“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.
Underneath the Arches
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We dream our dreams away
Underneath the arches
On cobblestones we lay
Every night you'll find us
Tired out and worn
Happy when the daylight comes creeping
Sleeping when it's raining
And sleeping when it's fine
Trains travelling
By above
Pavement is our pillow
No matter where we stray
Underneath the arches
We dream our dreams away
Lovely melody, Bud. Do you remember when we first sang
it?
Yes, Ches. We used to sit on a seat with the Thames
Embankment behind us. You had a newspaper and read the headlines.
That's quite right, Bud. I've still got that paper. D'you
remember the date? Nineteen hundred and twenty-six.
Ches, read those headlines again.
Ah, here's one. Gertrude Edderley, eighteen-year-old American.
First woman to swim The Channel.
Listen to this. Cricket. Ashes for England after fourteen years.
Irish woman, Violet Gibson, shoots Mussolini in the nose.
Oh! listen. Churchill's unpopular budget. Five per-cent tax on
all legal bets.
Charlie Chaplin not to retire.
Second time in history, Atlantic flown by three Spaniards.
Here's one. Death of Barbara La Marr, film actress with five
husbands.
BBC asks for nine shillings instead of seven-and-six for wireless
licence.
Hopes of return to penny post.
Listen to this, Ches. Bookmakers in a bad way.
Ah, that'll be the day, Bud, well, things are a little
different now, aren't they?
They certainly are and if they keep on improvin' like they're
doin' now, you'll know where we'll be, back again
Sleeping when it's raining
And sleeping when it's fine
Trains rattling
By above
Pavement is our pillow
No matter where we stray
Underneath the arches
We dream our dreams away
"Underneath the Arches" is a song about two homeless men who sleep under the arches of a bridge and daydream about a better life. They find comfort and solace in each other's company, and despite their difficult circumstances, they cling to hope and optimism. The lyrics describe their nightly routine and their musings about the world around them, such as passing trains and the changing weather. The song's poignant message is that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope and something to dream about.
The Andrews Sisters recorded "Underneath the Arches" in 1946, with their distinctive harmonies infusing new life into the classic tune. The song was originally written in 1932 by Bud Flanagan and Harry Lauder, a Scottish vaudeville entertainer, and it became a popular standard during the Depression era. The lyrics resonate with people from all walks of life, as they symbolize the human longing for escapism and a better future. The song's popularity has endured over the years, and it continues to be covered by artists across genres.
Line by Line Meaning
Underneath the arches
We find shelter and comfort in the arches of buildings
We dream our dreams away
In this place, we forget our troubles and focus on our dreams
On cobblestones we lay
The ground beneath us is rough, but we make do with what we have
Every night you'll find us
This is where we call home, every night without fail
Tired out and worn
We work hard and the day takes a toll on us
Happy when the daylight comes creeping
We yearn for the day when we can feel alive again
Heralding the dawn
The dawn is a symbol of hope and a new beginning
Trains travelling
The world continues to move and change, while we remain in our own little corner
By above
We are separated from society, watching from afar
Pavement is our pillow
We make do with the hard ground beneath us to rest our heads
No matter where we stray
We always find ourselves back in the same place, finding comfort in familiarity
Lovely melody, Bud.
Reconnecting with an old friend about a shared experience and music brings back happy memories
Do you remember when we first sang it?
Reflecting on times gone by and reminiscing about how things used to be
You had a newspaper and read the headlines.
Recalling how they used to pass the time and stay informed
Gertrude Edderley, eighteen-year-old American. First woman to swim The Channel.
Remembering important events from the past and how they impacted society
Cricket. Ashes for England after fourteen years.
Celebrating national achievements and victories in sport
Irish woman, Violet Gibson, shoots Mussolini in the nose.
Discussing world news and political events of the time
Churchill's unpopular budget. Five per-cent tax on all legal bets.
Talking about current affairs and how they affect people's lives
Charlie Chaplin not to retire.
Staying up to date with the entertainment industry and its stars
Second time in history, Atlantic flown by three Spaniards.
Being amazed by technological advancements and achievements
Death of Barbara La Marr, film actress with five husbands.
Keeping up with celebrity gossip and news of the entertainment industry
BBC asks for nine shillings instead of seven-and-six for wireless licence.
Noting changes in technology and how it affects the way people consume media
Hopes of return to penny post.
Looking forward to future improvements and changes in society
Bookmakers in a bad way.
Discussing the state of the economy and how it affects different industries
Ah, that'll be the day, Bud, well, things are a little different now, aren't they?
Comparing the past to the present and reflecting on how much has changed
If they keep on improvin' like they're doin' now, you'll know where we'll be, back again.
Expressing hope for the future and looking forward to better days ahead
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Joseph Mccarthy Jr., Bud Flanagan, Reg Connelly
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TopHatJack
Lovely rendition!