During World War II, he wrote 1942's "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition". Formerly a successful lyricist in collaboration with other composers, this was the first song for which Loesser composed the melody in addition to the lyric.
Loesser was awarded a Grammy Award in 1961 for Best Original Cast Show Album for How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.
He wrote the following Broadway musicals:
* Where's Charley? (1948) (starring Ray Bolger)
o "Once in Love With Amy"
* Guys and Dolls (1950)
o "A Bushel and a Peck"
o "Fugue for Tinhorns"
o "I'll Know"
o "If I Were A Bell", a favorite of Miles Davis, featured in recordings with John Coltrane
o "Luck Be a Lady Tonight"
* The Most Happy Fella (1956)
o "Standing on the Corner"
o "Big D"
o "Somebody Somewhere"
o "Joey, Joey"
* Greenwillow (1960)
* How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (1961)
o "I Believe In You"
o "The Brotherhood Of Man"
* Pleasures and Palaces (1965)
Some well-known songs he composed for movies and Tin Pan Alley:
* "Baby, It's Cold Outside" from Neptune's Daughter (1949). This was originally a song which Loesser and his wife Lynn (born Blankenbaker) performed at parties for the private entertainment of friends. They also recorded the song for Mercury Records. Under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to supply a full score for Neptune's Daughter, Loesser included this song which he had created in 1944, originally for their housewarming party.
* "Heart and Soul" (from the Paramount Short Subject A Song is Born) -- lyrics
* "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" (from the Paramount Pictures motion picture Sweater Girl)
* "Inch Worm" (from the motion picture Hans Christian Andersen)
* "(I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China"
* "Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year" (from the motion picture Christmas Holiday)
* "Thumbelina" (from Hans Christian Andersen)
* "Two Sleepy People" (music by Hoagy Carmichael, 1938)
* "What are You Doing New Year's Eve?"
* "Wonderful Copenhagen" (from Hans Christian Andersen), which is now the official song of the city of Copenhagen.
He was also the author of "The Ballad of Rodger Young".
2006 saw the release of the PBS documentary, Heart & Soul: The Life and Music of Frank Loesser.
Follow the Fold
Frank Loesser Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Follow the fold and stray no more,
Stray no more,
Stray no more,
Put down the bottle and we'll say no more,
Follow, follow the fold.
Stray no more,
Stray no more,
Tear up your poker deck and play no more,
Follow, follow the fold.
To the meadows,
Where the sun shines,
Out of the darkness,
And the cold.
Follow the fold and stray no more,
Stray no more,
Stray no more,
If you're a sinner and you pray no more,
Follow, follow the fold
The song "Follow the Fold" by Frank Loesser is an invitation to turn away from a dissolute and immoral life towards a virtuous one. The message is clear: Follow the fold and stray no more, put down the bottle and the poker deck, and pray for forgiveness. The opening lines, "Follow the fold and stray no more," are repeated several times to underscore the importance of the message being conveyed. The singer urges the listener to join the community of virtuous individuals, to follow their example of clean living and morality. The reference to "the fold" can be interpreted as a reference to a religious community, where the sheep are gathered into a flock, and guided by a shepherd. The idea of following the fold implies obedience, submission to higher authority, and an adherence to certain moral standards.
In the second half of the song, the focus shifts to the joys of leaving behind a dissolute life and discovering the beauty of nature. The lyrics invite the listener to bask in the sunshine, to escape the darkness and cold of sin, and to enjoy the serenity of the meadows. This romantic image of pastoral life reinforces the idea that living a virtuous life is not only good for one's soul but also capable of providing inner peace and harmony with nature.
In summary, "Follow the Fold" is a song that communicates a clear moral message urging listeners to repent and reform their ways, and join the community of the virtuous. It encourages them to find joy in the beauty of nature and feel the warmth of the sunshine. The song strikes a balance between spiritual and earthly pleasures, suggesting that moral purity and the simple pleasures of life are not mutually exclusive.
Line by Line Meaning
Follow the fold and stray no more,
Conform to our ways and don't deviate,
Stray no more,
Do not go astray from our expectations,
Stray no more,
We insist that you don't stray from our instructions,
Put down the bottle and we'll say no more,
Stop drinking alcohol and we won't say anything negative about it,
Follow, follow the fold.
Consistently adhere to our beliefs and values.
Tear up your poker deck and play no more,
Destroy your cards and stop gambling,
To the meadows,
Go to the peaceful, idyllic fields of our utopia,
Where the sun shines,
Where the brilliant sun beams plentifully,
Out of the darkness,
Away from the shadows of uncertainty and fear,
And the cold.
Far from the chilling effects of those different from us,
If you're a sinner and you pray no more,
If you're committing sins and not repenting,
Follow, follow the fold.
Come with us, we'll show you a better way of living.
Contributed by Riley I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Emma Marie
GUYS AND DOLLS
Follow the Fold Lyrics
Follow the fold and stray no more
Stray no more, stray no more
Put down the bottle and we'll say no more
Follow, follow
Before you take another swallow
Follow the fold and stray no more
Stray no more, stray no more
Tear up your poker deck and play no more
Follow, follow, the fold
To the meadows, where the sun shines
Out of the darkness and the cold
And the pain and shame in which you wallow
Follow the fold and stray no more
Stray no more, stray no more
If you're a sinner and you pray no more
Follow, follow, the fold
Idk if this is correct just putting it out there😂
Caoimhe 12345
Follow the fold and stray no more,
Stray no more,
Stray no more,
Put down the bottle and we'll say no more,
Follow, follow the fold.
Follow the fold and stray no more,
Stray no more,
Stray no more,
Tear up your poker deck and play no more,
Follow, follow the fold.
To the meadows,
Where the sun shines,
Out of the darkness,
And the cold.
Follow the fold and stray no more,
Stray no more,
Stray no more,
If you're a sinner and you pray no more,
Follow, follow the fold.
Emma Marie
GUYS AND DOLLS
Follow the Fold Lyrics
Follow the fold and stray no more
Stray no more, stray no more
Put down the bottle and we'll say no more
Follow, follow
Before you take another swallow
Follow the fold and stray no more
Stray no more, stray no more
Tear up your poker deck and play no more
Follow, follow, the fold
To the meadows, where the sun shines
Out of the darkness and the cold
And the pain and shame in which you wallow
Follow the fold and stray no more
Stray no more, stray no more
If you're a sinner and you pray no more
Follow, follow, the fold
Idk if this is correct just putting it out there😂
penelope jane
tonight was my last performance of this show at my school, and I bawled my eyes out. I was part of the mission band and I had So. Much. Fun.
Idk ???
I was a missionary in my community theater, and out of the 13 productions I've been in, this was my least favorite roll.
Arts Entertainment
I'm opening next Monday! I play Nicely-Nicely Johnson!!
KaylaCautio
The beginning instruments were so emphasized then you get to the singing parts and it's just like 'where did it go?'
Daniel and Lucy: Cartoons Madness!
Someone has to make a 10 hour version of this!
EvidentlyMak
doing this for our musical!! hope I get Sarah!!💜
Lawen Hama
Did you get it?! Lol
Bryn Ellsworth
So I have a problem, I'm Agatha and thus I have the octave just below Sarah. Problem being- I am having a hard time finding my part in the song -_-
Any suggestions on how I can practice without Sarah totally screwing me up? (I've been playing/singing on the piano, but that can only carry me so far. When I try to sing the song with all the parts I find my voice creeping up to Sarah's octave :( )
DeadRaymanWalking
I was in the Mission Band, but I was just a band member playing the tambourine :-D