Despite characterizing jazz as "Entartete musik", ironically the Third Reic… Read Full Bio ↴Despite characterizing jazz as "Entartete musik", ironically the Third Reich had their own swing band for propaganda purposes. German propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels conceived of using the style in short wave radio broadcasts aimed at the United States and particularly the United Kingdom. British listeners heard the band every Wednesday and Saturday at around 9 pm.

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 Can't Give You Anything but Love
Charlie and His Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid.
It's not a joke, kid, it's a curse.
My luck is changing, it's gotten from
simply rotten to something worse
Who knows, some day I will win too.
I'll begin to reach my prime.

Now though I see what our end is,

All I can spend is just my time.

I can't give you anything but love, baby.
That's the only thing I've plenty of,baby.

Dream awhile, scheme awhile
We're sure to find

Happiness and I guess
All those things you've always pined for.

Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.

Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
I can't give you anything but love.

Rome wasn't built in a day, kid.
You have to pay, kid, for what you get.
But I am willing to wait, dear,
Your little mate, dear, will not forget.

You have a lifetime before you.
I'll adore you, come what may.

Please don't be blue for the present,
When it's so pleasant to hear you say

I can't give you anything but love, baby.
That's the only thing I've plenty of,baby.

Dream awhile, scheme awhile
We're sure to find

Happiness and I guess
All those things you've always pined for.

Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.

Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
I can't give you anything but love.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Charlie and His Orchestra's "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" describe the difficulty of being broke and the aspirations to provide better things to a loved one. The song relates to the feeling of being cursed and unlucky, having no material possessions to offer, and how one's luck is slowly changing from simply rotten to something worse. The singer expresses the hope of winning someday and reaching their prime, but currently, all they can offer is their time. The song then proceeds to describe the desires and dreams of the singer's loved one, assuring them that they will eventually attain all the things they long for.

The lyrics emphasize the struggles of being broke and unable to provide for one's loved ones. The singer is hopeful that someday, they will be able to fulfill all their loved one's dreams but currently, they are only able to provide love. The song conveys a message that one's material possessions are not enough to make their loved ones happy and that love is the most precious and valuable thing that one can offer. It also suggests that while some things may take time, one should never lose hope and keep dreaming.

Overall, "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" is a beautiful song that highlights the significance of love despite hardships and the importance of hope and dreams.

Line by Line Meaning

Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid.
Being broke is no joke, it's a curse.

It's not a joke, kid, it's a curse.
Being broke is not funny, it's a curse.

My luck is changing, it's gotten from simply rotten to something worse.
My luck has transformed from bad to worse.

Who knows some day I will win too.
Maybe someday I'll have good luck as well.

I'll begin to reach my prime.
I'll come into my best qualities.

Now though I see what our end is, All I can spend is just my time.
I realize we have nothing, except each other and time.

I can't give you anything but love baby.
All I can offer you is love.

That's the only thing I've plenty of, baby.
Love is the only thing that I have in abundance.

Dream awhile, scheme awhile.
Let's dream and plan our future together.

We're sure to find Happiness and I guess All those things you've always pined for.
We will find happiness and all the things you've always desired.

Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
I'd love to see you looking great.

Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.
I want to give you luxurious items that are not sold at Woolworth's.

Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
Until we are fortunate enough to have those things, you understand that all I can give you is love.

Rome wasn't built in a day, kid.
It takes time to accomplish great things.

You have to pay, kid, for what you get.
You need to put effort and pay for what you want in life.

But I am willing to wait, dear.
I'm willing to wait for the things we desire.

Your little mate, dear, will not forget.
I'll never forget that we went through tough times together.

You have a lifetime before you.
You have a whole lifetime to achieve everything you desire.

I'll adore you, come what may.
I'll love and cherish you no matter what.

Please don't be blue for the present,
Don't feel sad right now.

When it's so pleasant to hear you say
It's nice to hear you talk.

I can't give you anything but love baby.
All I can offer you is love.

That's the only thing I've plenty of, baby.
Love is the only thing that I have in abundance.

Dream awhile, scheme awhile
Let's imagine and plan for our future together.

We're sure to find Happiness and I guess All those things you've always pined for.
We'll discover joy and all the material things you've longed for.

Gee I'd like to see you looking swell, baby.
I'd love to see you looking your very best.

Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby.
I want to give you luxurious items that can't be found at Woolworth's.

Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby.
Until we are lucky enough to have those things, you understand that all I can give you is love.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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