Thursday, May 20, 2010

Magpie Entry 15

For those of us who belong to an older generation, today’s popular music is often difficult to appreciate. It doesn’t always seem to make sense.

How different, then, is an old song I was reminded of by today’s Magpie prompt. Way back in the late thirties it was the top hit of the land, primarily because of its touching, poignant lyrics. It was sung by the Andrews Sisters, whom you may have heard of because of their career in grand opera.
The song I was reminded of by the Magpie prompt had overtones of tenderness and sadness, of serenity and tranquility, as well as of deep psychological understanding.

Join with me now as we study the unforgettable lyrics of:
The Andrews Sisters’ Song “Hold Tight.”

Hold tight, hold tight,
Foo-da-yacka-saki,
Want some sea food, Mama?

I like oysters, lobsters too,
And I like my tasty buttered fish, foo!
When I come home late at night
I. Get. My. Fav. Or. Ite. Dish:
FISH!!!

Hold tight, hold tight,
Foo-da-yacka-saki,
Want some seafood, Mama?

51 comments:

Sam Liu said...

Those lyrics are brilliant, I shall definitely be listening to this song :D

Helen said...

Born in 1941 ... I grew up listening to the Andrew Sisters. Thanks for the memories.

Paul C said...

Sounds like a special night with seafood and buttered fish. Great memory.

Berowne said...

Sam Liu: "Those lyrics are brilliant."


Ah yes; they just don't write 'em like that any more.

Berowne said...

Helen: "I grew up listening to the Andrew Sisters. Thanks for the memories."

Yes, it does take one back, doesn't it?

Berowne said...

Paul C.: "Sounds like a special night with seafood and buttered fish."

I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.:-)

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

Hey, Women were lovely feminine women back then...and the singing was so good. I can hear it in my head now. Thank you for memory lane....

Kathe W. said...

and I just got back from New Hampshire where I devoured tasty buttery lobstah! Foo!
I always enjoy what you write! You!

Tess Kincaid said...

There's nothin' like the Andrews Sisters. Perfect harmony.

Berowne said...

willow: "There's nothin' like the Andrews Sisters. Perfect harmony."

Yes, there really wasn't anyone quite like them in those days.

Berowne said...

kathew: "I always enjoy what you write! You!"

And I you. :-)

Berowne said...

Crystal Mary: "Thank you for memory lane...."

It's my specialty. :-)

Sheri said...

okay, i'll bite...ARE YOU FOR REAL about those lyrics?? i couldn't tell if that was real or you were tongue-in-cheek messing with us...looks like i better get my google on and find out for myself!
it's always so good to see a post from you, berowne, have a great weekend!

joanna said...

Berowne

I barely remember the Andrew Sister's except for old movie reruns -- but as Bob Hope once sang "Thanks for the Memory"

Joanny

Berowne said...

sheri: "okay, i'll bite...ARE YOU FOR REAL about those lyrics??"

I simplified the "foo-da-yacka-saki" line a bit because it's more complicated in the original, but the rest is as written.

spacedlaw said...

A swinging song! Well done.

Berowne said...

joanny: "as Bob Hope once sang "Thanks for the Memory"

And thanks for the comment. :-)

Unknown said...

Simple pleasures - both the fish and the lyrics!

Lynn ... said...

I love this and I love the Andrews Sisters, but I often wonder what they were drinking when they sang (in perfect harmony, I might add), "Foo-da-yacka-saki, Want some seafood, Mama?" Hmmm ... what wine goes with metal fish?

This was delightful!!! I love it when you do this to me!!!! *all smiles*

Yemalla said...

Touching and poignant indeed! Didn't they sing Mare's eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy, too?

Berowne said...

Yemalla: "Didn't they sing Mare's eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy, too?"

Ah, you remember! :-)

Tumblewords: said...

I remember those charmers and their dulcet tones of realism harmonizing with the make-it-up. Fun memory.

Sheri said...

alas, it was easier to sing along with 'down in the meadow in a little bitty pool'. berowne, you are simply too much fun, FOR REAL ;)

Berowne said...

My thanks to Derrick, spacedlaw, Lynn Hamilton R., Tumblewords and sheri for their welcome comments. :-)

Lisa said...

mmmmmm, something smells fishy here.... ;-) All that music written by any generation of whippersanppers just is not clear to the elders of the time.

What the heck kind of lyrics was that? I am thoroughly confused. Were these Andrew Sisters singing or ordering at the Long John Silvers.

LOL. Thanks for sharing.

Berowne said...

Lisa: "All music written by any generation of whippersnappers just is not clear to the elders of the time."

Quite true...

Unknown said...

Ilove those lyrics, I went onto You Tube and listened to the Andrew Sisters singing the tune, it was fabulous.

Now I can't stop singing it.

Also, thank you for your comment on my post, much appreciated.

Everyday Goddess said...

my parents love that music too. it makes me happy to hear those songs!

Berowne said...

nana_ang_poppaphil: "I went onto You Tube and listened to the Andrew Sisters singing the tune, it was fabulous."

Great idea; I just checked it out myself.

Berowne said...

Always great to hear from the E. Goddess.

transparentnow? said...

If I could go back in time I've always said it would be the 40s. I just searched the Andrews Sisters and listened to some wonderful music. Thanks for the stroll!

JC said...

I don't remember that one ... I'll have to look it up.

Aoife.Troxel said...

I love the Andrews Sisters! I didn't know they sung mares eat oats. My dad as a child, and me when I was younger, used to think it went something like...

"maresy dotes and
doesy dotes and
little lambsy ivy"

Berowne said...

transparentnow? "If I could go back in time I've always said it would be the 40s."

Yes, a great decade. Of course, there was one slight drawback -- World War II. :-)

Berowne said...

JC: "I don't remember that one ... I'll have to look it up."

Go to YouTube and you can hear them sing it.

Berowne said...

A. Traxel: "I love the Andrews Sisters! I didn't know they sung mares eat oats."

To be accurate, the lyrics went like this:

"Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey. A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?"

However, the lyrics of the bridge provide a clue:

"If the words sound queer and funny to your ear, a little bit jumbled and jivey, Sing 'Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy.'"

Believe it or not, that ditty was sung by our armed forces around the world in WWII. :-)

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

Hooray for the Andrews sisters! Those gals knew how to swing it!

Madame DeFarge said...

This may be slightly lost on me, but seems fun. I am too young to remember them. Honest.

ds said...

"Foo-da-yacka-saki." What a line! But they also gave us "The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B" didn't they? Real tongue-trippers, and yes, great harmonizing. This was fun; thanks.

Brian Miller said...

nice magpie. this one was a new one on me honestly...have to look it up to catch the rhythm...

Helena said...

Being the mum of 2 sons in bands - t'would be a lie if I said I knew what all their lyrics were banging on about.....!

The Andrews Sisters would be more my father's era but I'm listening to Hold Tight right now and tapping (my foot) along to it. Smashing and 'catchy' lyrics.

Want some sea foooooooood Mama..? I sure do!

R. Burnett Baker said...

And for a nightcap: "Rum and Coca Cola" !!

Berowne said...

Lena: "Want some sea foooooooood Mama..? I sure do!"

That's it; you've got it. You've got to drag out that "foooood." :-)

Berowne said...

Rick: >>And for a nightcap: "Rum and Coca Cola" !!>>

What a meal! You'll be up all night. :-)

Berowne said...

Brian M. "...have to look it up to catch the rhythm."

Don't. Once you get it in your head it's hard to shake it. :-)

Berowne said...

My thanx to CatLadyLarew, Mmd DeF., Shirley LVS and ds for their fine comments.

Suz said...

Cute little ditties
those ANdrew sisters sang
when the world appreciated them
enjoyed this magpie

Berowne said...

Suz: "...enjoyed this magpie."

Enjoyed this comment. :-)

Lisa said...

What a fun take on the Magpie prompt-- Great tribute to those legendary sisters.

Berowne said...

Thanks, Lisa, for your generous comment.

Anonymous said...

I remember the Andrews Sisters, but not the song. Did you write that. Love your Santa Claus story above.
QMM

 
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