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"My Sister and I" is a 1941 song written by Hy Zaret, Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer, recorded by Jimmy Dorsey, with vocals by Bob Eberly.

Background

The Jimmy Dorsey release on Decca Records hit number one on the Billboard charts on June 7, 1941.

Sheet music of the time shows a boy and girl in Dutch clothing, with windmills in the background. Under the title appears the description "As inspired by the Current Best Seller 'My Sister and I' by Dirk van der Heide." The lyric is in the voice of a child who has—with a sister—left a war zone by boat and begun a new life abroad. The line "the fear/That came from a troubled sky" along with the song's release date implies the evacuation of children from the countries ravaged by World War II, such as the London Blitz the previous winter.

Other recordings

Other chart hits in 1941 were by Bea Wain, Bob Chester (vocal by Bill Darnell) and by Benny Goodman (vocal by Helen Forrest).

References

1. Sheet music from Broadcast Music, Inc. (New York, 1941).
2. The reference is to Dirk van der Heide (trans. Mrs. Antoon Deventer), "My Sister and I: The Diary of a Dutch Boy Refugee" (New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1941).
3. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 556. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.

Sources

• Stockdale, Robert L. Jimmy Dorsey: A Study in Contrasts. (Studies in Jazz Series). Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1999.

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• 1941 songs
• 1941 singles
• Jimmy Dorsey songs
• Songs of World War II
• Songs written by Alex Kramer
• Songs written by Hy Zaret
• Songs written by Joan Whitney (songwriter)
• 1940s song stubs