“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.
Hold Tight
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't get icky with the one two three
Life is just so fine on the solid side of the line, rip
Hold tight, hold tight, hold tight, hold tight
Fododo-de-yacka saki
Want some sea food, Mama
Shrimps and rice they're very nice
Fododo-de-yacka saki
Want some sea food, Mama
Shrimps and rice they're very nice
I like oysters, lobsters too
I like my tasty butter fish, foo
When I come home late at night
I get my favorite dish, fish
Hold tight, hold tight, hold tight, hold tight
Fododo-de-yacka saki
Want some seafood, Mama
Shrimps and rice they're very nice
Bad da do da,a, da de do da do da, ba da da da do da
Fododododo Yacka sacki
Want some seafood, Mama
Shrimps and rice they're always very nice
Fododo dya, Fododo dya Fododo-de-yacka saki
Want some seafood Mama
Oh, won't you give it to me
'Cause I'm as happy as can be
When the seafood comes to me
La-da-da, la-da-da, la-da-da
I like oysters, lobsters, too
Ba-da-da-dat-dat-da-dada-data
When I get home late at night
I get my favorite dish, fish
Hold tight, hold tight, hold tight, hold tight
Fododo-de-yacka saki
Want some sea food, Mama
Shrimps and rice are very nice
Hold tight, won't cha hold tight
Hold tight, fododododo yacka sacki
Want some seafood, Mama
Shrimpers a-hand ri-hice a-hare very nice
I like oysters, lobsters, too
I like my tasty butter fish, Joe
When I come home late at night
Drip drip dripin' on the window pane
Wash it
Hold tight do-dat-do-day
Hold tight she wants some seafood, Mama
Shrimpers and rice they're very nice
I like oysters, lobsters too,
I like my tasty butter fish, foo
When I come home late at night
I get my favorite dish, fish
Hold tight, hold tight
Hold tight, hold tight
Want some seafood, oh Mama
Shrimpers and rice, oh hold tight
The Andrews Sisters' song "Hold Tight" is about a love for seafood and how it makes the singer happy. The song's lyrics encourage the listener to enjoy the food and not worry about anything else. The opening lines suggest going from one place to another, specifically from Broadway to Cincinnati, while also cautioning the listener not to get "icky" with the counting. The lyrics indicate that life is better "on the solid side of the line."
The chorus encourages the listener to "hold tight" while enjoying seafood, specifically shrimps and rice. The repetitive nature of the chorus creates an infectious energy and inspires the listener to focus on the joy of food. The lyrics mention the singer's love for oysters, lobsters, and butter fish.
The song is a joyful blend of swing and jazz music, with a big band sound that was popular in the 1930s and 1940s. The song was written by Leonard Ware and performed by the Andrews Sisters in 1939. It quickly became a hit, reaching number eight on the charts.
Line by Line Meaning
Choo choo to Broadway foo Cincinnati
Let's take a train ride from Cincinnati to Broadway, New York.
Don't get icky with the one two three
Don't mess up the dance steps of the one two three.
Life is just so fine on the solid side of the line, rip
Life is wonderful on the right side of law and order.
Hold tight, hold tight, hold tight, hold tight
Hold on to your seats and get ready for a wild ride.
Fododo-de-yacka saki
Nonsensical syllables used to create a catchy rhythm.
Want some sea food, Mama
I feel like having some seafood, Mommy.
Shrimps and rice they're very nice
Shrimps and rice make for a delicious meal.
I like oysters, lobsters too
I enjoy eating oysters and lobsters as well.
When I come home late at night
After a long day, when I return home late in the evening.
I get my favorite dish, fish
I always get my favorite meal, which is fish.
Bad da do da,a, da de do da do da, ba da da da do da
More nonsensical syllables used for rhythmic effect.
Fododododo Yacka sacki
Continued use of nonsensical syllables.
Fododo dya, Fododo dya Fododo-de-yacka saki
Repetition of syllables and phrases to create a fun, jazzy rhythm.
Oh, won't you give it to me 'Cause I'm as happy as can be When the seafood comes to me La-da-da, la-da-da, la-da-da
Asking for the seafood, as it makes me happy when it's served to me.
Ba-da-da-dat-dat-da-dada-data
More nonsensical syllables used for rhythm.
Drip drip dripin' on the window pane Wash it
The window is dripping, so it needs to be washed.
Hold tight do-dat-do-day Hold tight she wants some seafood, Mama Shrimpers and rice they're very nice
More repetition of nonsensical syllables and phrases to create a fun, jazzy rhythm, while expressing the desire for seafood.
Hold tight, won't cha hold tight Hold tight, fododododo yacka sacki Want some seafood, Mama Shrimpers a-hand ri-hice a-hare very nice
Continuing with the repetition and asking for seafood, as shrimpers and rice go well together and make for a delicious meal.
Hold tight, hold tight Want some seafood, oh Mama Shrimpers and rice, oh hold tight
Repeating the need to hold on tight while asking for the desired meal, which is seafood with shrimpers and rice.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DICK BRANDOW, LEONARD KENT, JOSEPH MILLER, GEORGE ROBINSON, WILLIE SPOTTSWOOD, LEON WARE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lenaoh5377
lyrics:
Choo choo to Broadway foo Cincinnati
Don't get icky with the one two three
Life is just so fine on the solid side of the line, rip
Hold tight, hold tight, a-hold tight, hold tight
Fododo-de-yacka saki
Want some sea food mama
Shrimps and rice they're very nice
Hold tight, hold tight, a-hold tight, hold tight
Fododo-de-yacka saki
Want some sea food mama
Shrimps and rice they're very nice
I like oysters, lobsters too,
I like my tasty butter fish, fooo
When I come home late at night
I get my favorite dish, fish
Hold tight, hold tight, a-hold tight, hold tight
Fododo-de-yacka saki
Want some seafood mama
Shrimps and rice they're very niiiiiiiiiiiiice
Bad da do daa, da de do da do daa, ba da da da do daaaa
Fododododo Yacka sacki
want some seafood Mama
Shrimps and rice they're always very nice
Fododo dya, Fododo dya Fododo-de-yacka saki
want some seafood Mama
Oh won't you give it to me
cause I'm as happy as can be
When the seafood comes to me
La-da-da La-da-da La-da-da
I like oysters, lob, sters too
Ba-da-da-dat-dat-da-dada-data
When I get home late at night
I get my favorite dish, fish
Hold tight, hold tight, a-hold tight, hold tight
Fododo-de-yacka saki
Want some sea food mama
Shrimps and rice are very nice
Ho, ho, hold tight won't cha hold tight, Hold tight
Fododododo Yacka sacki
want some seafood Mama
Shrimpers a-hand ri-hice a-hare very nice
I like oysters, lobsters too,
I like my tasty butter fish, Joe
When I come home late at night
drip drip dripin' on the window pane
Wash it
Hold tight do-dat-do-day
Hold tight she wants some seafood Mama
Shrimpers and rice they're very nice
I like oysters, lobsters too,
I like my tasty butter fish, fooo
When I come home late at night
I get my favorite dish, fish
Hold tight, hold tight
Hold tight, hold tight
Want some seafood Oh Mama
Shrimpers and rice Oh Hold tight
@Frisco1522
I grew up in the 40s listening to them, loved them then and still do. Awesome!
@jackietreehorn5561
How old are you?
@upthedownescalator630
@@jackietreehorn5561 You never ask someone that! :)
@jasonthompson2870
@@upthedownescalator630 I’m asking.
@nylilhotman
My father used to sing this to me when I was a little kid. For years, I never knew this was an Andrew Sisters song.
@Anita_Backrub
Me too!!!!
@adamlee3484
Technically a Leonard Ware and Sidney Bechet song.
@jh7580
Wow that's awesome 8)
@traciemartin3785
@@adamlee3484 Thank you for sharing this information. Although I like this version, I've always liked the original by made in 1938 by those 2 men. I just couldn't remember their names until I saw your comment.
@tonytriche8364
So did mine....must've been a 60's dad thing.