Standards, Volume 2 and Changes, both recorded at the same session in New York, followed soon after. The success of these albums and the group's ensuing tour, which came as traditional acoustic post-bop was enjoying an upswing in the early 1980s, led to this new "Standards Trio" becoming one of the premier working groups in jazz, and certainly one of the most enduring, continuing to record and perform live over more than twenty years.
The Jarrett/Peacock/DeJohnette trio has also produced recordings that consist largely of challenging original material, most notably 1987's Changeless. (These recordings are noted above.) Several of the standards albums contain an original track or two, some attributed to Jarrett but mostly group improvisations. The live recordings Inside Out and Always Let Me Go (both released in 2001) marked a renewed interest by the trio in wholly improvised free jazz. By this point in their history, the musical communication between these three men had become all but telepathic, and their group improvisations frequently take on a complexity that sounds almost composed. The Standards Trio undertakes frequent world tours of recital halls (the only venues in which Jarrett, a notorious stickler for acoustic sound, will play these days) and is one of the few truly lucrative jazz groups to play both "straight-ahead" (as opposed to smooth) and free jazz.
Old Folks
Keith Jarrett Trio 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
The Keith Jarrett Trio's song Old Folks is a poignant and thoughtful ode to an elderly man known as "Old Folks." The song describes the ease and freedom that Old Folks exudes, much like the changing seasons, he comes and goes as he pleases. His character is as endearing as he is reliable, and everyone loves him for it. The song reflects on how Old Folks enjoys his simple pleasures in life such as fishing every Friday down on his favorite lake, even if he only hooks a few perch, and how he always leaves his spoon in his coffee and tucks his napkin under his chin while he eats. A humorous detail added to the song is his love for a type of mellow yellow cow-pie which the singer assures the listener is nothing to be ashamed of.
However, the song also deals with the inevitability of Old Folks' eventual passing. The closing verse of the song says, "Someday there'll be no more Old Folks, What a lonesome old town this will be, Children's voice at play will still for a day, the day they take Old folks away". This verse is especially poignant, and the song leaves the listener with a sense of melancholy as the idea of the loss of someone so beloved is deeply felt. Overall, the Keith Jarrett Trio's song Old Folks is a touching tribute to the everyman, and it reminds us to cherish the people we love while we still can.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone knows him as Old Folks
Old Folks is a familiar figure known by all
Like the seasons, he'll come and he'll go
Old Folks comes and goes like the changing of the seasons
Just as free as a bird and as good as his word
Old Folks is as free as a bird and always true to his word
That's why everybody loves him so
Old Folks is so loved because of his free spirit and trustworthiness
Always leaving his spoon in his coffee
Old Folks has a habit of leaving his spoon in his coffee cup
Tucks his napkin up under his chin
Old Folks gently tucks his napkin under his chin before eating
And that yellow cow-pie is so mellow it's ripe
Old Folks enjoys eating a ripe, mellow yellow cow pie
But you needn't be ashamed of him
There's no need to be embarrassed about Old Folks' peculiar habits
Every Friday he'll go fishing, down on his favorite lake
Old Folks goes fishing every Friday at his favorite lake
But he only hooks a perch or two, the whale got away
Old Folks catches only a few fish, but a big one got away
Looks like we warm the steak
Old Folks doesn't catch enough fish to have a big dinner
Someday there'll be no more Old Folks
Old Folks won't be around forever
What a lonesome old town this will be
The town will be lonely without Old Folks' presence
Children's voice at play, will be still for a day
The sound of children playing will pause on the day Old Folks is gone
The day they take the Old Folks away
On the day Old Folks is taken away, the town will feel a great loss
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEDETTE LEE HILL, WILLARD ROBISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@toenail2u
Thanks for this lovely music. So important to share this now that Gary is no longer with us and Keith can no longer play in public. These three men are jazz giants and will live forever through their superb music.
@Fishies125
Absolutely. One of the most important jazz trios of all time. Wish they could live forever, but at least their music will.
@robertroffalet9571
Magnifique trio celui de Keith jarrett ....dans la suite du trio de Bill Evans...éternelle musique. 1:09:41
@MrEarldawkins
Absolutely uplifting hearing this great music. This is my medication at a time like now. Thanks for sharing. !!!
@roloduarte3100
Well said.
@marialuciagranadodepaduama5069
Muito lindo!
@roloduarte3100
Jazz is so beautiful.
@fredphipps9452
Lovely!
@denisfustier3724
But lovely musica ! 😊
@ohji331
Amazing… Thank you.