Yes Indeed
The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Lyrics


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Yes, indeed!

[Chorus:]

Yes, indeed!

Yes, indeed!
Get to making with the jive, boy
You'll shout when it hits you
Yes indeed
Yes yes
Yes you'll shout when it hits you
Yes indeed

When the spirit moves you you'll shout hallelujah
I mean
When it it hits you you'll holler
Yes indeed
Yes yes

It comes out if it's in you, yes indeed
Yes indeed
Makes you shout, Jack, it sends you
Yes indeed
Well let me hit you

When the jive starts jumping you'll shout
Let me in there
Well all right now
When it hits you you'll holler




Yes indeed
Yes indeed

Overall Meaning

The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra's "Yes Indeed" is a joyous celebration of the power of music to move us. The song is a rhythmic and energetic ode to the joys of jazz music, and the way it can make us dance, shout, and feel alive. The opening lines - "Yes, indeed! / Yes, indeed!" - set the tone for the rest of the song, which urges listeners to "get to making with the jive, boy" and promises that they'll shout when the music hits them.


The song's chorus repeats the phrase "Yes indeed" several times, emphasizing the infectious quality of the music and how it can inspire us to let go and enjoy ourselves. The lyrics describe how the music moves us, with lines like "When the spirit moves you you'll shout hallelujah" and "It comes out if it's in you, yes indeed." The song evokes a sense of freedom and excitement, urging us to let the music take over and "shout when it hits you."


Line by Line Meaning

Yes, indeed!
A declaration of affirmation and enthusiasm.


Yes indeed
Reiteration of affirmation.


Yes, indeed!
Reiteration of affirmation.


Get to making with the jive, boy
Start dancing enthusiastically.


You'll shout when it hits you
You will express your excitement when you feel the music.


Yes indeed
Reiteration of affirmation.


Yes yes
Another way of saying 'Yes, indeed'.


Yes you'll shout when it hits you
Reiteration of line 2.


Yes indeed
Reiteration of affirmation.


When the spirit moves you you'll shout hallelujah
You will express joy and praise when the music moves you.


I mean
An interjection used to clarify or explain.


When it it hits you you'll holler
Reiteration of line 2.


Yes indeed
Reiteration of affirmation.


Yes yes
Another way of saying 'Yes, indeed'.


It comes out if it's in you, yes indeed
Your enthusiasm will show naturally.


Yes indeed
Reiteration of affirmation.


Makes you shout, Jack, it sends you
The music will excite you and make you want to shout.


Yes indeed
Reiteration of affirmation.


Well let me hit you
An invitation to experience the music.


When the jive starts jumping you'll shout
You will express your excitement when the music gets lively.


Let me in there
An expression of desire to join in the dance.


Well all right now
An expression of agreement and enthusiasm.


When it hits you you'll holler
Reiteration of line 2.


Yes indeed
Reiteration of affirmation.


Yes indeed
Reiteration of affirmation.




Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARY C BROCKERT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Trombonology

Trumpeter, vocalist, composer, and my favorite arranger, the great Sy Oliver, came up with this righteous quasi-spiritual while still in the employ of Jimmie Lunceford. Surprisingly, perhaps, the bandleader stuffily refused to record the song, finding it "sacrilegious." Later, when Sy had moved on to the Tommy Dorsey aggregation (lured from his dream of chucking orchestra work and studying law by the trombonist's promise of $5000/year more than Lunceford paid him -- remember, Sy joined TD in '39!), the bespectacled bandleader asked his star arranger to come up with something for his, Tommy's, pal, Bing, to record. Sy dug out "Yes Indeed!" which was duly executed, in September of '40, by frequent duet partners, Crosby and Connee Boswell, and brother Bob's band-within-a-band, The Bob Cats. It didn't end there, though: the Dorsey crew would take its whack, in its own way, at Oliver's glorious ode to salvation through music. The chart originally called for the entire instrumental ensemble to participate with Sy in the vocal chorus, but when he wasn't getting the feel he wanted from the band, he enlisted the services of The Pied Pipers' lead singer, Jo Stafford, who, Sy later related, immediately understood what he was after, and, with the arrangement revamped on the spot, the band pulled this one off in one take. Recorded February 17, 1941, in the arranger's trademark 2/4 time, at a session which also produced memorable treatments of Sy's charts for "Swanee River," Deep River" and Oliver original, "Swing High," this jubilant side is historic in being possibly the first interracial duet in pop music -- if anyone is aware of another such instance that precedes this one, please let me know. The also extremely fetching "Let Me Off Uptown," recorded by Gene Krupa's orchestra, with the fantastic Anita O'Day-Roy Eldridge duet, was waxed approximately three months after Dorsey's "Yes Indeed!" Sy's soft, amiable tone and Jo's clarion, bluesy notes, and the pair's hip delivery, are irresistible. Listen, too, for Buddy Rich's impeccable drumming and pianist Joe Bushkin's beautiful comping in the vocal chorus. ... Let me in there!

@iamfelixthecat7233

One of my favorite cats. 😎

@paulbrewer2374

Great comments. Thank you!

@theprophylacticprotectagai2069

Great comment & insight tho couldnt give a fark about the racial sjw BS... look at The Young QUEEN Ella Mae Morse that even today Black people first listen claim is Black... etc etc Great Music is Great Music

@Trombonology

@The Prophylactic Protect against MSM Thank you. ... Please identify where in my comment that I presented it as either fact or opinion that this side's being possibly a first instance of an interracial pop music duet in any way enhances the inherent quality of the music. It was, like other portions of my statement, background information. It seems to me that your characterization of "racial sjw BS" reveals far more about your, dare I say, "agenda" than my initial comment does about mine.

@alonzochurch3194

Pop music is a fluid term. Hoagy Carmichael and Louis Armstrong duet on a version of Rocking Chair way back in 1929. That may not meet your definition.

2 More Replies...

@shrinebox

Now this number has got some SOUL.

@jonhester8909

DJ Quads - Cruise Around brought me here. Great song.

@Joemiles27

When I worked at rca in the 40s ,I use to sneak up to bldg. 10 on the seventh floor just to watch them press a lot of my favorite records.

@jeffdawson2786

A colossal sheet of sound. When Tommy’s band sunk their teeth into a tune, they swung hard and lovely.

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