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.
Indian Love Call
Charlie and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep, keep
Keep, keep
Keep, keep
When I'm calling you
Dop-dop-dop-dee-dop-dop
Will you answer too?
Dop-dee-dop-dee-dop-dop-dop
(All time, all time)
That means I offer my love to you to be your own
If you refuse me, I will be blue and waiting all alone
But when you hear my love call ringing clear
(Oh hear, oh hear)
And I hear your answering echo so dear
(Oh echo, oh echo)
Then I will know our love will become true
You'll belong to me, I'll belong to you
The song "Indian Love Call" by Charlie and His Orchestra is a love song that expresses a longing for a response from the person being addressed. The lyrics use certain sounds like "dop-dop-dop-dee-dop-dop" and "dop-dee-dop-dee-dop-dop-dop" to mimic the sound of a love call. The lyrics then go on to express a desire to offer love and be with the person being addressed. The singer says that if the person refuses their love, they will be sad and lonely. However, if the person responds to their love call, they will know that their love can become true.
The song captures a sense of romantic longing and expresses the vulnerability of offering love to someone who may or may not feel the same way. The use of sound in the lyrics adds a playful and whimsical element that underscores the idea of calling out for love.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep, keep
Repetition of the phrase may indicate a call for attention or an attempt to maintain focus
When I'm calling you
Addressing the person they love and expressing their desire to communicate with them
Dop-dop-dop-dee-dop-dop
Nonsensical syllables that represent the music being played in the background
(All right, all right)
Expressing reassurance that everything is going fine
Will you answer too?
Asking their love interest if they will respond to the call
Dop-dee-dop-dee-dop-dop-dop
Continuation of the nonsensical syllables representing the music
(All time, all time)
Emphasizing the importance of the moment and the love they want to express
That means I offer my love to you to be your own
Conveying a message of love and requesting permission to be the beloved's significant other
If you refuse me, I will be blue and waiting all alone
Expressing the impact that their love interest's response will have on them and how it will leave them feeling if rejected
But when you hear my love call ringing clear
Hopeful that their love interest will hear their message and respond positively
(Oh hear, oh hear)
Adding emphasis to the hope that their love interest hears their message
And I hear your answering echo so dear
Anticipating a positive response from their love interest with a metaphor of an 'answering echo'
(Oh echo, oh echo)
Adding emphasis to the anticipation of a positive response
Then I will know our love will become true
Stating their belief that a positive response will lead to a true and meaningful love
You'll belong to me, I'll belong to you
Imagining a future with their love interest where they both belong to each other
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto A. Harbach, Rudolf Friml
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ryan Murphy
on Dinah
Thanks for these lyrics. Fine music.