Durante was born in New York City, the third of four children born to Mitch Durante (1855 –1929) and Margaret Durante (1858–1936). A product of working-class New York, Durante dropped out of school in the eighth grade to become a full-time ragtime pianist, working the city circuit and earning the nickname "Ragtime Jimmy," before he joined one of the first recognizable jazz bands in New York, the Original New Orleans Jazz Band. Durante was the only member of the group who didn't hail from New Orleans. His routine of breaking into a song to deliver a joke, with band or orchestra chord punctuation after each line became a Durante trademark. In 1920, the group was renamed Jimmy Durante's Jazz Band.
Durante became a vaudeville star and radio attraction by the mid-1920s, with a music and comedy trio called Clayton, Jackson and Durante. (Lou Clayton and Eddie Jackson, probably Durante's closest friends, often reunited with Durante professionally.) By 1934, he had a major record hit, his own novelty composition "Inka Dinka Doo," and it became his signature song for practically the rest of his life. A year later, Durante starred in the Billy Rose stage musical, Jumbo, in which a police officer stopped him while leading a live elephant and asked him, "What are you doing with that elephant?" Durante's reply, "What elephant?", was a regular show-stopper.
He began appearing in motion pictures at about the same time, beginning with a comedy series pairing him with silent film legend Buster Keaton and continuing with such offerings as The Wet Parade (1932), The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942, playing Banjo, a character based on Harpo Marx), Ziegfeld Follies (1946), Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962, based on the 1935 musical) and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).
Old Man Time
Jimmy Durante Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Meanest man you've ever seen
He gives you youth, then he steals it away
He takes your nice pretty hair, turns it gray
He makes you rich, makes you poor, he' a dog!
So have a good time every day, 'cause you'll never get away
From old man, old man time
Old man time, that boog-a-boo
Every year, he changes you
He bends your back, dims your eyes, you see less
You quake and shake and when he's through, you're a mess
Makes you fat, thin or tall he plays tricks on us all
Every year, he changes you, no sense or rhyme
He gives you beauty charm and grace
Then puts wrinkles on your face
That's old man, old man time'
But there's one thing he can't change
Love that's true stays the same
It lives on, on and on in any climb
So you don't ever have to fret
Fall in love and you'll forget
That's old man, old man time'
Yes old man, old man time.
Jimmy Durante's Old Man Time is a cautionary tale of how the man who represents time can be so cruel in his dealings with humans. The song poetically portrays old man time as being mean, playing tricks on us all while changing every year, both physically and emotionally. The lyrics indicate that time has its own mission to steal away one's youth, and how it plays with one's dreams and schemes. Despite this, Durante indicated that one should still have a good time every day because Old Man Time is unforgiving, and no one can run from it.
The song seems to exaggerate time's impact on humans and showcase how brutal Old Man Time is regarding aging. The lines "He makes you rich, makes you poor, he's a dog!" demonstrates how Old Man Time is indifferent to individuals' struggles and how he manipulates events, sometimes favoring some individuals while being unpleasant to others. The chorus of the song reassures the listener that the one thing Old Man Time cannot alter is true love, which remains constant despite everything. Therefore, loving and being loved is the only escape from the cruel hands of Old Man Time.
Line by Line Meaning
Old man time, he's so mean
Old man time is a relentless force that stops at nothing to take away everything from you.
Meanest man you've ever seen
He is the absolute worst, unable to show any mercy or compassion.
He gives you youth, then he steals it away
The moment you think you have everything, old man time comes in to snatch it all away.
He takes your nice pretty hair, turns it gray
He robs you of your beauty, leaving you with nothing but a pale shadow of your former self.
He makes you rich, makes you poor, he' a dog!
He toys with your fate, taking you from rags to riches and back again, turning your life upside down.
All your dreams and your schemes ain't worth a dime
No matter how much you plan, there's no guarantee old man time won't tear it all down.
So have a good time every day, 'cause you'll never get away
Enjoy every moment before old man time takes it all away, because he always wins in the end.
From old man, old man time
Old man time will always be there, lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike.
Old man time, that boog-a-boo
Old man time is a haunting presence, a constant reminder of the inevitable.
Every year, he changes you
There's no escaping old man time's grasp, as he changes you year in and year out.
He bends your back, dims your eyes, you see less
Old man time doesn't just rob you of your beauty, he takes away your strength and ability to see clearly.
You quake and shake and when he's through, you're a mess
He inflicts pain and suffering, leaving you in a state of misery and despair.
Makes you fat, thin or tall he plays tricks on us all
Old man time is a master of the unexpected, tossing unpredictable and often unforgiving curveballs at us.
Every year, he changes you, no sense or rhyme
He doesn't operate on any logical system or methodology, instead changing you arbitrarily and without explanation.
He gives you beauty charm and grace
Sometimes, old man time grants his subjects moments of beauty, a brief respite from his cruel onslaught.
Then puts wrinkles on your face
Yet, just as quickly as he gave it, old man time takes it all away, leaving behind wrinkles and the toll of years.
That's old man, old man time'
Old man time always has the final word, leaving us to his whims and caprices.
But there's one thing he can't change
Despite his power, old man time is not omnipotent, and there are some things he cannot touch.
Love that's true stays the same
True love remains constant, beating back old man time and his relentless march.
It lives on, on and on in any climb
Love can transcend time itself, persevering through any and all obstacles.
So you don't ever have to fret
In the face of old man time, love stands firm, a bastion of strength and hope.
Fall in love and you'll forget
Find true love and let it be your shield against the unyielding force of old man time.
That's old man, old man time'
No matter what, old man time still looms, a force to be reckoned with and never underestimated.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLIFF FRIEND, JACK REYNOLDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@murderface3r
Im a heavy metal singer from 2020 and I'm here to say that these 2 guys are an inspiration and I can't hold my tears
@bartonlynch
I never knew The Satchmo and The Schnozzola sang together! WOW! Such a luxury having these two in a duo. Thank you for uploading this.
@barrythomas615
When I was a boy, I always wondered what Louis and Jimmy would sound like if they sang together. Thanks to YT, I got my wish. And they sound heavenly together!
@winniebella684
Louis was with his wife and needed to practice as he had a show the next evening. My parents were in the next motel room. Louis came over to my parents room and asked if they minded if he practiced. My mom and dad said he was unbelievably kind and they said it was like a private concert as they loved every minute he played! I’ll never forget my parents telling me that story. Rest In Peace my lovely and charmed parents and Louis? Thanks so much for that blessing! Your always remembered fondly! God bless
@Zakkatoos
Cap
@enlightenedjohnson
I can't get enough of Jimmy's stage mannerisms. The dance steps, forgetting his lines and laughing about it, moving his hat back and forth... and that voice! One of a kind!
@sugardeb
Two legends. Cigarette and whiskey voices. Touches my heart.
@BrandonAB64
You don't see passion and joy like this anymore... I'm 22 and I'm amazed and captivated. They've been dead long before I was born, but here I am listening and watching these two icons.
@paulsoccer22
You dont see many singers enjoying their music as much as these two.. pure joy to listen too :)
@moonhop
I was once lucky enough to see Jimmy Durante in person in the Boston Garden. I will never forget what a great entertainer he was. I think that Louis Armstrong is the greatest of all time. Thanks for posting.