“Patty Andrews, the lead singer of the Andrews sisters group was born in Mound, Minnesota on February 16, 1918 in a house that occupied the property where The Gillespie Center stands today.
During the 1920’s Laverne, Maxene and Patty Andrews spent their summers in Mound, living with their parents in a house across the street from the grocery store that was owned by Pete and Ed Sollie, bachelor uncles of the three girls. (Today, Green T Accounting occupies the Sollie grocery store building and The Gillespie Center is on the land where the Andrews Sisters’ house once stood.)” - From a commentary by Tom Rockvam that appeared in The Laker Newspaper during 2005.
They started their career as imitators of an earlier successful singing group, the Boswell Sisters. After singing with various dance bands and touring on Vaudeville, they first came to national attention with their recordings and radio broadcasts in 1937. Their music entertained Allied troops worldwide during World War II, sold war bonds, appeared in several films (including a few Abbott and Costello features), and performed for soldiers serving overseas. Their first film with Abbott and Costello, the pre-war comedy Buck Privates, introduced their best-known recording, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" which would win Best Song at the Academy Awards.
They also recorded many songs with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and other popular artists of the era. Their popularity was such that after the war they discovered that some of their records had actually been smuggled into Germany after the labels had been changed to read "Hitler's Marching Songs."
After a brief hiatus after the war, the sisters regrouped, performing in clubs throughout the United States and Europe. They broke up in 1953, with Patty's choice to go solo. Their last appearance together was in 1962 on The Dean Martin Show. Laverne, who had cancer, retired soon after; she died five years later, in 1967 at the age of 55.
After a long silence, the two surviving sisters had something of a comeback when Bette Midler recorded a cover of their song "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." Maxene and Patty appeared both together and separately throughout the 1970s, with Maxene releasing a solo album in 1986. Their most notable comeback; however, was in the Sherman Brothers' nostalgic World War II musical: "Over Here!" which premiered on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in 1974. The musical featured the two then living sisters (Maxene and Patty) and was written with them in mind for the leads. It launched the careers of many, now notable theater and film icons (John Travolta, Marilu Henner, Ann Reinking, et al). Ironically it was the last major hurrah of the sisters and was cut short due to a frivolous lawsuit initiated by Patty's husband to the show's producers.
Throughout their long career, the sisters had sold over 60 million records. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.
The last of the three sisters Patty Andrews died of natural causes at her home in Northridge, California on January 30, 2013, just 17 days before her 95th birthday. The sisters were interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California, close to their parents.
All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And stares at me
These two teeth are
Gone as you can see
I don't know just who
To blame for this catastrophe
But my one wish on Christmas Eve
Is as plain as it can be
All I want for Christmas
Is my two front teeth
My two front teeth
See my two front teeth
Gee, if I could only
Have my two front teeth
Then I could with you
"Merry Christmas."
It seems so long since I could say
"Sister Susie sitting on a thistle!"
Gosh oh gee, how happy I'd be
If I could only whistle (thh)
All I want for Christmas
Is my two front teeth
My two front teeth
See my two front teeth
Gee, if I could only
Have my two front teeth
Then I could wish you
"Merry Christmas!"
The Andrews Sisters and Danny Kay's cheerful and light-hearted song "All I Want for Christmas" is a fun and catchy tune that revolves around a young child who has lost their two front teeth. The opening lines, "Everybody stops and stares at me, these two teeth are gone as you can see," showcases how the child has now become the center of attention because of their missing teeth. The lyrics then express the child's desire to have their two front teeth back, which they explain has been their one wish on Christmas Eve. They know it's a simple and plain request, but it's important to them.
As the lyrics progress, the child realizes that they are unable to say certain words or phrases, like "Sister Susie sitting on a thistle," due to their teeth's absence. This takes them to their next fervent wish: to be able to whistle once again. They feel that if they can whistle, it will bring them immense happiness. The child wants nothing more for Christmas than their teeth so they can wish everyone a Merry Christmas in a traditional and jolly way.
Line by Line Meaning
Every body stops
When people see my missing front teeth, they stop and stare.
And stares at me
People look at me in surprise because of my two missing front teeth.
These two teeth are
I am missing two front teeth.
Gone as you can see
These front teeth are not in my mouth as anyone can easily observe.
I don't know just who
I really don't have an explanation for why these teeth are missing.
To blame for this catastrophe
I am calling the loss of my front teeth a catastrophe.
But my one wish on Christmas Eve
My only desire for Christmas is revealed on Christmas Eve.
Is as plain as it can be
I am being perfectly clear with my Christmas wish.
All I want for Christmas
I have an uncomplicated Christmas wish.
Is my two front teeth
I want my two front teeth back for Christmas!
My two front teeth
I'm not asking for anything else for Christmas, only my two front teeth.
See my two front teeth
This lyric might describe a smile with the two front teeth on full display.
Gee, if I could only
I would be so overjoyed if I could only get my two front teeth back!
Have my two front teeth
All I really want for Christmas is my front teeth back.
Then I could with you
If I had my front teeth, it would be easier to communicate with you.
"Merry Christmas."
This is the sentiment that I would like to express to you come Christmas.
It seems so long since I could say
I haven't been able to say this phrase for so long.
"Sister Susie sitting on a thistle!"
This is a phrase that I haven't been able to say since I lost my two front teeth!
Gosh oh gee, how happy I'd be
This is how happy I would be if I got my front teeth back!
If I could only whistle (thh)
If I had my front teeth, I could finally whistle!
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Donald Yetter Gardner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sammantha Edwards
This has always been my favorite version of the song! Love it <3
judypriv
I never knew they originated this. How wonderful.
RedEbSeb13
This is my Favorite version!!!! <3
nikki werthmann
I love this song
WellActually
love this {;
tychaton08
MERCI!
Toetyly
my favorite :D
Chiara Mischke
ok my xmas was not very funny until know but that made me laugh^^
Eden Vance
🙂
y.o.l.o
For Beth Llyod