“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.
Well All Right!
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just got back from a vaudeville show
Do-hoo you sing and dance
I-hi'll take a chance
We-ell, OK let us go
Well all right (well all right) dig, dig, dig
Well all right (well all right) chuff, chuff, chuff
Well all right for tonight is the night to be bright
The music's stompin' to ya, you know tonight's the night
Oh, we're goin', I don't know where we'll go but we're goin'
Yes, we're goin', the only thing I know is that we're goin'
Feel the rhythm runnin' through ya
You know tonight's the night
Well all right (well all right) dig, dig, dig
Well all right (well all right) chuff, chuff, chuff
Well all right (well all right) hi, hi, hi
Well all right, well all right, well all right, well all right
The music's stompin' to ya, you know tonight's the night
Well all right (well all right) dig, dig, dig
Well all right (well all right) chuff, chuff, chuff
Well all right (well all right) hi, hi, hi
Well all right for tonight is the night to be bright
The music's stompin' to ya, you know tonight's the night
Ooh, we're goin' away, we're goin' away
I don't know where we're goin' but we're goin' away
Well come on Jack let's get ready to pack
We're gonna hop a jolly car ride down to Dixieland
The music's stompin' to ya, you know tonight's the night
Well all right (well all right) dig, dig, dig
Well all right (well all right) chuff, chuff, chuff
Well all right (well all right) hi, hi, hi
Well all right, well all right, well all right, well all right
The music's stompin' to ya, you know tonight's the night
Well all right dig, dig, dig, well all right
Well all right, chuff, chuff, chuff, well all right
Hear the music talkin' to ya
You know the blues will go right through ya
Well all right, well all right
Well all right (well all right) dig, dig, dig
Well all right (well all right) chuff, chuff, chuff
Well all right (well all right) hi, hi, hi
Well all right, well all right, well all right, well all right
The music's stompin' to ya, you know tonight's the night
The lyrics to this song describe the excitement of a night out with friends to see a vaudeville show, and the energy that comes with live music. The upbeat and repetitive chorus of "Well all right" serves as a call to action and encourages people to let loose and enjoy themselves. The lyrics also describe the thrill of not knowing where the night will take them, yet feeling confident that it will be a good time. The use of onomatopoeia, such as "dig, dig, dig" and "chuff, chuff, chuff," adds to the vibrancy of the song and creates an almost playful tone.
Line by Line Meaning
Well hello Joe, what do you know
I am greeting Joe and asking him if he has any news or information to share.
I just got back from a vaudeville show
I have recently returned from a theatrical performance.
Do-hoo you sing and dance
I am asking Joe if he is able to sing and dance.
I-hi'll take a chance
I am expressing my willingness to try something new or take a risk.
We-ell, OK let us go
I am agreeing to go somewhere with Joe.
Well all right (well all right) dig, dig, dig
I am excited and enthusiastic about the upcoming event.
Well all right (well all right) chuff, chuff, chuff
I am expressing my excitement about the experience through the sounds of onomatopoeia.
Well all right (well all right) hi, hi, hi
I am exclaiming with joy and eagerness for what is to come.
Well all right for tonight is the night to be bright
Tonight is a special occasion and we should make the most of it.
The music's stompin' to ya, you know tonight's the night
The music is energizing and exciting, indicating that this is a great night.
Oh, we're goin', I don't know where we'll go but we're goin'
We are embarking on a journey with an unknown destination.
Yes, we're goin', the only thing I know is that we're goin'
Although we may not know where we're going, we're determined to go anyway.
Feel the rhythm runnin' through ya
The music has a strong beat that is infectious and gets people moving.
You know tonight's the night
Tonight is a special night that should be enjoyed.
Well all right, well all right, well all right, well all right
I am repeating my excitement and anticipation of the night.
Ooh, we're goin' away, we're goin' away
We are leaving our current location and venturing somewhere new.
I don't know where we're goin' but we're goin' away
Although we may not know where we're headed, we're looking forward to it.
Well come on Jack let's get ready to pack
I am inviting Jack to prepare for our trip together.
We're gonna hop a jolly car ride down to Dixieland
We are going to take a fun and lighthearted car ride to Dixieland.
Hear the music talkin' to ya
The music is so powerful that it feels like it is communicating with you.
You know the blues will go right through ya
The music is evoking a strong emotional response.
Well all right
I am continuing to express my excitement and enthusiasm for the night.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRANCES FAYE, DAN HOWELL, DON RAYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
n00se
Well hello Joe, what do you know
I just got back from a vaudeville show
Do-hoo you sing and dance
I-hi'll take a chance
We-ell ok let us go
Well all right (well all right) dig, dig, dig
Well all right (well all right) chuff, chuff, chuff
Well all right (well all right) hi, hi, hi
Well all right for tonight is the night to be bright
The music's stompin' to ya, you know tonight's the night
Oh we're goin', I don't know where we'll go but we're goin'
Oh we're goin', the only thing I know is that we're goin'
Feel the rhythm runnin' through ya
You know tonight's the night
Well all right (well all right) dig, dig, dig
Well all right (well all right) chuff, chuff, chuff
Well all right (well all right) hi, hi, hi
Well all right, well all right, well all right, well all right
The music's stompin' to ya, you know tonight's the night
Do-da-de, do-da-de, do-da-de-da-de-da-de-da-de-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da
Well all right (well all right) dig, dig, dig
Well all right (well all right) chuff, chuff, chuff
Well all right (well all right) hi, hi, hi
Well all right for tonight is the night to be bright
The music's stompin' to ya, you know tonight's the night
Oh-oh-oh we're goin' away, we're goin' away
I don't know where we're goin' but we're goin' away
Well come on Jack let's get ready to pack
We're gonna hop a jolly car ride down to Dixieland
The music's stompin' to ya, you know tonight's the night
Well all right (well all right) dig, dig, dig
Well all right (well all right) chuff, chuff, chuff
Well all right (well all right) hi, hi, hi
Well all right [4x]
The music's stompin' to ya, you know tonight's the night
Well all right dig, dig, dig
Well all right chuff, chuff, chuff
Well all right, hear the music talkin' to ya
You know the blues will go right through ya
Well all right [2x]
Ba-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-rip
Well all right dig ,dig, dig
Well all right chuff, chuff, chuff
Well all right, hi, hi, hi
Well all right [4x]
The music's stompin' to ya, you know tonight's the night
Bluejeans0701
This is another Andrews Sisters song I adore. They are really amazing. I hope that Patty Andrews, my favorite member of the three, will celebrate her centennial birthday. Thanks for posting this clip. Let me express my thanks to you from Japan.
Napoléon Bouchet
Now it says that she died of old age and natural causes in 2013.
Lisa S
Yes, toward the end of January. She was a little over two weeks short of ninety-five.
coinneach maclellan
I love the brightness and immediacy of the 1940s' big band recordings.
puppetlady1
There are excellent dynamics in all Andrew Sister's songs especially this one.
Dayniac4324
Thank you for posting this song .... I absolutely LOVE it !! I have to listen to it every time I stop by yt !! Thanks again !
beyoncetyratina
Well, it was written by Francis Faye; her other songs were rock-and-rollish too.
David Chernofsky
This is one their less played numbers but could have been big in 50s
CedarScott
1939
jeremynv89523
I believe that it reached no.1 on the Hit Parade in 1939. Why it has been almost forgotten is a mystery.