“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.
Say "si Si"
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In France you'll hear "Oui, Oui"
Every little Dutch girl says "Ya, Ya"
Every little Russian says "Da, Da"
But, Sweetheart, tell me why
No matter how I try
You won't listen to my plea
When will you say "Si, Si"
"Si, Si", "Si, Si"
"Si, Si", "Si, Si"
Every little Dutch girl says "Ya, Ya", ya-ya-ya
Every little Russian says "Da, Da"
But, Sweetheart, oh, why won't you tell me why
No matter how m-m-much I try, please tell me why
La-la-la-la-da, won't listen to my plea
Won't say "Yes" on any language to me
Oh-woh, and when you say "Si, Si", say "Si, Si"
La la la la la la la da da da da
La da da da da da da da
La da da da da da da da
Da da da da da da da da daaa
If you could only say "Si, Si", "Oui, Oui", "Ya, Ya", "Da, Da,"
Da da da la da
And all my life would be a song,
Nothing could go wrong, go wrong, go wrong
If you give in, I'll win
I won't give up, give up
Darling, if you give in
I must hear you say "Si, Si"
Oh, won't you listen to my plea
Please say "Yes" in any language to me
Won't you say "Si, Si", say "Si, Si"
The Andrews Sisters's song "Say 'Si Si'" is a playful and flirtatious tune about the frustration of wanting someone to say "yes" to you. The lyrics discuss how in different countries, people say "yes" in different ways - "si" in Spain, "oui" in France, "ya" in Holland, and "da" in Russia. The singer laments that the object of her affection won't say "yes" to her in any language, and begs for them to give in and say "si, si" so that she can have a happily ever after.
The use of different languages and countries adds an element of exoticism and multiculturalism to the song, which was a popular theme in music during the 1940s. Additionally, the alliteration of the repeated "si, si" and other phrases adds a playful and catchy quality to the tune. The Andrews Sisters's vocal harmonies and fast-paced, swinging style also contribute to the upbeat and lighthearted atmosphere of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
In Spain they say "Si, Si"
In Spain, the word for "Yes" is pronounced "Si", and people use it often.
In France you'll hear "Oui, Oui"
In France, the word for "Yes" is pronounced "Oui", and it sounds similar to saying "Wee-wee".
Every little Dutch girl says "Ya, Ya"
In Dutch, the word for "Yes" is pronounced "Ja", which sounds like "Ya" in English.
Every little Russian says "Da, Da"
In Russian, the word for "Yes" is pronounced "Da", and it is commonly used in conversation.
But, Sweetheart, tell me why
The artist is confused and asking their sweetheart to explain their reluctance to say "Yes".
No matter how I try
The singer has attempted to get their sweetheart to agree without success.
You won't listen to my plea
The singer's sweetheart is not receptive to their request.
Won't say "Yes" in any language to me
The sweetheart refuses to agree to the artist's request, regardless of the language used.
When will you say "Si, Si"
The artist is hoping their sweetheart will agree in the near future.
"Si, Si", "Si, Si"
The artist is repeating the phrase "Si, Si", which means "Yes, Yes" in Spanish.
Every little Dutch girl says "Ya, Ya", ya-ya-ya
The singer recalls that Dutch people say "Ja", which sounds similar to "Ya" and is repeated in the song.
Every little Russian says "Da, Da"
The artist again mentions that Russian people say "Da" frequently, as a way of emphasizing the importance of using the word "Yes".
But, Sweetheart, oh, why won't you tell me why
The singer is still asking their sweetheart to explain why they won't agree to their request.
No matter how m-m-much I try, please tell me why
The singer is emphasizing their efforts to persuade their sweetheart to agree, and asking them to provide an explanation.
La-la-la-la-da, won't listen to my plea
The singer uses a nonverbal sound to demonstrate their frustration that their sweetheart is ignoring their request.
Won't say "Yes" on any language to me
Regardless of the language used, the sweetheart won't agree to the artist's request.
Oh-woh, and when you say "Si, Si", say "Si, Si"
The artist is urging their sweetheart to say "Si, Si" when they finally agree.
Da da da la da
The music continues, with the singers repeating a phrase that doesn't have specific meaning.
If you could only say "Si, Si", "Oui, Oui", "Ya, Ya", "Da, Da,"
The singer is suggesting that if their sweetheart could agree, no matter what language was used, they would be happy.
And all my life would be a song,
The artist would be overjoyed and relieved if their request could be granted.
Nothing could go wrong, go wrong, go wrong
If their sweetheart would agree to their request, the artist believes everything would fall into place.
If you give in, I'll win
The artist is confident that if their sweetheart agrees, they will have succeeded in persuading them.
I won't give up, give up
The singer is determined to continue trying to persuade their sweetheart to agree.
Darling, if you give in
The artist is addressing their sweetheart affectionately, hoping that they will ultimately agree to their request.
I must hear you say "Si, Si"
The singer is emphasizing the importance of hearing their sweetheart agree in Spanish.
Please say "Yes" in any language to me
The singer is asking their sweetheart to agree, regardless of the language used.
Won't you say "Si, Si", say "Si, Si"
The singer is still encouraging their sweetheart to say "Si, Si" as a way of agreeing.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: ERNESTO LECUONA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J Parker
on Crazy Arms
And I'll move the mountains
If he wants them out of the way
Crazy, he calls me
Sure I'm crazy
Crazy in love, I'd say
I say I'll go through fire
And I'll go through fire
As he wants it, so it will be
Crazy, he calls me
Sure I'm crazy
Crazy in love, you see
Like the wind that shakes the bough
He moves me with a smile
The difficult I'll do right now
The impossible will take a little while
I say I'll care forever
And I mean forever
If I have to hold up the sky
Crazy, he calls me
Sure I'm crazy
Crazy in love am I
Like the wind that shakes the bough
He moves me with a smile
The difficult I'll do right now
The impossible will take a little while
I say I'll care forever
And I mean forever
If I have to hold up the sky
Crazy, he calls me
Sure I'm crazy
Crazy in love am I
sonichits has completely wrong lyrics for this song. Correct ones are - Now blue ain't the word for the way that I feel
And the storm's brewing in this heart of mine
This is no crazy dream I know that it's real
You're someone else's love now you're not mine
Crazy arms that reach to hold somebody new
But my yearning heart keeps saying you're not mine
My troubled mind knows soon to another you'll be wed
And that's why I'm lonely all the time
Please take the treasured dreams I have for you and me
And take all the love I thought was mine
Someday my crazy arms will hold somebody new
But now I'm so lonely all the time
interlude
Crazy arms that reach to hold someone new
But my yearning heart keeps saying you're not mine
My troubled mind knows soon that you soon will be wed
And that's why I'm lonely all the time
Crazy arms and lonely all the time
Harold Chernofsky
on Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
i love them