“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.
Tico Tico
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, tico tico, tock!
This tico tico, he's the cuckoo in my clock.
And when he says "cuckoo,"
He means it's time to woo,
It's tico time for all the lovers on the block.
I've got a heavy date,
So speak, oh, tico, tell me if it's getting late?
If I'm on time, cuckoo,
But, if I'm late, woo-woo!
The one my heart is gone to may not want to wait!
For just a birdie, and a birdie who goes nowhere,
He knows of every lover's lane and how to go there;
For in affairs of the heart
My tico's terribly smart,
He tells me: "gently, sentimentally at the start!"
Oh, oh, I hear my little tico tico calling
Because the time is right and shades of night are falling.
I love that not-so-cuckoo cuckoo in the clock,
Tico tico tico tico tico tock!
The Andrews Sisters' 1944 song "Tico-Tico" is a playful and buoyant ode to the cuckoo clock's little bird, which begins the song with a series of "tick-tock" sounds. The bird, referred to as Tico-Tico, is dubbed the "cuckoo in my clock" by the song's protagonist. Tico-Tico's distinctive call is used as a signal that it's time for couples to start wooing each other, and the singer enlists Tico-Tico's help, hoping that the bird will help her remain punctual for a romantic rendezvous.
In the second verse of the song, the singer acknowledges that, despite being "just a birdie" who seemingly "goes nowhere," Tico-Tico is knowledgeable about every lover's lane and is "terribly smart" when it comes to affairs of the heart. The singer takes Tico-Tico's advice to heart and plans to approach her romantic interest "gently, sentimentally at the start." In the third verse, as evening falls, the singer professes her love for Tico-Tico, acknowledging that she loves the "not-so-cuckoo cuckoo in the clock."
Overall, "Tico-Tico" is a lively and cheerful song that celebrates the joy and playfulness of love. It also showcases the Andrews Sisters' signature harmonies and playful vocalizations, making it a quintessential piece of 1940s pop music.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, tico tico, tick!
The sound of the bird's clock-like ticking
Oh, tico tico, tock!
The sound of the bird's clock-like tocking
This tico tico, he's the cuckoo in my clock.
The bird is like a cuckoo clock, signaling the time for love
And when he says "cuckoo,",
The bird's cuckoo sound signals the time for love
He means it's time to woo,
The cuckoo sound means it's time to pursue love
It's tico time for all the lovers on the block.
Everyone should pursue love when the bird signals the time
I've got a heavy date,
I have an important romantic appointment
A tete a tete at eight,
A romantic meeting at eight
So speak, oh, tico, tell me if it's getting late?
The bird is asked to signal if it's getting late for the appointment
If I'm on time, cuckoo,
If I'm not late, the cuckoo sound will be heard
But, if I'm late, woo-woo!
If I'm late, the bird will make a disapproving sound
The one my heart is gone to may not want to wait!
The person I love may not tolerate being kept waiting
For just a birdie, and a birdie who goes nowhere,
The bird may be just a simple creature, but knows how to find love
He knows of every lover's lane and how to go there;
The bird knows the way to romantic destinations
For in affairs of the heart,
When it comes to love,
My tico's terribly smart,
The bird is remarkably astute
He tells me: "gently, sentimentally at the start!"
The bird advises a gentle and sentimental approach to love
Oh, oh, I hear my little tico tico calling
The bird's call is heard
Because the time is right and shades of night are falling.
The time for love is upon us as night falls
I love that not-so-cuckoo cuckoo in the clock,
The singer loves the bird that signals the time for love
Tico tico tico tico tico tock!
The bird's clock-like sound continues to signal the time for love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, ROBERT MELLIN LIVING TRUST
Written by: ERWIN DRAKE, ZEQUINHA DE ABREU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mohamed Alaa
Oh, tico tico, tick!
Oh, tico tico, tock!
This tico tico, he's the cuckoo in my clock
And when he says "cuckoo,"
He means it's time to woo
It's tico time for all the lovers on the block
I've got a heavy date
A tete a tete at eight
So speak, oh, tico, tell me if it's getting late?
If I'm on time, cuckoo
But, if I'm late, woo-woo!
The one my heart is gone to may not want to wait!
For just a birdie, and a birdie who goes nowhere
He knows of every lover's lane and how to go there;
For in affairs of the heart
My tico's terribly smart
He tells me: "gently, sentimentally at the start!"
Oh, oh, I hear my little tico tico calling
Because the time is right and shades of night are falling
I love that not-so-cuckoo cuckoo in the clock
Tico tico tico tico tico tock!
Hinitha Hilary
Oh, Tico Tico, Tick
Oh, Tico Tico, Tock
This Tico Tico, he's the cuckoo in my clock.
And when he says "cuckoo",
He means it's time to woo,
It's Tico time for all the lovers in the block.
I"v got a heavy date,
A tete a tete at eight,
So speak, Oh Tico, tell me if it's getting late?
If I'm on time, cuckoo,
But if I'm late I, woo-woo!
The one my heart is gone to may not want to wait!
For just a birdie, and a birdie who goes nowhere,
He knows of every lover's lane and how to go there;
For in affairs of the heart
My Tico's terribly smart,
He tells me: "Gently, sentiment'ly at the start!"
Oh, Oh, I hear my little Tico Tico calling
Because the time is right and shades of night are falling.
I love that not-so-cuckoo cuckoo in the clock,
Tico Tico Tico Tico Tico Tock!
I got a date at eight
Huh... to celebrate with my friend
Tico Tico Tock!
For just a birdie, and a birdie who goes nowhere,
He knows of every lover's lane and how to go there;
For in affairs of the heart
My Tico's terribly smart,
He tells me: "Gently, sentiment'ly at the start!"
Oh, Oh, I hear my little Tico Tico calling to me
The time is right and shades of night are falling.
I love that not-so-cuckoo cuckoo in the clock,
Tico Tico Tico Tico Tico Tock!
Tico Tico Tico Tico Tico Tock!
Tico Tock!
Fer -
Brazilians always get so flattered when foreigners embrace our music! Love for you all!
Andrews Crosby
The Andrews Sisters version is my favorite. They just have the best voices and harmony from the soul. The solo singing part towards the end puts me in heaven.
Robert
Sou Brasileiro e fiquei encantado com a versão
apollonia
Tico Tico is one of my favorites and this version is great. Enjoyed it very much. Thanks.
Rubens Leffer De Liz Santos
I feel proud as a citizen by the Brazilian song written in 1917 by Jose 'zequinha' de Abreu. Here there was even film of his life starring Anselmo Duarte and Tonia Carrero. The rhythm of it in almost all versions worldwide is always very hectic. Some scholars say it is the fastest song in terms of rhythms ever composed.
Julie S.
This music was actually composed by a brazilian musician in 1917, and was sang by Carmen Miranda too, in portuguese, of course!
Kam Hardee
Thank you for this! Many don’t know as that this version over shadowed it!
Ujang Kosasih
Beautiful song.
Love it.
IAmAnnaish
We're singing this in Choir and it's a great song!
Jamie Freed
I know this by heart by now, so I sing it when I'm happy! :)