Burrell made his first recording in 1951, with Dizzy Gillespie. After moving from Detroit to New York City in 1956, he recorded with a wide range of prominent musicians, including John Coltrane, Benny Goodman, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, Billie Holiday, Milt Jackson, Quincy Jones, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine, and Cedar Walton. He also led his own groups since 1951.
In the 1970s he began leading seminars about music, particularly Duke Ellington's (Burrell has a music degree from Wayne State University). A highly popular performer, he has won several jazz polls in Japan and the United Kingdom as well as the United States.
He has recorded about 40 LPs, including Midnight Blue (1961), Blue Lights, Guitar Forms, Sunup To Sundown (1990), Soft Winds (1993), Then Along Came Kenny (1993), and Lotus Blossom (1995).
Burrell now serves as Director of Jazz Studies at UCLA.
Old Folks
Kenny Burrell 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
"Old Folks" is a touching ode to a beloved elder from a bygone era. The title refers to an elderly man who is cherished and respected by his community for his old-word spirits and gentle nature. Kenny Burrell uses vivid imagery to describe him in the first stanza, comparing him to the seasons, affirming that he comes and goes freely, and that his words are always trustworthy. Old Folks is depicted as a free spirit, much like a bird, with a genuine quality that has endeared him to everyone he encounters.
In the second stanza, Burrell uses humorous illustrative language to shine a light on Old Folks' lighthearted personality. He tends to leave his spoon in the coffee and tucks his napkin under his chin while eating. Old Folks can't wait to share his latest catch with others, even if it's just one or two perches. He is content with the simple things in life, such as a warm steak and the ripe yellow cow-pie that he adores. Burrell injects humor in this part of the song to show how Old Folks has touched the lives of everyone he encounters, even if he doesn't always do things in exactly the right way.
The final stanza of the song is melancholic but resonant. Burrell wistfully imagines the world without Old Folks and how lonely the town will become when the children's voices quiet on their play day. Nostalgia is ever-present in the final verse, where emotions run high, he longs for the Old Folks' unique spirit and how much he has impacted those around him. With this verse, Burrell honors the story of a beloved older person who has contributed to the lives of those around him.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone knows him as Old Folks
He is a person who is well known to the people and recognized as an elderly gentleman
Like the seasons, he'll come and he'll go
Just like the changing of seasons, he too departs and reappears regularly
Just as free as a bird and as good as his word
He is a person who values his freedom and is trustworthy.
That's why everybody loves him so
Because he is someone who is free-spirited, trustworthy, and well known people have great affection for him.
Always leaving his spoon in his coffee
He is someone who gets easily distracted and forgets things such as leaving his spoon in his coffee cup
Tucks his napkin up under his chin
He has a habit of tucking his napkin under his chin while eating
And that yellow cow-pie is so mellow it's ripe
He enjoys eating a cow pie that looks unappetizing but tastes just right
But you needn't be ashamed of him
Even though he has some unusual habits, there's no need to feel embarrassed about him.
Every Friday he'll go fishing, down on his favorite lake
His usual weekly routine involves going fishing on Fridays at his favorite spot on the lake
But he only hooks a perch or two, the whale got away
Even though he goes fishing often, he's only able to catch a few small fish since the big ones always escape him
Looks like we warm the steak
It looks like there'll be no big fish for dinner
Someday there'll be no more Old Folks
One day the old man will eventually pass away
What a lonesome old town this will be
When the old man dies, the town will feel lonely without him
Children's voice at play, will be still for a day
The usual sound of children playing will come to a stop for a day to mark the loss of the old man
The day they take the Old Folks away
The phrase 'take the old folks away' refers to the old man's eventual death, which will make the town feel empty
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEDETTE LEE HILL, WILLARD ROBISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind