“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 Can Dream Can't I?
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see
No matter how near you'll be
You'll never belong to me
But I can dream, can't I?
Can't I pretend that I'm locked
In the bend of your embrace?
And I am drunk with mine
I'm aware
My heart is a sad affair
There's much disillusion there
But I can dream, can't I?
Can't I adore you
Although we are oceans apart?
I can't make you open your heart
But I can dream, can't I?
I'm aware
My heart is a sad affair
There's much disillusion there
But I can dream, can't I?
Can't I adore you
Although we are oceans apart?
I can't make you open your heart
But I can dream, can't I?
(Dream on, dream on, dream on)
I can dream, can't I?
The Andrews Sisters' song "I Can Dream Can't I?" is a heart-wrenching ballad about unrequited love. The singer acknowledges that no matter how close the object of her affection may be, she will never truly belong to them. Despite this fact, she finds solace in her dreams, fantasizing about being locked in their embrace. The singer compares her dreams to wine, implying that they intoxicate her, providing her with a kind of psychic release.
The verses are set to a slow, mournful melody, perfectly conveying the profound sadness of the lyrics. The chorus, "I can dream can't I?" is sung with urgency and yearning, imploring the listener to understand her emotional pain. The song's climax comes in the final verse where the singer admits that her heart is a "sad affair," filled with disillusionment, yet she still clings to the hope of one day winning the love of the person she so desperately desires.
Overall, the song is a powerful meditation on lost love and the human capacity for hope and resilience in the face of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see
I understand clearly
No matter how near you'll be you'll never belong to me
Even if you are physically close to me, we will never truly have a relationship
But I can dream, can't I?
But I can imagine and hope, can't I?
Can't I pretend that I'm locked in the bend of your embrace?
Can't I imagine that I am in your loving arms?
For dreams are just like wine
Dreams have the ability to intoxicate us
And I am drunk with mine
I am completely consumed by my dreams
I'm aware
I understand
My heart is a sad affair
My heart is full of sadness
There's much disillusion there
I am disappointed with reality
But I can dream, can't I?
But I can still dream and hope, can't I?
Can't I adore you
Can't I love you deeply
Although we are oceans apart?
Even though there is a great distance between us
I can't make you open your heart
I cannot force you to love me back
But I can dream, can't I?
But I can still imagine and hope, can't I?
I can dream, can't I?
I can still dream and hope, can't I?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Irving Kahal, Sammy Fain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@geraldthorburn1123
Though born in the 40's I have come to appreciate the immensity of the popularity of The Andrews Sisters. Unique fusions of harmonies. Thank you, Prof.
@paulmitchell359
I heard this song only by chance on a ( … discounted at $5) ... 'best of The Andrews Sisters CD' ... and this truly is the best song they ever recorded. The production is absolutely superb. This is how songs should always sound like ....
@lisamontefiore3047
One of my favourite oldies by the Andrew sisters.
@TheDiannel
My parents always played the Andrew sisters 78s. growing up in the late 40s was wonderful listening to their music.
@HanyouDeezNutz96
Beautifully Haunting.
@paulmitchell359
This is a perfect song.
@richarddixon7855
A beautiful, inspired arrangement and production, where every part comes together to create magic. A true classic. "Mama" Cass Elliot was heavily influenced by these types of songs from her childhood.
@anandadevi6400
I first heard this as a child of 7 or 8 when my Nana played her records from the day. Born in 1922, the 40's were her time and, mainly raised by her, I was blessed to grow up on the music and films from then. I grew up and became a Vocalist, and have been so lucky to perform these songs anew. Even as I listen to this now, I hear and feel the longing...that was WWII. Thank you for posting this and, God Bless The Andrew Sisters, (and Doris Day). ❤
@jeffreyberkin-ez3uh
One of their best.
@JSGaming0327
Yes indeed!!! I love this song so much!! 🤩🤩🤩🥳🥳🥳🎉🎉🎉✨✨✨