During his early days as a musician, Jimmy Dorsey performed with various other ensembles and artists including the Scranton Sirens, The California Ramblers, Red Nichols, Jean Goldkette, Ben Pollack, and Paul Whiteman. He and his younger brother Tommy formed several bands known as “The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra” during the late 1920s and early 1930s which suddenly ended in May, 1935, when Tommy stormed off the bandstand after an onstage argument.
For several months, Jimmy continued leading the band, keeping the Dorsey Brothers name, hoping that his younger brother would return, but he did not. In September, 1935, the Dorsey Brothers band legally became the "Jim Dorsey Orchestra", after Jimmy found out that Tommy Dorsey now had his own band, and had signed a recording contract with RCA Victor. Jimmy Dorsey remained with Decca Records as the two brothers were now competing with each other musically.
Jimmy Dorsey's first hit record was "You Let Me Down" in 1935. His early band was considered to be more jazz-oriented than his brother's, and recordings of some instrumental swing classics soon followed: Dorsey Stomp, Tap Dancer's Nightmare, Parade of the Milk Bottle Caps, John Silver, and Dusk in Upper Sandusky. The band was featured on Bing Crosby's Kraft Music Hall radio show, and did quite well commercially, although being overshadowed by Benny Goodman, (also a clarinetist), whose big band had grabbed center stage in the mid thirties.
Dorsey's main vocalist was Bob Eberly, considered to be the best in the music business, and in 1939, Helen O'Connell joined the band, and the idea to have them do duets together proved to be highly successful. Almost every record released during 1939-1943 were hits, but especially records made with a Latin American flavor like “Amapola”, "Maria Elena", and “Green Eyes”, which topped the charts in 1941.
Certainly vocalists Helen O’Connell and Bob Eberly, were two very important factors in Jimmy Dorsey’s rise in popularity. They continued singing with his band for future records and motion picture appearances. Despite personnel changes, Jimmy remained one of the top big band leaders after World War II and into the 1950s, always updating the sound of his band, but the big band business was beginning to decline.
Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey reunited on March 15, 1945 to record a V-Disc at Liederkranz Hall in New York City. Released in June, 1945, V-Disc 451 featured "More Than You Know" backed with "Brotherly Jump". The songs featured the combined orchestras of Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey.
In 1953, he and his brother reunited to form a (new) “Dorsey Brothers Orchestra.” Tommy was the leader of the group, making Jimmy the co-leader and featured soloist. In 1954, Jackie Gleason chose their band to star in a weekly television show that centered on their band. The show, called “Stage Show,” was a huge hit, and gave other big band leaders hope in a business that was steadily declining.
Tommy’s death in 1956 and Jimmy’s own health problems resulted in the end of his television and musical career in 1957.
They're Either Too Young Or Too Old
Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As empty as can be.
I can't sit under the apple tree
With anyone else but me.
For there is no secret lover
That the draft board didn't discover.
They're either too young or too old
The pickings are poor and the crop is lean.
What's good is in the army.
What's left will never harm me.
I'm either their first breath of spring.
Or I'm their last little fling.
I must confess to one romance,
I'm sure you will allow.
He tries to serenade me,
But his voice is changing now.
I'm finding it easy to stay good as gold.
They're either too young or too old.
I'll never ever fail ya, when you are in Australia
And flying over Egypt, your heart will never by gypped.
And when you get to India, I'll still be what I've been to ya,
I've looked the field over, and lo and behold!
They're either too young or too old.
The lyrics to Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra's song "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" tell the story of a woman who is left alone in a town empty of men due to the war. She can't bear to be with anyone else but herself, as she discovers that all men are either too young or too old. There is no one left for her to fall in love with, and the few men who are around are not worth her attention. She mentions a secret lover that the draft board has already discovered, highlighting how every man her age is either serving in the army or too old to be drafted.
The song paints a bleak picture of the war's impact on women, who are left behind with no one to love or support them. The woman in the song is aware that the men who are around are not worth her attention, as they are either too young and inexperienced, or too old and not interested in a romance. She is aware that the men she could potentially meet are either too grey or too grassy green, which means that they are either too old or too young to be suitable partners. The war has left her emotionally drained and lonely, with no prospects for true romance.
Overall, the lyrics to "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" are a poignant commentary on the war's impact on women, who are often forgotten in discussions about the conflict. It highlights the loneliness and isolation that many women experienced during this time, as well as their struggles to find love and companionship.
Line by Line Meaning
You marched away and left this town
You left town and now it's lonely and empty without you.
As empty as can be.
It's completely empty here without you.
I can't sit under the apple tree
I can't enjoy the simple pleasures in life without you.
With anyone else but me.
I only want to share these simple pleasures with you.
For there is no secret lover
I don't have a secret lover.
That the draft board didn't discover.
All eligible men have been drafted into the army.
They're either too young or too old
The available men are either too young or too old for me.
They're either too grey or too grassy green.
The available men are either too old or too inexperienced.
The pickings are poor and the crop is lean.
There aren't many eligible men to choose from.
What's good is in the army.
The best men are currently serving in the military.
What's left will never harm me.
The men who are left are not a threat to my heart.
I'm either their first breath of spring.
I'm the first woman they become interested in.
Or I'm their last little fling.
I'm the last woman they see before heading off to war.
I must confess to one romance,
I have had one romantic encounter.
I'm sure you will allow.
I hope you'll understand.
He tries to serenade me,
He tries to woo me with a song.
But his voice is changing now.
He's going through puberty and his voice is cracking.
I'm finding it easy to stay good as gold.
I'm staying true to you, despite the lack of eligible men.
They're either too young or too old.
The available men are either too young or too old for me.
I'll never ever fail ya, when you are in Australia
I'll always be loyal to you, even if you're far away.
And flying over Egypt, your heart will never by gypped.
Even while you're flying over Egypt, you can trust that I'll be faithful.
And when you get to India, I'll still be what I've been to ya,
Even when you reach India, my loyalty won't change.
I've looked the field over, and lo and behold!
I've searched for eligible men, and found that there are none.
They're either too young or too old.
The available men are either too young or too old for me.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARTHUR SCHWARTZ, FRANK LOESSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luiz Carlos de Souza
Gosto do Inglês dela : belíssima pronúncia, de fácil compreensão para brasileiros. Até diria que ela seria uma cantora francesa cantando em Inglês.
Swingman 56
In my humble opinion, Kitty could do no wrong.The following year,she would reach her pinnacle of success with the Harry James outfit,creating one of the greatest band/vocalist teams,ever.
Turtlevox
quoted at length in one of the greatest Merrie Melodies ever, Little Red Riding Rabbit
K Hussein
NICE!
Pacifico Studios
The "Lili Marlene" of America's World War II.