βPatty 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 1920βs 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 Sistersβ house once stood.)β - 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.
Rhum and Coca-Cola
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They make you feel so very glad
Calypso sing and make up rhyme
Guarantee you one real good fine time
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Oh, beat it man, beat it
Since the Yankee come to Trinidad
They got the young girls all goin' mad
Young girls say they treat 'em nice
Make Trinidad like paradise
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
Oh, you vex me, you vex me
From Chicachicaree to Mona's Isle
Native girls all dance and smile
Help soldier celebrate his leave
Make every day like New Year's Eve
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
It's a fact, man, it's a fact
In old Trinidad, I also fear
The situation is mighty queer
Like the Yankee girl, the native swoon
When she hear Der Bingo croon
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
Out on Manzanella Beach
G.I. romance with native peach
All night long, make tropic love
Next day, sit in hot sun and cool off
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
It's a fact, man, it's a fact
Rum and Coca-Cola
Rum and Coca-Cola
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
The Andrews Sisters' song "Rhum and Coca-Cola" is a catchy tune that is beloved even up to this day. It was written by Morey Amsterdam, a well-known actor, and songwriter, and Calypso musician Lord Invader. This song is essentially talking about the American occupation of Trinidad during the Second World War. In the song, it talks about how the Americans who occupy Trinidad are enjoying the island's tropical nightlife and the lively atmosphere. The chorus of the song talks about "drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola", and "workin' for the Yankee dollar", referencing American soldiers enjoying the local nightlife and local women working to provide for themselves during the American occupation.
The song carries an upbeat Calypso rhythm that captures the cheerfulness of the Trinidadian festive season. It highlights the sexual politics during the World War II era, as young and attractive Trinidadian women were exploited and lured by American soldiers. The song's lyrics portray a land filled with lustful men and available women seeking the American dream. This theme was controversial in America, causing the song to be banned by the United States government and questioned by the American public. Despite the controversy, the song remained on top of the charts in the United States for 9 consecutive weeks.
Line by Line Meaning
If you ever go down Trinidad
When you visit Trinidad
They make you feel so very glad
You feel happy there
Calypso sing and make up rhyme
Calypso music is played and sung with lyrics made up on the spot
Guarantee you one real good fine time
You will have a really good time
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
People drink Rum and Coca-Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Go to Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Both younger and older women
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
They work for money from Americans
Oh, beat it man, beat it
Go away
Since the Yankee come to Trinidad
Since Americans arrived in Trinidad
They got the young girls all goin' mad
The girls are crazy about Americans
Young girls say they treat 'em nice
The Americans are nice to them
Make Trinidad like paradise
They make Trinidad seem like paradise
Oh, you vex me, you vex me
You annoy me
From Chicachicaree to Mona's Isle
From Chicachicaree to Mona's Isle
Native girls all dance and smile
The native girls dance and smile
Help soldier celebrate his leave
They help soldiers celebrate their leave
Make every day like New Year's Eve
They make every day seem like a celebration
It's a fact, man, it's a fact
It's true
In old Trinidad, I also fear
In old Trinidad, I am also scared
The situation is mighty queer
The situation is strange
Like the Yankee girl, the native swoon
Like the American girl, the native women also fall for them
When she hear Der Bingo croon
When they hear Der Bingo sing
Out on Manzanella Beach
On Manzanella Beach
G.I. romance with native peach
American soldiers have a romantic relationship with native women
All night long, make tropic love
They make love all night long
Next day, sit in hot sun and cool off
The next day they sit in the hot sun to cool off
Rum and Coca-Cola
Rum and Coca-Cola
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
Working for money from Americans
Contributed by Leah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@noahloewe
Even 77 years later, it's still an iconic song.
@D14mond_A
Queen platinum jubilee
@colliric
Greatest free advertising for a product ever....
@balkanleopard9728
After 77 years and you still don't know what this song's about? "Both mother and daughter working for the Yankee Dollar".
@Video-Mix-1775
#QueenPlatinum #TheAndrewSister
@garrynewnham
@Balkan Leopard I think everyone knows what it's about smartypants
@roberttelarket4934
Their voices are unique and supreme along with Hank Williams Sr., Patsy Cline, the Everly Brothers!!! Brings chills up and down the spine and tears to the eyes!!!
@cccool089
The Andrew Sisters are pure bliss to my ears, this is what relaxation to the ears feels π
@sharanshanthy1204
This song has sweet memories for my mom too. She was in Singapore doing her nursing and they played this song for nurses beauty pageant .
My darling Mummy would be 85 years old if she is alive.
I miss her so very much....π
@GypsyRoaddog
LOVE !!!