Popular Jazz vocal group during the 1930's. Martha, Connie, and Vet perfect… Read Full Bio ↴Popular Jazz vocal group during the 1930's. Martha, Connie, and Vet perfected a mix of rhythm and harmony that would define Jazz vocal groups to come and influence The Andrews Sisters and dozens of other "Sister" acts, both Black and White, along with The Mills Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra, and Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, ( as well as current groups The Pfister Sisters and The Stolen Sweets.)

From New Orleans, they were classically trained and switched over to jazz as they grew up along with the form. First recorded in 1925, they went on to play vaudeville and ended up on radio in California. After being heard coast to coast on one of the first nationwide radio hookups, they became stars of radio in NYC headlining both their own programs, as well as working on shows with Bing Crosby and The Mills Brothers until the trio disbanded in 1936, mainly due to their marriages. They also appeared in many films of the time. (See youtube)

Connie Boswell, who later changed the spelling of her name to Connee, continued as a solo singer after the demise of the group, influencing singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. She did all this despite being unable to walk alone due to childhood polio and other back injuries.

"There is only one person I ever tried to sing like and that person was Connee Boswell."
Ella Fitzgerald, NBC News interview

"Connee Boswell is, without a doubt, the most widely imitated singer of all time."
Frank Sinatra

The best website on them is www.bozzies.com.
www.TheBoswellSisters.com
www.Facebook.com/theboswellsisters
www.Twitter.com/thesistasdotcom

Forty-Second Street
The Boswell Sisters Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come and meet
Those dancing feet
On the avenue I'm taking you to
Forty-Second Street

Hear the beat
Of dancing feet
It's the song I love the melody of

Forty-Second Street

Little nifties from the fifties
Innocent and sweet
Sexy ladies from the eighties
Who are indiscreet

Side by side, they're glorified
Where the underworld
Can meet the elite
Forty-Second Street

Little nifties from the fifties
Innocent, sweet
Sexy ladies from the eighties
Who are indiscreet

Side by side, they're glorified
Where the underworld
Can meet the elite
Forty-Second Street
Forty-Second Street

Naughty, bawdy
Gaudy, sporty

Forty
Forty-Second Street

Overall Meaning

The song "Forty-Second Street" by The Boswell Sisters is an invitation to join in on the excitement of the city and its iconic forty-second street. The first verse invites the listener to come and see the dancing feet on the avenue that leads to forty-second street. The second verse builds on this invitation with an emphasis on the melody of the dancing feet. The chorus speaks of the contrast between the innocent little nifties from the 50s and the sexy ladies from the 80s, who are indiscreet. The chorus also mentions how the underworld and the elite meet side by side and are glorified on forty-second street.

The song's lyrics provide interesting insights into the society of the time, where it seems that the dichotomy of innocence and sexuality coexisted on the same street. Also, the references to the underworld and the elite speak to the economic and social stratification of the time. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody are typical of the music genre of the time, allowing the listener to easily join in on the excitement of the city and its famous street.

Line by Line Meaning

Come and meet
Join me and let's see what's happening

Those dancing feet
The dance is the highlight here

On the avenue I'm taking you to
The location is upcoming and new to you

Forty-Second Street
The happening place to be

Hear the beat
The rhythm is irresistible

Of dancing feet
The dancers are in sync with the beat

It's the song I love the melody of
The music is amazing

Little nifties from the fifties
Young people who are innocent and pure from the 50s

Innocent and sweet
They are without sin and gentle

Sexy ladies from the eighties
Beautiful women who are daring from the 80s

Who are indiscreet
They are not afraid to be bold