“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.
The Freedom Train
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not the Atchison, Topeka, not the Chattanooga Choo-Choo
Nor the one that leaves at midnight for the state of Alabam'
This song is a train song where the engineer is Uncle Sam
Here comes the Freedom Train
You better hurry down
Just like a Paul Revere
Inside the freedom train
You'll find a precious freight
Those words of liberty
The documents that made us great
You can shout your anger from a steeple
You can shoot the system full of holes
You can always question "We the People"
You can get your answer at the polls
That's how it's always been
And how it will remain
So long as all of us
Keep riding on the Freedom Train
You can write the President a letter
You can even tell him to his face
If you think that you can do it better
Get the votes and you can take his place
You can hate the laws that you're obeying
You can shout your anger to the crowd
We may disagree with what you're saying
But we'll fight to let you say it loud
The Andrews Sisters & Bing Crosby's song "The Freedom Train" is a patriotic and uplifting tune that glorifies the American freedom and the democracy that governs its people. The song is a train song that is not about the usual trains that we hear in other songs, such as the Atchison, Topeka, or the Chattanooga Choo-Choo, but is one where Uncle Sam is the conductor. The Freedom Train symbolizes the carrier of documentation of the American freedom and the democracy that the country's people cherish. The song's lyrics state that the Freedom Train is coming into the hometowns like Paul Revere to empower every individual in America with the documents that made the country great, including the words of liberty.
The song aims to remind the Americans of the power they hold as citizens in a democracy. It allows citizens to shout their anger and question the system while following the laws and getting their answers through the ballot box. The song encourages free speech and reminds all that people have the option to write a letter to the President, run for office, or assemble a crowd to express their opinions. The lyrics suggest the importance of exercising one's freedom of speech and the right to disagree with people's views.
Line by Line Meaning
This song is a train song, it's a song about a train
This song is about a train that carries a special cargo.
Not the Atchison, Topeka, not the Chattanooga Choo-Choo
It's not some ordinary train that carries people and things.
Nor the one that leaves at midnight for the state of Alabam'
It's not a train that goes from one place to another, like a normal means of transportation.
This song is a train song where the engineer is Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam is depicted as the driver of this special train.
Here comes the Freedom Train
The train is called the Freedom Train.
You better hurry down
People are advised to come and see the train.
Just like a Paul Revere
The train is compared to Paul Revere's famous ride.
It's comin' into your home town
The train will be visiting different towns.
Inside the freedom train
The train carries a valuable cargo.
You'll find a precious freight
People can find something of great value inside the train.
Those words of liberty
The cargo includes words of freedom.
The documents that made us great
The documents that establish the foundation of the country are included.
You can shout your anger from a steeple
People can express their discontent with the government and society openly and publicly.
You can shoot the system full of holes
People can criticize and examine political and social systems.
You can always question "We the People"
People can debate and scrutinize policies and decisions made by the government and the general public.
You can get your answer at the polls
People can vote for their leaders and participate in the democratic process.
That's how it's always been
The country has always embraced democracy and freedom of expression.
And how it will remain
The country will continue to uphold these values.
So long as all of us
As long as every person in the country.
Keep riding on the Freedom Train
Continues to support and cherish the concepts of democracy and freedom of speech.
You can write the President a letter
People can communicate with their elected officials by writing letters.
You can even tell him to his face
People can voice their concerns and opinions directly to the President.
If you think that you can do it better
People can run for public office if they believe they can improve the country's governance.
Get the votes and you can take his place
People can enter the political arena, win the support of the majority, and become leaders themselves.
You can hate the laws that you're obeying
People can disagree and have negative feelings towards laws and regulations.
You can shout your anger to the crowd
People can vocalize their opinions and emotions in public.
We may disagree with what you're saying
Others may hold different opinions and beliefs.
But we'll fight to let you say it loud
However, we will support and defend your right to express your views openly and vigorously.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-yx5eu1zg8r
I love Bing Crosby. When I studied at Gonzaga University, I would often see the statue of Crosby. It's long, long time ago, though. The way he sings, his atmosphere, and his voice itself makes me easy and restful. Cool song!
@billbilladaadaaa325
Yes, Bing has always been one of my favorite singers too. Happy New Year 稲村洋.
@danielwalton9012
(Thank you John Ritter!) 1987!
@danielwalton9012
(Farewell John Ritter!) (1986)!
@ausblue1
cool train song :)
@billbilladaadaaa325
Thankyou aus Blue. Have a great New Year!