Yes Indeed
Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra Lyrics
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[Chorus:]
Yes, indeed!
Yes, indeed!
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
The lyrics of "Yes Indeed" by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra are an exclamation of the joy and energy that comes from experiencing great music. The chorus repeats "yes indeed" over and over, with a call-and-response pattern that encourages listeners to join in the celebration. The phrase "get to making with the jive, boy" is a command to let loose and dance with abandon, and the lines "when the spirit moves you you'll shout hallelujah / I mean when it hits you you'll holler" capture the thrill of being carried away by the music.
The lyrics also contain references to the physical effects of music on the body and soul, with lines like "it comes out if it's in you" and "makes you shout, Jack, it sends you." Overall, the song is an expression of the power of music to inspire and energize people, and an invitation to experience that joy for oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes, indeed!
Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra are exclaiming with enthusiasm.
Yes, indeed!
They are still super excited about what they are about to do or what they have already accomplished.
Get to making with the jive, boy
Start playing lively music, boy.
You'll shout when it hits you
You will react vocally when the beat of the music hits you.
Yes indeed
Absolutely true.
Yes yes
Definitely.
Yes you'll shout when it hits you
It is a foregone conclusion that you will make a vocal noise when the music captures you.
When the spirit moves you you'll shout hallelujah
When you become emotionally moved, you will exclaim 'alleluia'.
I mean
To clarify or emphasize what they have just said.
When it it hits you you'll holler
When the beat of the music infiltrates your soul, you will let out a loud cry of pleasure or joy.
Yes indeed
Once again, absolutely true.
Yes yes
Without a doubt.
It comes out if it's in you, yes indeed
If you have the aptitude for making music, it will arise effortlessly.
Makes you shout, Jack, it sends you
It is so electrifying that it will make you scream, Jack; the music will have a forceful influence on you.
Well let me hit you
They say to hang on, because the intense impact of the music is coming your way.
When the jive starts jumping you'll shout
When the lively music starts, you will shout out in excitement.
Let me in there
They are telling someone to allow them to get in on the action as the music begins.
Well all right now
They are expressing their agreement and joy at the prospect of performing this music.
When it hits you you'll holler
Once again, when the music grabs your soul, you will burst out with a loud war cry of enjoyment.
Yes indeed
Absolutely right yet again.
Yes indeed
In conclusion, this music is magnificent at making people yell and scream in utter pleasure.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARY C BROCKERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@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.
@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.