That Old Black Magic
Spike Jones His City Slickers Lyrics
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My two front teeth (thweeth)
My two front teeth. (thweeth)
Gee, if I could only have my two front teeth (thweeth)
Then I could wish you Merry Christmas.
It seems so long since I could say:
"Sister Susie sitting on the front steps."
All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth
My two front teeth (thweeth)
My two front teeth.
Gee, if I could only have my two front teeth (thweeth)
Then I could wish you Merry Christmas.
The lyrics to the Spike Jones & His City Slickers' song "That Old Black Magic" are not related to the lyrics to "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth". The latter is a Christmas song that expresses the simple wish of the singer to have their two front teeth back, so they can properly say words without whistling. The song's simplicity and innocence are perfectly suited for the holiday season, as it harkens back to childhood nostalgia and the simple pleasures of the season. The repetition of the phrase "my two front teeth" reinforces the longing for something that may seem trivial but is important to the singer.
The line "Sister Susie sitting on the front steps" is a reference to an old tongue-twister, often used as a vocal exercise, which makes sense in the context of the song since the singer has trouble properly enunciating without their front teeth. The mention of wishing for their teeth so they can wish everyone a Merry Christmas is a sweet sentiment and emphasizes the importance of communication and connection during the holidays.
Line by Line Meaning
All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth (thweeth)
The only thing the singer desires for Christmas is to have their two missing front teeth.
My two front teeth (thweeth)
The singer emphasizes that they are missing two front teeth by repeating the pronunciation with a noticeable lisp.
My two front teeth.
The repetition of the previous line further emphasizes the importance of the singer's missing teeth.
Gee, if I could only have my two front teeth (thweeth)
The artist expresses a sense of longing and desperation to have their two front teeth.
Then I could wish you Merry Christmas.
The artist wishes to be able to say 'Merry Christmas' properly, which is not possible due to their missing teeth.
It seems so long since I could say:
The singer reminisces about a time when they were able to speak properly.
"Sister Susie sitting on the front steps."
The singer remembers a particular phrase they used to say, which highlights their current struggle with speaking.
Every time I try to speak all I do is whistle: ssssssss.
The artist is unable to properly articulate words due to the absence of their front teeth, causing them to whistle when attempting to speak.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vestibulate
Billy Barty is tremendous here. In just a couple of minutes we get to see his energy, wit, vocal range and broad comic abilities. What a gifted and wise performer.
@educatethemax9714
And all these shows were done LIVE! What timing, what talent. Nothing like it anymore. Thank goodness for YouTube preserving such wonderful entertainment history.
@i-a-g-r-e-e-----f-----jo--b
Live, but I am guessing they rehearsed.
@gregorypalmer5403
Supposedly he got the Network to pay for guys who timed sight and sound gags for cartoons. Spike Jones was hard working, always thinking, and his band had a reputation among experts as one of the best in terms of technique .
@kenkemzura903
Had the pleasure of meeting Billy Barty in the 1990's on two occasions. I remember he had a kids show on a local station in the mid 1960's. He would end it by always saying, " Always think big!"
Thank you Billy for all the great memories and your contributions.
@Blissterd1
So cool to see Billy Barty here! In the 80's, I was an extra on Wierd Al Yankovic's film "UHF" and during a night shoot outside of Tulsa, OK where it was shot, during crowd scenes at the "TV station", I was hanging out, waiting for them to set the next shot when I heard that little voice of his say, "Hey buddy, could you give me a lift?" It was Billy, who wanted me to help him onto the hood of a truck so that he could watch what was going on. (BTW, I am 6' 4"!) I heaved him like a beer keg onto the truck and hung out with him and chatted until he was ready to go get ready for his next shot. Such a fun memory!
@petermaxwell2965
You must be like a 💯 ! Lol
@houngandave
what impresses me, is how much talent he had. i knew how funny he was, i didn't know he could sing or do such great impressions.
@Zeusmelikios
The great Billy Barty!? Wonderful!!!
@THE-HammerMan
That's one great great memory! Billy Barty was a gifted man. A truly generous and 'liked by all' personality. He was as big as they come!