“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 Strip Polka
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To see Queenie the cutie of the burlesque show
And the thrill of the evening is when out Queenie skips
And the band plays the polka while she strips
"Take it off," "Take it off" Cries a voice from the rear
"Take it off," Take it off" Soon it's all you can hear
But she's always a lady even in pantomime
She's as fresh and as wholesome as the flowers in May
And she hopes to retire to the farm someday
But you can't buy a farm until you're up in the chips
So the band plays the polka while she strips
"Take it off," "Take it off" all the customers shout,
"Down in front" "Down in front" while the band beats it out
But she's always a lady even in pantomime
So she stops! And always just in time
Queenie, Queen of them all
Queenie, someday you'll fall
Someday church bells will chime
In strip polka time
Oh! She hates corny waltzes and she hates the gavotte
And there's one big advantage if the music's hot
It's a fast moving exit just in case something rips
So the band plays the polka while she strips
Drop around, take it in, it's the best in the west
"Take it off," "Take it off" you can yell like the rest
Take her out when it's over, she's a peach when she's dressed
But she stops! And always just in time
Queenie, Queen of them all
Queenie, someday you'll fall
Someday church bells will chime
In strip polka time
"Strip Polka" by The Andrews Sisters describes an evening in a burlesque theatre where Queenie, the cutie and star of the show, performs her striptease to the polka beat played by the band. The audience can't wait for her to take off her clothes - they shout "Take it off" repeatedly as she dances. Queenie is still a lady, even in pantomime, and stops before revealing too much. She dreams of retiring to a farm someday but needs to earn enough money from her performances to buy it. The song ends with a warning that someday Queenie will fall, perhaps meaning that her beauty and performing career will come to an end.
The lyrics of "Strip Polka" evoke the atmosphere of a burlesque theatre and provide a glimpse into the entertainment world of the past. The song tells the story of a performer who tries to balance being a lady with the expectations of her audience. It also reveals the desires and aspirations of the working-class people who come to see her shows. The upbeat tone and the playful lyrics make the song a nostalgic and lighthearted tribute to a bygone era.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a burlesque theatre where the gang loves to go
A location where a group of people attend to watch burlesque performances
To see Queenie the cutie of the burlesque show
They specifically come to admire Queenie, the attractive performer
And the thrill of the evening is when out Queenie skips
The most exciting part of the show is when Queenie comes out on stage
And the band plays the polka while she strips
During Queenie's performance, the band plays polka music and she removes her clothing
"Take it off," "Take it off" Cries a voice from the rear
Someone in the audience shouts, demanding that Queenie removes more clothing
"Take it off," Take it off" Soon it's all you can hear
The audience begins to chant, repeating the earlier demand for Queenie to keep stripping
But she's always a lady even in pantomime
Despite the nature of her job, Queenie never loses her sense of dignity
So she stops! And always just in time
Queenie stops taking off clothes just before it becomes too vulgar
She's as fresh and as wholesome as the flowers in May
Queenie is innocent and charming, much like the beauty of spring flowers
And she hopes to retire to the farm someday
Queenie dreams of a peaceful life in the countryside
But you can't buy a farm until you're up in the chips
Queenie realizes that she needs to save up more money before she can retire
So the band plays the polka while she strips
To earn more money, Queenie continues to perform while the band plays polka music
"Take it off," "Take it off" all the customers shout,
The audience members demand Queenie to keep taking off her clothes
"Down in front" "Down in front" while the band beats it out
Other audience members complain, telling those in front to move so they can see better, while the band continues to play
Queenie, Queen of them all
Queenie is the most popular performer at the burlesque theatre
Queenie, someday you'll fall
Despite her current success, Queenie may not always be on top
Someday church bells will chime
When Queenie retires, she may lead a more traditional life
In strip polka time
For now, Queenie will continue to strip while the band plays polka music
Oh! She hates corny waltzes and she hates the gavotte
Queenie dislikes other traditional dance styles and prefers the faster-paced polka music
And there's one big advantage if the music's hot
If the music is lively, Queenie can make a quick exit from the stage if something goes wrong with her clothing
It's a fast moving exit just in case something rips
Queenie may need to leave the stage quickly if her clothes tear during the performance
Drop around, take it in, it's the best in the west
The performer and theatre are highly recommended to others
"Take it off," "Take it off" you can yell like the rest
The audience is encouraged to join in and chant for Queenie to take off more clothing
Take her out when it's over, she's a peach when she's dressed
After the performance, Queenie is a lovely person to be around once she's fully dressed
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@congtungtruong7739
There's a burlesque theatre where the gang loves to go
To see Queenie the cutie of the burlesque show
And the thrill of the evening is when out Queenie skips
And the band plays the polka while she strips
"Take it off, " "Take it off" Cries a voice from the rear
"Take it off, " Take it off" Soon it's all you can hear
But she's always a lady even in pantomime
So she stops! And always just in time
She's as fresh and as wholesome as the flowers in May
And she hopes to retire to the farm someday
But you can't buy a farm until you're up in the chips
So the band plays the polka while she strips
"Take it off, " "Take it off" all the customers shout,
"Down in front" "Down in front" while the band beats it out
But she's always a lady even in pantomime
So she stops! And always just in time
Queenie, Queen of them all
Queenie, someday you'll fall
Someday church bells will chime
In strip polka time
Oh! She hates corny waltzes and she hates the gavotte
And there's one big advantage if the music's hot
It's a fast moving exit just in case something rips
So the band plays the polka while she strips
Drop around, take it in, it's the best in the west
"Take it off, " "Take it off" you can yell like the rest
Take her out when it's over, she's a peach when she's dressed
But she stops! And always just in time
Queenie, Queen of them all
Queenie, someday you'll fall
Someday church bells will chime
In strip polka time
@Wolfhoundersful
There's a burlesque theatre where the gang loves to go
To see Queenie the cutie of the burlesque show
And the thrill of the evening is when out Queenie skips
And the band plays the polka while she strips
"Take it off," "Take it off" Cries a voice from the rear
"Take it off," Take it off" Soon it's all you can hear
But she's always a lady even in pantomime
So she stops! And always just in time
She's as fresh and as wholesome as the flowers in May
And she hopes to retire to the farm someday
But you can't buy a farm until you're up in the chips
So the band plays the polka while she strips
"Take it off," "Take it off" all the customers shout
"Down in front" "Down in front" while the band beats it out
But she's always a lady even in pantomime
So she stops! And always just in time
Queenie, Queen of them all
Queenie, someday you'll fall
Someday church bells will chime
In strip polka time
Oh! She hates corny waltzes and she hates the gavotte
And there's one big advantage if the music's hot
It's a fast moving exit just in case something rips
So the band plays the polka while she strips
Drop around, take it in, it's the best in the west
"Take it off," "Take it off" you can yell like the rest
Take her out when it's over, she's a peach when she's dressed
But she stops! And always just in time
Queenie, Queen of them all
Queenie, someday you'll fall
Someday church bells will chime
In strip polka time
@nancyparkinson3260
I heard this song as a child (yes! As a child!!) on a Reader’s Digest collection of songs from the war era. My parents had the collection. My Dad would play it just to get a ride out of our Mom. Us 4 daughters had no idea what a racy song it was back then. We just knew Daddy liked it so we learned the lyrics and sang with the record!!
@captjon615
I had just returned from a burlesque show earlier tonight, and was sadden to hear of the passing of 94 year-old Patty Andrews -- the last surviving member of the Andrews Sisters. I felt this was an appropriate farewell. RIP Patty -- I'm sure you and sisters are singing again up in Heaven.
@guitargod237
I just gotta say thanks. Music like this should not be forgotten and needs to be played forever for all to hear. I am a child of the guns n roses era and found this kind of music and respect it very much. Thanks to people like you for loving it too.
@justaguy6560
guitargod237 Amen to that
@creativeself7147
I hope this kind of music will never be forgotten :)
@tarstarkusz
What I want to know is where this copy came from originally. This sound quality is excellent. Perhaps the original wax recording survived to the tape era? Recorded in 1942, this would not have been originally recorded on tape, but on a 78rpm wax cutting.
@jppryor4552
Born in 2001... just turned 20 absolutely hate modern music and perhaps modern ways of living...
@wakkowarner4288
@@tarstarkusz I have a theory. Rum and Coca-Cola also has outrageous sound quality. Too high for wax or 78s or wire recorders. Either BBC had 1- a Magnetophon (tape recorder) before we actually captured them (thus being a war secret) or 2 - these were recorded on 35mm optical film. These are way too good.
@Ori0n1975
Their voices and harmonies are so smooth and beautiful. I'm always taken back to WWII era when I hear them, even though I was born 30 years after it ended.
@W2mNm
Love this!! Andrews sisters were awesome!