The Andrews Sisters were a group of singing sisters: LaVerne Andrews (contr… Read Full Bio ↴The Andrews Sisters were a group of singing sisters: LaVerne Andrews (contralto; July 6, 1911-May 8, 1967), Maxene Andrews (high harmony; January 3, 1916-October 21, 1995) and Patty Andrews (lead; February 16, 1918-January 30, 2013). All were born in Minnesota, United States to a Greek immigrant father and a Norwegian American mother.

“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.

I've Got A Gal In Kalamazoo
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm gonna send a wire, hoppin' on a flyer, leavin' today"
Am I dreamin'? I can hear her screamin'
"Hiya, Mr. Jackson"
Everything's OK, A-L-A-M-A-Z-O

Oh, what a gal, a real pipperoo
I'll make my bid for that freckle-faced kid I'm hurryin' to
I'm goin' to Michigan to see the sweetest gal in Kalamazoo
(Zoo, zoo)
(Zoo, zoo, zoo, Kalamazoo)
K (K)
A (A)
L-A-M-A-Z-O
(Oh, oh, oh, oh what a gal, a real pipperoo)
(We're goin' to Michigan to see the sweetest gal in Kalamazoo)

(Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
(Kalamazoo!!)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I’ve Got A Gal In Kalamazoo" by The Andrew Sisters is a playful and humorous ode to a southern belle, with a catchy tune and upbeat tempo. The singer is bragging about his girlfriend, whom he met in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a city he describes as a "zoo" in a playful way. He boasts that she is the talk of the town and has been a rising star since he first met her when he used to carry her books in school.

As he sings, years have gone by, and she has become even more beautiful. He decides to fly to Kalamazoo to see her and make a bid for her. The song also features a fun, call-and-response section where the Andrews Sisters sing letters to spell out "Kalamazoo." The song’s overall theme is a celebration of love, fun, merrymaking, and small-town love.

Overall, the song is an excellent example of the type of music that was popular during World War II. It is light-hearted, fun, and upbeat. The song was a popular hit both nationally and internationally, making it one of the Andrew Sisters’ most famous songs.

Line by Line Meaning

I got a gal in Kalamazoo
I have a girl I'm involved with romantically in Kalamazoo

Don't want to boast but I know she's the toast of Kalamazoo (Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
I don't want to brag, but she is very popular in Kalamazoo

Years have gone by, my my how she grew
It's been a while since I first knew her and she has grown up to be a beautiful woman

I liked her looks when I carried her books in Kalamazoo (Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
I found her attractive even back when I helped her with her books in Kalamazoo

I'm gonna send a wire, hoppin' on a flyer, leavin' today"
I plan to send her a telegram and travel to Kalamazoo today

Am I dreamin'? I can hear her screamin'
It's almost hard to believe that I'm actually going to see her and I can almost imagine her excitement

"Hiya, Mr. Jackson" Everything's OK, A-L-A-M-A-Z-O
She greeted me happily and everything is alright in Kalamazoo

Oh, what a gal, a real pipperoo
She is an amazing girl

I'll make my bid for that freckle-faced kid I'm hurryin' to
I am eager to pursue her romantically when I see her

I'm goin' to Michigan to see the sweetest gal in Kalamazoo (Zoo, zoo)
I'm traveling to Michigan to visit the most lovely girl in Kalamazoo

(We're goin' to Michigan to see the sweetest gal in Kalamazoo) (Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
We're excited to go to Michigan to see the amazing girl in Kalamazoo

(Kalamazoo!!)
Kalamazoo is a great place!

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY WARREN, MACK GORDON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Lopes 03

4y↑1

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H
I got a gal in Kalamazoo
Don't want to boast but I know she's the toast of Kalamazoo
(Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
Years have gone by, my my how she grew
I liked her looks when I carried her books in Kalamazoo
(Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
I'm gonna send a wire, hoppin' on a flyer, leavin' today"
Am I dreamin'? I can hear her screamin'
"Hiya, Mr. Jackson"
Everything's OK, A-L-A-M-A-Z-O
Oh, what a gal, a real pipperoo
I'll make my bid for that freckle-faced kid I'm hurryin' to
I'm goin' to Michigan to see the sweetest gal in Kalamazoo
(Zoo, zoo)
(Zoo, zoo, zoo, Kalamazoo)
K (K)
A (A)
L-A-M-A-Z-O
(Oh, oh, oh, oh what a gal, a real pipperoo)
(We're goin' to Michigan to see the sweetest gal in Kalamazoo)
(Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
(Kalamazoo!!)