“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.
Nice Work If You Can Get It
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Neath a starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try
Strolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
Just imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything more?
Loving one who loves you
And then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it, oh won't you tell me how?
I'm holdin' hands at midnight
'Neath a starry sky
Oh my, oh my, oh my
I feel to start perfect though
Hold on thinkin' of the one I love
I don't know and I don't care
I feel as though floatin' on air
Floatin' through the skies above
'Cause I'm thinkin' of the one that I love
Just imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Holdin' hands at midnight
'Neath a starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try
Strollin' with the one boy
Sighin' sigh after sigh
That's good work if you try
Just imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything more?
Loving one who loves you
And then taking that vow
That's called nice work
That's called nice work
If you can get it
That's nice work
The song "Nice Work If You Can Get It" by The Andrews Sisters is a classic ode to love and romance. The first verse paints a serene picture of two lovers holding hands under a starry sky. The chorus emphasizes that having a love like this is "nice work if you can get it" and that it is possible if one tries. The second verse portrays the feeling of being elated and carefree, "Floatin' through the skies above" because of the joy of being in love. The bridge describes the alluring idea of someone waiting for you at the cottage door who loves you just as much as you do. The final chorus repeats the message of the previous ones that finding and keeping a love like this is hard work, but it is definitely worth it.
Line by Line Meaning
Holding hands at midnight
Romantically holding hands with someone in the darkness of night.
'Neath a starry sky
Underneath a sky full of bright, shining stars.
Nice work if you can get it
This is a desirable situation if you are able to achieve it.
And you can get it if you try
It's possible to make this happen if you put in the effort.
Strolling with the one boy
Going for a leisurely walk with the boy you love.
Sighing sigh after sigh
Breathing out long and deep breaths, possibly out of contentment or longing.
Just imagine someone
Picture in your mind someone specific.
Waiting at the cottage door
Standing outside a charming house, eagerly anticipating your arrival.
Where two hearts become one
The place where two people in love come together fully.
Who could ask for anything more?
Is there anything more perfect or blissful than this?
Loving one who loves you
Being in a romantic relationship with someone who loves you back equally.
And then taking that vow
Committing to one another by reciting marriage vows.
Nice work if you can get it
This is a desirable situation if you are able to achieve it.
And if you get it, oh won't you tell me how?
If you do find this kind of love, please let me know how you did it.
I'm holdin' hands at midnight
I, personally, am romantically holding hands with someone in the darkness of night.
Oh my, oh my, oh my
Expressing delight or excitement about the situation at hand.
I feel to start perfect though
I feel like everything is starting off perfectly and going well.
Hold on thinkin' of the one I love
Holding onto thoughts of the person I am in love with.
I don't know and I don't care
I don't need to know or worry about anything else but this moment and person.
I feel as though floatin' on air
Feeling extremely happy and light, as if walking on clouds.
Floatin' through the skies above
Metaphorical language for the feeling of joy and elation that one is experiencing.
That's good work if you try
This is a beneficial situation if you work hard to fulfill it.
That's called nice work
This situation is often referred to as good or desirable.
If you can get it
If you are able to achieve this situation with someone you love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@YoutubeHatesJapaneseLetters58
Pre-War Andrews Sisters Is So Underrated, But Awesome.
@MikeJones-do1xv
First major recording by the Andrews Sisters after being discovered and signed to Decca. They literally put their heart and soul into it. A national treasure! How they handle the constant key changes is absolutely flawless!
@bethheinecamp1061
Well-said, Mike! They were so talented. I love their harmonies!!
@joeydattili6778
They wrote their own Vocal arrangements, such talented ladies......
@CPorter
Wow, both Gershwins in one work, recorded with Froeba, Hackett, Shoen, and vocalized by the Andrews Sisters? This is truly an all star record!
@fluffshepnetwork7067
And the great Dave Barbour, the husband of the legendary Peggy Lee.
@michaeltuz608
Terrific!
You can really hear the Boswell Sisters' influence on this early, jazzy side.
@bryanrendleman2001
That's nice music if you can get it!
@swingman5635
We got it! 🎶
@carlosjuliano1658
I really love it, from Brazil 🇧🇷