THE ANDREWS SISTERS – BEI MIR BIST DU SCHÖN

BEI MIR BIST DU SCHÖN

THE ANDREWS SISTERS

SONGWRITERS: JACOB JACOBS; SAMMY CAHN; SAUL CHAPLIN & SHOLOM SECUNDA

COUNTRY: U. S, A.

ALBUM: PENSYLVANIA POLKA

LABEL: OLD CUTZ

GENRE: SWING

YEAR: 1942

 

          The Andrews Sisters were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia (July 6, 1911 – May 8, 1967), soprano Maxene Anglyn(January 3, 1916 – October 21, 1995), and mezzo-soprano Patricia Marie "Patty" (February 16, 1918 – January 30, 2013). The sisters have sold an estimated 80 million records. Their 1941 hit "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" can be considered an early example of jump blues. Other songs closely associated with the Andrews Sisters include their first major hit, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön (Means That You're Grand)"(1937), "Beer Barrel Polka(Roll Out the Barrel)"(1939), "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar"(1940), "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else but Me)"(1942), and "Rum and Coca Cola"(1945), which helped introduce American audiences to calypso.

          The Andrews Sisters' harmonies and songs are still influential today, and have been copied and recorded by entertainers such as Patti Page, Bette Midler, Christina Aguilera, Pentatonix, and others. The group was among the inaugural inductees to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame upon its opening in 1998. Writing for Bloomberg, Mark Schoifet said the sisters became the most popular female vocal group of the first half of the 20th century. They are still widely acclaimed today for their famous close harmonies. They were inducted into the Minnesota Rock/Country Hall of Fame in May 2006.

Of all the girls I've known, and I've known some

Until I first met you I was lonesome

And when you came in sight, dear, my heart grew light

And this old world seemed new to me

You're really swell I have to admit, you

Deserve expressions that really fit you

And so I've racked my brain, hoping to explain

All the things that you do to me

 

Bei Mir Bist Du Schön, please let me explain

Bei Mir Bist Du Schön means that you're grand

Bei Mir Bist Du Schön, again I'll explain

It means that you're the fairest in the land

I could say 'Bella, bella,' even say 'Wunderbar'

Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are

I've tried to explain 'Bei Mir Bist Du Schön'

So kiss me and say you understand

 

Bei mir bist du schön, you've heard it all before

But let me try to explain

Bei mir bist du schön means that you're grand

Bei mir bist du schön, it's such an old refrain

and yet I should explain

It means I am begging for your hand

 

I could say "Bella, bella", even say "Wunderbar"

Each language only helps me tell you grand you are.