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
Puttin' It On
The Boswell Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I′m tired of showin' you
The right from the wrong
You think it's smart
You′ll be left I the dark
If you keep on puttin′ it on
After my preachin'
You're changin′ right along
You'd better heed
Slow up on your speed
And stop that puttin′ it on
Just remember that I wasn't a fair-weather friend
But listen, brother, from now on I'll be shoutin′ "I knew you when"
Your house was scratched up
Closed home and patched up
Still we got along
Can′t understand how any man
Could keep on puttin' on
You′d better listen and stop that puttin' it on
Remember
When we met you had nothing at all
Your money′s gone and changed you around
When you've haven′t got it
You just wait and see
Your so-called friends will turn you down
Look out I'm goin'
Said I′m tired of showin′ you
The right from the wrong
After all my preachin'
And all my teachin′
Why did you keep puttin' it on?
I wasn′t just a sunny-weather friend
But brother, from now on I'm shoutin "I knew you when"
You didn′t have a dollar
Remember when I'm gone
You lost your only friend
By puttin' it on
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Better stop that puttin′ it on!
The Boswell Sisters' song "Puttin' It On" is a warning about the dangers of fake behavior and insincerity in relationships. The song has a snappy, upbeat tune, but the lyrics are serious, warning about the negative consequences that come from pretending to be something you're not. The singer has evidently had enough of her friend's false behavior and is trying to tell him that he needs to stop, or risk losing the friendship altogether.
The singer begins by saying, "Look out I'm goin'," indicating that she's about to leave or end the relationship. She's tired of trying to teach her friend right from wrong, only to see him continue putting on a show of "smartness" that's actually leaving him in the dark. The singer warns that if he doesn't stop this behavior, he'll end up alone and disconnected from the people who care about him.
The song's theme becomes even clearer in the second verse, when the singer tells her friend that he's changed since they met. She reminds him that she stood by him even when he had nothing, but now that he's achieved some success, he's started putting on airs and treating their relationship as if it's disposable. The singer ends the song by urging her friend to stop the fake behavior, reminding him that he could lose everything if he keeps "puttin' it on".
Line by Line Meaning
Look out I'm goin'
I'm warning you
I'm tired of showin' you
I'm exhausted from teaching you
The right from the wrong
What is correct and what is incorrect
You think it's smart
You believe it's clever
You'll be left I the dark
You'll be kept in the dark
If you keep on puttin' it on
If you continue to deceive
After my preachin'
After my sermons
And all my teachin'
And all my lessons
You're changin' right along
You are changing your ways instantly
You'd better heed
You'd better listen
Slow up on your speed
Slow down your progress
And stop that puttin' it on
And stop deceiving
Just remember that I wasn't a fair-weather friend
Remember, I was there for you through thick and thin
But listen, brother, from now on I'll be shoutin' 'I knew you when'
However, moving forward, I will let everyone know our history
Your house was scratched up
Your house was old and damaged
Closed home and patched up
Closed home and repaired
Still we got along
We still had a good relationship
Can't understand how any man
I can't comprehend why anyone
Could keep on puttin' on
Would keep on lying
You'd better listen and stop that puttin' it on
You should listen to me and stop deceiving
Remember
Recall
When we met you had nothing at all
You were penniless when we first met
Your money's gone and changed you around
As soon as you became rich, you changed
When you've haven't got it
When you no longer have money
You just wait and see
You'll see soon enough
Your so-called friends will turn you down
Your fair-weather friends will abandon you
Said I'm tired of showin' you
I'm weary of educating you
Why did you keep puttin' it on?
Why did you keep on lying?
I wasn't just a sunny-weather friend
I wasn't just there for the good times
But brother, from now on I'm shoutin 'I knew you when'
However, moving forward, I will let everyone know our history
You didn't have a dollar
You didn't have any money
Remember when I'm gone
Recall after I've passed away
You lost your only friend
You lost your only true friend
By puttin' it on
By lying
Oh-oh-oh-oh
A non-verbal sound
Oh-oh-oh-oh
A non-verbal sound
Better stop that puttin' it on!
It's best you stop lying
Writer(s): The Boswell Sisters
Contributed by Muhammad F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
bobdal1946
The Boswell sisters are the best. love their music.
2ndviolinist
As a female trio and arranger (Connie) they were head and shoulders above the rest. Thank you for listening.
Aad Juijn
Thank you for this great song! 6/15/33 Dorsey Brothers Orchestra: Manny Klein (tpt), Tommy Dorsey (tbn), Jimmy Dorsey (cl, as), Larry Binyon (ts), Martha Boswell (p) ([NIT&T] says Fulton McGrath), Dick McDonough (g), Artie Bernstein (sb), Stan King (d), New York B-13466-A Puttin' It On (Boswell Sisters) 2:47 Brunswick 6625, [BSC4], [NIT&T] Grtz, Aad
Peter Hendriksma
A complete unknown Bozzies' record for me. I thought I'd heard them all, but no. And again with the fabulous Dorsey Brothers' Orchestra. Glenn did most of the orchestral arrangements, but it was Conny who was the true genius behind those marvelous (and unique) stop-and-go rhythms.
hoopjnky
This song is distinguished as one with music by, lyrics by and arrangements by the Boswell Sisters. No one of their caliber was doing this at the time.
R. Connor Montgomery
@Greg Artzner The Library of Congress Catalogue of Copyright Entries, Part 3, musical compositions for the last half of 1933, lists on page 1,053: "Stop that putting it on; w and m Boswell sisters, pf. arr. R. H. Noeltner (c) Nov. 27, 1933; E pub. 39038; Keit-Engel, inc."
Greg Artzner
Trying to find documentation of this "words and music by the Boswell Sisters". Do you have that in writing? Or is it just printed on the record label that way?
hoopjnky
Peter, that is what the publicity material about the Boswell Sisters would lead you to believe about Connie, but despite her enormous talent and incredible voice, the magic of the Boswells is shared by all three sisters. It is nowhere more evident than in this song where Martha's barrelhouse baritone and Vet's marvelous, almost invisible, blend make things happen in harmony that are perfectly synch.