Yes Indeed
Sy Oliver & His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Chorus:]
Yes, indeed!
Yes, indeed!
You'll shout when it hits you
Yes indeed
Yes yes
Yes you'll shout when it hits you
Yes indeed
When the spirit moves you you'll shout hallelujah
I mean
When it it hits you you'll holler
Yes indeed
Yes yes
It comes out if it's in you, yes indeed
Yes indeed
Makes you shout, Jack, it sends you
Yes indeed
Well let me hit you
When the jive starts jumping you'll shout
Let me in there
Well all right now
When it hits you you'll holler
Yes indeed
Yes indeed
The song "Yes Indeed" by Sy Oliver is an upbeat and exultant tune that celebrates the joy and excitement of music. The repetitive refrain of "Yes indeed" serves as a kind of call-and-response between the singer and the listener, urging both to join in the fun and energy of the music. The song uses a lot of slang and colloquial language, which reflects the African American cultural context in which it was created and performed.
The lyrics convey a sense of abandon and release, encouraging the listener to let go of inhibitions and be swept up in the rhythms and melodies of the music. The chorus mentions "making with the jive," which refers to dancing and indulging in the pleasures of swing music. The song also references spiritual and religious themes, as evidenced by the use of the word "hallelujah" and phrases like "when the spirit moves you." This suggests that music is not just a form of entertainment or diversion, but a powerful force that can uplift and inspire the soul.
In addition to its lyrical content, "Yes Indeed" is noteworthy for its musical arrangement and performance. Sy Oliver was a renowned bandleader and arranger who worked with many of the biggest names in jazz and swing music during the 1930s and 1940s. His arrangement of "Yes Indeed" features a driving rhythm section, wailing horns, and a catchy melody that is easy to sing along to. The song has become a classic of the swing era and continues to be performed and enjoyed by music lovers of all ages.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes, indeed!
An enthusiastic affirmation
Yes, indeed!
A repeat of the affirmation
Yes, indeed!
A third confirmation of affirmation
Get to making with the jive, boy
Start dancing to the lively music, young man
You'll shout when it hits you
You will feel so much joy that you will shout uncontrollably
Yes indeed
A confirmation of the previous statement
Yes yes
An additional affirmation of the previous statement
Yes you'll shout when it hits you
A reassurance that the joy will cause one to shout
When the spirit moves you you'll shout hallelujah
When overcome with emotion, you will shout praises to God
I mean
An interjection to emphasize what was previously said
When it it hits you you'll holler
When the music moves you, you will cry out in excitement
Yes indeed
An affirmation of the previous statement
Yes yes
An additional affirmation of the previous statement
It comes out if it's in you, yes indeed
If you have the spirit, it will show in your actions
Yes indeed
An affirmation of the previous statement
Makes you shout, Jack, it sends you
The music will make you shout and feel as though you are being sent away
Yes indeed
An affirmation of the previous statement
Well let me hit you
Let me demonstrate for you and show you how it's done
When the jive starts jumping you'll shout
Once the music becomes lively, your excitement will increase and you will shout even more
Let me in there
Let me join in with the dancing and celebration
Well all right now
An expression of excitement and enthusiasm
When it hits you you'll holler
A repetition of the idea that the music will move you to shout
Yes indeed
An affirmation of the previous statement
Yes indeed
A final confirmation of the overall message
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARY C BROCKERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Trombonology
Trumpeter, vocalist, composer, and my favorite arranger, the great Sy Oliver, came up with this righteous quasi-spiritual while still in the employ of Jimmie Lunceford. Surprisingly, perhaps, the bandleader stuffily refused to record the song, finding it "sacrilegious." Later, when Sy had moved on to the Tommy Dorsey aggregation (lured from his dream of chucking orchestra work and studying law by the trombonist's promise of $5000/year more than Lunceford paid him -- remember, Sy joined TD in '39!), the bespectacled bandleader asked his star arranger to come up with something for his, Tommy's, pal, Bing, to record. Sy dug out "Yes Indeed!" which was duly executed, in September of '40, by frequent duet partners, Crosby and Connee Boswell, and brother Bob's band-within-a-band, The Bob Cats. It didn't end there, though: the Dorsey crew would take its whack, in its own way, at Oliver's glorious ode to salvation through music. The chart originally called for the entire instrumental ensemble to participate with Sy in the vocal chorus, but when he wasn't getting the feel he wanted from the band, he enlisted the services of The Pied Pipers' lead singer, Jo Stafford, who, Sy later related, immediately understood what he was after, and, with the arrangement revamped on the spot, the band pulled this one off in one take. Recorded February 17, 1941, in the arranger's trademark 2/4 time, at a session which also produced memorable treatments of Sy's charts for "Swanee River," Deep River" and Oliver original, "Swing High," this jubilant side is historic in being possibly the first interracial duet in pop music -- if anyone is aware of another such instance that precedes this one, please let me know. The also extremely fetching "Let Me Off Uptown," recorded by Gene Krupa's orchestra, with the fantastic Anita O'Day-Roy Eldridge duet, was waxed approximately three months after Dorsey's "Yes Indeed!" Sy's soft, amiable tone and Jo's clarion, bluesy notes, and the pair's hip delivery, are irresistible. Listen, too, for Buddy Rich's impeccable drumming and pianist Joe Bushkin's beautiful comping in the vocal chorus. ... Let me in there!
@iamfelixthecat7233
One of my favorite cats. 😎
@paulbrewer2374
Great comments. Thank you!
@theprophylacticprotectagai2069
Great comment & insight tho couldnt give a fark about the racial sjw BS... look at The Young QUEEN Ella Mae Morse that even today Black people first listen claim is Black... etc etc Great Music is Great Music
@Trombonology
@The Prophylactic Protect against MSM Thank you. ... Please identify where in my comment that I presented it as either fact or opinion that this side's being possibly a first instance of an interracial pop music duet in any way enhances the inherent quality of the music. It was, like other portions of my statement, background information. It seems to me that your characterization of "racial sjw BS" reveals far more about your, dare I say, "agenda" than my initial comment does about mine.
@alonzochurch3194
Pop music is a fluid term. Hoagy Carmichael and Louis Armstrong duet on a version of Rocking Chair way back in 1929. That may not meet your definition.
@shrinebox
Now this number has got some SOUL.
@jonhester8909
DJ Quads - Cruise Around brought me here. Great song.
@Joemiles27
When I worked at rca in the 40s ,I use to sneak up to bldg. 10 on the seventh floor just to watch them press a lot of my favorite records.
@jeffdawson2786
A colossal sheet of sound. When Tommy’s band sunk their teeth into a tune, they swung hard and lovely.