“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.
Hohokus N.j
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the birds sing all day long.
And it gave us the inspiration,
From which we wrote the following song:
I remember t'was September,
When the crocus first awoke us
To Ho-Ho-Kus, nj
Moppin' up the local color
Of Ho-Ho-Kus, nj
We dropped in at a movie
And sat next to a Queen
Who was every bit as groovy
As the ones on the screen.
So we wrote this hocus-pocus,
So attention we could focus
On Ho-Ho-Kus, nj.
I'll go my way, you go your way
And we'll never meet in Rahway
Or Ho-Ho-Kus, nj
All the sweater girls in Teaneck,
Wear a devastating V-neck
They're peculiar that way.
A feller from Bogota
Who would never be missed,
Buys a gal a cherry-soda
And expects to be kissed.
It's lonesome in Passaic,
But the town that takes the ca-ik,
Is Ho-Ho-Kus, nj.
If you want to, you can walk us
To a town they call Secaucus,
Near Ho-Ho-Kus, nj
'Cause the fra-cus will be rauc-ous
When Ho-Ho-Kus meets Secaucus
In the big game today.
The ones to whom we've spoken
Never heard of the town.
They confuse it with Sha-no-ken
And it gets us down.
So we wrote this little opus,
Which we'll sing until they choke us
'Bout Ho-Ho-Kus, nj
The Andrews Sisters' song "Ho-Ho-Kus N.J." is a playful tribute to the tiny town in New Jersey which inspired them. According to the song, the town is full of charming details, such as the birds singing all day long, and "sweater girls" who wear V-necks. The lyrics describe a trip that the sisters took to Ho-Ho-Kus, where they ate crullers and attended a movie theater. The town's quirky characteristics, such as a fella from Bogota who buys a woman a cherry soda and expects a kiss in return, add to the whimsy of the song.
Despite the fun and frivolous tone of the song, the Andrews Sisters also convey a fondness for the town and its inhabitants. The song ends with a call to walk to nearby Secaucus to see a big game, with the premise being that the fra-cus will be rauc-ous when the two towns meet. Overall, "Ho-Ho-Kus N.J." paints a charming and whimsical picture of a small town that inspires creativity and nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
We know a town in the heart of New Jersey,
We are aware of a particular town located in the central part of New Jersey.
Where the birds sing all day long.
The town is characterized by constant bird singing throughout the day.
And it gave us the inspiration,
The town being described was the source of inspiration for the following song.
From which we wrote the following song:
The observations made about the town were turned into the lyrics of a song.
I remember t'was September,
The specific time period being referred to is September.
When the crocus first awoke us
The blooming of crocus flowers served as the event that caught our attention.
To Ho-Ho-Kus, nj
Our attention was directed to the town of Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey.
We were dunkin' with a cruller
We were enjoying a type of pastry called a cruller while observing our surroundings.
Moppin' up the local color
We were taking in and appreciating the distinctive features and characteristics of the town.
Of Ho-Ho-Kus, nj
The town that we were taking note of is Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey.
We dropped in at a movie
We went to watch a movie during our visit to the town.
And sat next to a Queen
We sat beside a woman who was fashionable and eye-catching, like a queen.
Who was every bit as groovy
She had a cool and stylish attitude that matched the images of the actresses on screen.
As the ones on the screen.
This woman was just as trendy and entertaining as the actresses being portrayed in the movie.
So we wrote this hocus-pocus,
We were inspired to write a lighthearted and nonsensical song about our visit to Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey.
So attention we could focus
The song was written with the intention of capturing and drawing people's interest to this overlooked town.
On Ho-Ho-Kus, nj.
The main subject of our song was the town known as Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey.
I'll go my way, you go your way
We will separate and continue with our own journeys in life.
And we'll never meet in Rahway
This line serves as a playful exaggeration that emphasizes the distance between where we parted ways and the town referred to in the song.
Or Ho-Ho-Kus, nj
This line emphasizes that we will never be together again in the town that inspired our song, Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey.
All the sweater girls in Teaneck,
This line refers to the fashionable young women living in the nearby town of Teaneck, New Jersey.
Wear a devastating V-neck
These women commonly wear low-cut sweaters that showcase their cleavage, which the Andrews Sisters humorously describe as 'devastating.'
They're peculiar that way.
This remark suggests that the tradition of wearing low-cut sweaters is unique to the women in Teaneck, New Jersey.
A feller from Bogota
This line refers to a man who is from the town of Bogota, New Jersey.
Who would never be missed,
This suggests that this particular man has little significance to the Andrews Sisters or to anyone else.
Buys a gal a cherry-soda
This man purchased a cherry-flavored soda for his female companion.
And expects to be kissed.
The man is hopeful that his gesture will result in a romantic kiss from the woman.
It's lonesome in Passaic,
This line suggests that the nearby town of Passaic, New Jersey can be a lonely and uneventful place.
But the town that takes the ca-ik,
However, the town that has a more exciting and lively atmosphere is Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, where the 'cake' (or the excitement) is seemingly taken.
Is Ho-Ho-Kus, nj.
Therefore, Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey is emphasized as the central town of interest in the song.
If you want to, you can walk us
The Andrews Sisters invite the listener to join them as they continue their journey by foot.
To a town they call Secaucus,
The Andrews Sisters suggest that the listener can accompany them to the nearby town of Secaucus, New Jersey.
Near Ho-Ho-Kus, nj
This line suggests that Secaucus is in close proximity to our main town of interest, Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey.
'Cause the fra-cus will be rauc-ous
This line expresses that there will be a lot of noise and commotion due to the big game happening between Ho-Ho-Kus and Secaucus.
When Ho-Ho-Kus meets Secaucus
The two towns are rivals that will confront each other in a big game.
In the big game today.
This is a reference to the sports game that will take place between the two towns on the day of our song's creation.
The ones to whom we've spoken
Those we've asked about and spoken to about Ho-Ho-Kus either never heard of it or mistake it for another town.
Never heard of the town.
This line emphasizes that many people in the area do not know of Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, despite its being the subject of the song.
They confuse it with Sha-no-ken
People are misidentifying Ho-Ho-Kuo, New Jersey with another nearby town called 'Sha-no-ken.'
And it gets us down.
This line implies that the Andrews Sisters are upset about the confusion and lack of recognition Ho-Ho-Kus is receiving.
So we wrote this little opus,
The Andrews Sisters decided to write this song as a means of bringing attention and appreciation to Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey.
Which we'll sing until they choke us
The Andrews Sisters are determined to keep singing this song until people start recognizing Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey and give it the recognition it deserves.
'Bout Ho-Ho-Kus, nj.
The subject of this song and the central town of interest is Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey.
Contributed by Austin I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
J Parker
on Crazy Arms
And I'll move the mountains
If he wants them out of the way
Crazy, he calls me
Sure I'm crazy
Crazy in love, I'd say
I say I'll go through fire
And I'll go through fire
As he wants it, so it will be
Crazy, he calls me
Sure I'm crazy
Crazy in love, you see
Like the wind that shakes the bough
He moves me with a smile
The difficult I'll do right now
The impossible will take a little while
I say I'll care forever
And I mean forever
If I have to hold up the sky
Crazy, he calls me
Sure I'm crazy
Crazy in love am I
Like the wind that shakes the bough
He moves me with a smile
The difficult I'll do right now
The impossible will take a little while
I say I'll care forever
And I mean forever
If I have to hold up the sky
Crazy, he calls me
Sure I'm crazy
Crazy in love am I
sonichits has completely wrong lyrics for this song. Correct ones are - Now blue ain't the word for the way that I feel
And the storm's brewing in this heart of mine
This is no crazy dream I know that it's real
You're someone else's love now you're not mine
Crazy arms that reach to hold somebody new
But my yearning heart keeps saying you're not mine
My troubled mind knows soon to another you'll be wed
And that's why I'm lonely all the time
Please take the treasured dreams I have for you and me
And take all the love I thought was mine
Someday my crazy arms will hold somebody new
But now I'm so lonely all the time
interlude
Crazy arms that reach to hold someone new
But my yearning heart keeps saying you're not mine
My troubled mind knows soon that you soon will be wed
And that's why I'm lonely all the time
Crazy arms and lonely all the time
Harold Chernofsky
on Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
i love them