastiness. The singer missed their loved one so much that they thought they would die, but now they are back together and happy. The final line of the song, "My hat's in the sky," adds a note of triumph-- the singer is so happy that they're throwing their hat up in celebration.
Overall, "I'll Never Say 'Never Again' Again" is a love song about repentance and forgiveness. It acknowledges past mistakes but celebrates the joy of being in love once again.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll never say "never again" again
I am retracting my previous statement that I will never do something again.
Cause here I am in love again,
I have fallen in love once more.
Head over heels in love again with you.
I am deeply in love with you.
I'll never say "never kiss you" again
I am taking back my previous vow to never kiss you again.
Cause here I am kissing you again.
I am once again engaged in the act of kissing you.
That's just the thing I said I'd never do.
This is the exact action I declared that I would never do again.
I walked away and said goodbye.
I left and bid farewell to you in the past.
I was hasty, wasn't I?
I acted too quickly, didn't I?
I missed you so, I thought I'd die
I longed for you intensely, to the point of feeling like I would perish without you.
But it's all over now.
Those feelings are no longer present as the situation has changed.
My hat's in the sky.
I am celebrating this change and feeling optimistic.
I'll never say "never again" again
I am reiterating my previous statement that I will no longer say "never again".
Cause here I am in love again,
Again, I have fallen in love.
Head over heels in love again with the same sweet you.
And specifically, I am in love with you, the same person I was in love with before.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY WOODS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ryan Murphy
on Dinah
Thanks for these lyrics. Fine music.