Parker is commonly considered the greatest bebop jazz musician. In terms of influence and impact, his contribution to jazz was so great that Charles Mingus commented that if Bird were alive today, he would think he was living in a hall of mirrors. Bird's talent is compared almost without argument to such legendary musicians as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, and his reputation and legend as one of the best saxophonists is such that some critics say he was unsurpassed.
A founding figure of bebop, Parker's innovative approach to melody, rhythm and harmony have exerted an incalculable influence on jazz.. Several of Parker's songs have become standards of the repertoire, and innumerable musicians have studied Parker's music and absorbed elements of his style.
Parker became an icon for the Beat generation, and was a pivotal figure in the evolving conception of the jazz musician as an uncompromising artist and intellectual, rather than just a popular entertainer. At various times, Parker fused jazz with other musical styles, from classical (seeking to study with Edgard Varese and Stefan Wolpe) to Latin music (recordings with Machito), blazing paths followed later by others.
Parker was known for often showing up to performances without an instrument and borrowing someone else's at the last moment. At more than one venue he played on a plastic Grafton saxophone; later, saxophonist Ornette Coleman used this brand of plastic sax in his early career. On one particular occasion before a concert in Toronto, Canada, he had sold his saxophone to buy drugs, and at the last minute, he, Dizzy Gillespie and other members of Charlie's entourage went running around Toronto trying to find a saxophone. After scouring all the downtown pawnshops open at the time, they were only able to find a Grafton, which Parker proceeded to use at the concert that night. This concert is documented on the album Jazz at Massey Hall. The album is considered one of the greatest live recordings in Jazz history.
Parker's battles with alcoholism and heroin addiction ranged from his teenage years until his death from pneumonia and a bleeding ulcer at thirty-four. The toll that the drug had taken on his relatively young body was quite profound - a doctor examining Parker's body estimated him to be around sixty years old.
During his lifetime, tribute was paid to Parker when a new nightclub in New York was named Birdland in his honour in 1949.Three years later, George Shearing wrote "Lullaby of Birdland", which was named for both Parker and the nightclub.
Other phenomena also occurred in the United States after the death of Parker, particularly the use of the term "Bird lives" in graffiti throughout New York hours after his death, and later as the title of a contemporary art piece of the same name, created by sculptor Robert Graham in 1999. Despite its widespread use, Ted Joans is usually credited with its inception.
Old Folks
Charlie Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the seasons, he'll come and he'll go
Just as free as a bird and as good as his word
That's why everybody loves him so
Always leaving his spoon in his coffee
Tucks his napkin up under his chin
And that yellow cow-pie is so mellow it's ripe
Every Friday he'll go fishing, down on his favorite lake
But he only hooks a perch or two, the whale got away
Looks like we warm the steak
Someday there'll be no more Old Folks
What a lonesome old town this will be
Children's voice at play, will be still for a day
The day they take the Old Folks away
In Charlie Parker's song Old Folks, the singer refers to a beloved elderly person, known as Old Folks, who is a free spirit and loved by everyone around him. He is compared to the changing of seasons, coming and going just like the tides. The lyrics suggest that Old Folks is someone who is honest, trustworthy, and genuine, and that is why everyone loves him. Despite his age, Old Folks still enjoys the simple pleasures of life, like fishing, and he takes pride in eating his meals with proper table etiquette - tucking his napkin up under his chin and even leaving his spoon in his coffee.
The third verse carries a bittersweet message as the singer describes the inevitable and impending loss of Old Folks. When he is gone, the streets of the town will be empty, the laughter of children will pause for a day, and the town will feel lonesome without him. It's a sentiment that resonates with anyone who has experienced the loss of a beloved elder in their community. Overall, the song is a heartfelt tribute to a kind and vibrant spirit, and it leaves the listener with a sense of nostalgia and respect for the elderly.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone knows him as Old Folks
Old Folks is a well-known person in the community
Like the seasons, he'll come and he'll go
Old Folks is a transient person who appears and disappears like the seasons
Just as free as a bird and as good as his word
Old Folks is a free-spirited and dependable person
That's why everybody loves him so
Old Folks is a beloved member of the community because of his nature
Always leaving his spoon in his coffee
Old Folks is forgetful and often leaves his spoon in his coffee
Tucks his napkin up under his chin
Old Folks tucks his napkin under his chin while eating
And that yellow cow-pie is so mellow it's ripe
Old Folks likes to eat cow-pie which is ripe and yellow
But you needn't be ashamed of him
People shouldn't shame Old Folks for his habits and preferences
Every Friday he'll go fishing, down on his favorite lake
Old Folks fishes every Friday at his favorite lake
But he only hooks a perch or two, the whale got away
Old Folks only catches a few perch while fishing but misses the big fish
Looks like we warm the steak
The steak will need to be warmed up since Old Folks only caught a few fish
Someday there'll be no more Old Folks
Old Folks will not be around forever and someday will pass away
What a lonesome old town this will be
The town will be lonely when Old Folks is no longer there
Children's voice at play, will be still for a day
The sounds of children playing will cease for a day when Old Folks passes away
The day they take the Old Folks away
The day Old Folks is taken away will be a sad day for the community
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEDETTE LEE HILL, WILLARD ROBISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FelixScottJr
They were recording 78 RPM records in those days and they were breakable like acetates. Bird played with perfect time so he could come in anywhere and it would fit. I sat on several records which were on a bed I was setting on and broke them accidentally. Yardbird was playing very well on this recording. I can hear him experimenting as he became bolder in his tensions and releases. His harmonic and rhythmic concept were expanding on every round of his choruses. He was surprising himself. LOL
@stefanobonoli8783
Everything he played is full of love. And if I am not mistaken I think I hear Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross mixed in the choir. ❤️
@kempfkempfkempf
It was Dave Lambert's arrangement.
@johnhemphill1938
I love this song, love it. Reminds me of my childhood
@boomerang905
I just have loved the way this man "flew" through notes - Since l was like maybe 5 years old.
@FelixScottJr
Aaron Copeland was bemused by Jazz. 20th Century Music had been explored by the Serious Music Experimentalists before this recording. Jazz seems to have innovated and extended syncopated rhythm more than music here-to-fore. Dave Lambert's vocal arrangement here is very adventurous. He must have known this was going to be a classic recording. There was a little intonation problem in the voices where they were slightly out of sync in places. I like the raw edge.
@aridecompany
Sweet genius great from the soul of a beautiful human being!
@pvelectric
@bapyou other background sounds include the first take on an up-tempo song, and Bird's solo so affects the chorus they break out into a surprised, giddy laughter at Parker's ingeniousness wailing! they'd just never heard such greatness in their entire lives before!
@AlfaAxel
@pvelectric :: What a description, head on nail! There was a scholarly book (which I read when I studied musicology) saying that Parker did not add new means or techniques to the musical array of expressions (or something like that) a statement which may have been influenced by Schoenberg's "search for never heard chords". However, a harmony-theorist will notice that even 12-tone "dodekaphony" chords can be put in existing categories. All this to say "Parker created wonderful music!"
@pvelectric
Not only does Bird talk "tro" the other musicians, here he talks to them as well. My latest hit song is called, He Talks Tu the Animals.