“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.
Pennsylvania Polka
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Pennsylvania Polka.
Pick out your partner and join in the fun
The Pennsylvania Polka.
It started in Scranton, it's now No 1
It's bound to entertain you
Everybody has a mania
To do the polka from Pennsylvania
While they're dancing
Everybody's cares are quickly gone
Sweet romancing
This goes on and on until the dawn
They're so carefree
Gay with laughter happy as can be
They stop to have a beer
Then the crowd begins to cheer
They kiss and then they start to dance again.
The Andrews Sisters's song Pennsylvania Polka is a lively tune that encourages its audience to join in the fun. As the music begins to play, everyone is invited to pick out their partner and dance along to the upbeat polka rhythms. The song suggests that the polka originated in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and has now become the number one dance in the area. Whether dancing alone or with a partner, the polka is sure to entertain and lift one's spirits, making all worries disappear. As the night wears on, the dancing and fun continue until the early hours of the morning.
Line by Line Meaning
Strike up the music the band has begun
The music has started, get ready to dance!
The Pennsylvania Polka.
Let's dance the famous Pennsylvania Polka.
Pick out your partner and join in the fun
Find someone to dance with and let's have a good time.
It started in Scranton, it's now No 1
This dance was first popularized in Scranton but now it's number one all over.
It's bound to entertain you
This dance is sure to keep you entertained.
Everybody has a mania
Everyone wants to do the Pennsylvania Polka!
To do the polka from Pennsylvania
They're excited to dance the Pennsylvania Polka.
While they're dancing
As they move their feet on the dance floor,
Everybody's cares are quickly gone
All their worries disappear.
Sweet romancing
They're enjoying the romantic atmosphere.
This goes on and on until the dawn
They'll dance all night until the sun rises.
They're so carefree
They're dancing without a care in the world.
Gay with laughter happy as can be
They're full of joy and happiness.
They stop to have a beer
They take a break to have a drink.
Then the crowd begins to cheer
The other dancers start to cheer them on.
They kiss and then they start to dance again.
After a quick break, they get back on the dance floor and continue dancing.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEE LESTER, MANNERS ZEKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheMaryamjon
Strike up the music the band has begun
The Pennsylvania Polka.
Pick out your partner and join in the fun
The Pennsylvania Polka.
It started in Scranton, it's now No 1
It's bound to entertain you
Everybody has a mania
To do the polka from Pennsylvania
While they're dancing
Everybody's cares are quickly gone
Sweet romancing
This goes on and on until the dawn
They're so carefree
Gay with laughter happy as can be
They stop to have a beer
Then the crowd begins to cheer
They kiss and then they start to dance again.
@olgaciornii4385
My favourite polka ;), and the Andrews sisters are great :D
@its_wicked1889
i agree
@KEVINM80
This is the first version I ever heard. I had it on vinyl and have not been able to find it. It is the best version in my opinion. Thank you so much.
@BertrandBordage
The sung laugh at 1:55 is awesome :) I keep listening to it…
@colonelfire6404
That was the work of Patty Andrews
@caitlynmeadors4170
Pure happiness I say
@JAWZMUZIK1
😁
@claudiovargas7067
1:58 😉😁
@TheMaryamjon
Strike up the music the band has begun
The Pennsylvania Polka.
Pick out your partner and join in the fun
The Pennsylvania Polka.
It started in Scranton, it's now No 1
It's bound to entertain you
Everybody has a mania
To do the polka from Pennsylvania
While they're dancing
Everybody's cares are quickly gone
Sweet romancing
This goes on and on until the dawn
They're so carefree
Gay with laughter happy as can be
They stop to have a beer
Then the crowd begins to cheer
They kiss and then they start to dance again.
@dinomate01
This song was so awesome :) Thanks for posting !