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.

You Can't Stop Me From Dreaming
Charlie and His Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You can stop me from kissing you,
You can stop me from cuddling too,
You can treat me mean
Honey, that's all right, but
I'll get even with you tonight
Cause you can't stop me from dreaming!

You can stop me from holding hands,

Make me listen to your commands,
You can say: "No, no!" honey that's all right

But I'll get even with you tonight
Cause you can't stop me from dreaming
From one o'clock till nine
I'll dream you're mine,
I'll steal a kiss

See what you're gonna miss
You can stop me romancing you,
You're the boss now but we're not through
You can turn me down, honey, that's all right

But I'll get even with you tonight,
Cause you can't stop me from dreaming!

Overall Meaning

The song "You Can't Stop Me From Dreaming" by Charlie and His Orchestra is a playful yet empowering tune about a lover who cannot be stopped from dreaming about the one they love, even if they are denied physical affection. The lyrics suggest that despite the other person's attempts to control or mistreat the singer, they refuse to let go of their desire for them. The repeated phrase "but I'll get even with you tonight" implies that the singer is confident in themselves and their ability to ultimately come out on top.

The song has a catchy swing rhythm that adds to its playful tone. The trumpets punctuate the lyrics with a jaunty melody, while the saxophones and drums keep the beat steady. The singer's voice is smooth and sultry, creating a sense of seduction and flirtation that supports the song's message of playful power dynamics.

Overall, "You Can't Stop Me From Dreaming" is a fun and lighthearted song that celebrates the tenacity of romantic desire, even in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

You can stop me from kissing you,
You have the power to prevent me from expressing my affection through kissing,

You can stop me from cuddling too,
You can also prevent me from showing physical affection through cuddling,

You can treat me mean Honey, that's all right, but
Even if you mistreat me, I will not be deterred, because

I'll get even with you tonight,
I will retaliate against you in some way this evening,

Cause you can't stop me from dreaming!
Because nothing can prevent me from having aspirations and desires, even if you interfere with my physical expression of affection.

You can stop me from holding hands,
You can prohibit me from demonstrating my love through holding hands,

Make me listen to your commands,
You can force me to obey your orders,

You can say: "No, no!" honey that's all right
Even if you reject my advances, I will not be discouraged,

But I'll get even with you tonight Cause you can't stop me from dreaming
Because nothing can prevent me from harboring aspirations and hopes for the future, even if you try to thwart my romantic intentions.

From one o'clock till nine I'll dream you're mine,
For hours on end, I will imagine that you belong to me,

I'll steal a kiss See what you're gonna miss
I might sneak a kiss even if it's against your wishes, just to show you what you're missing,

You can stop me romancing you,
You can prevent me from courting and wooing you,

You're the boss now but we're not through
You may be in charge of this situation at present, but our relationship is not over yet,

You can turn me down, honey, that's all right
If you refuse me, I am not discouraged,

But I'll get even with you tonight,
But I will find some way to retaliate against you this evening,

Cause you can't stop me from dreaming!
Because nothing can prevent me from having aspirations and hopes, even if you try to block our physical expressions of affection.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVE FRANKLIN, CLIFF FRIEND

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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