Some of his musical associates have included Ray Brown, Ben Webster, Milt Jackson, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, Ed Thigpen, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Louis Armstrong, Stéphane Grappelli, Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, Joe Pass, Count Basie, and Stan Getz
Old Folks
Oscar Peterson 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 Oscar Peterson Trio's song, Old Folks, is a tribute to an elderly man whom everyone knows and loves in their hometown. The song describes him as the kind of man who comes and goes like the seasons, always as free as a bird and as good as his word. The song paints a picture of a man who is well-loved and respected by his community, despite his quirks and eccentricities. For instance, the song notes the old man's habit of leaving his spoon in his coffee and tucking his napkin under his chin, as well as his love for fishing, despite the fact that he only ever catches a few small fish.
Despite the song's playful tone, it takes a more somber turn in the final verse, which muses on the inevitability of the old man's passing. The lyrics express a sense of loss and nostalgia that will be felt by the entire town when the old man is gone. The image of the children's voices falling silent for a day is particularly poignant, emphasizing the important role that the elderly play in passing down their knowledge, experience, and legacy to the next generation.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone knows him as Old Folks
The Old Folks is a well-known figure among the people.
Like the seasons, he'll come and he'll go
The Old Folks keeps coming and going like cycles of the seasons.
Just as free as a bird and as good as his word
The Old Folks is an independent person who fulfills his promises well.
That's why everybody loves him so
The people have love and respect for the Old Folks due to his nature.
Always leaving his spoon in his coffee
The Old Folks forgets his spoon in coffee most of the time.
Tucks his napkin up under his chin
The Old Folks has a habit of securing his napkin under the chin while eating.
And that yellow cow-pie is so mellow it's ripe
The Old Folks' old and worn-out ways still have their charm.
But you needn't be ashamed of him
The Old Folks may seem antique, but they are worth pride and respect.
Every Friday he'll go fishing, down on his favorite lake
The Old Folks has a routine of fishing every Friday at his favorite lake.
But he only hooks a perch or two, the whale got away
The Old Folks catches only small fish while reminiscing about the big catch he missed.
Looks like we warm the steak
While the Old Folks fishes, the others prepare the steak for cooking.
Someday there'll be no more Old Folks
One day the Old Folks will pass away and be gone forever.
What a lonesome old town this will be
The death of the Old Folks will leave the town in a mournful and lonely state.
Children's voice at play, will be still for a day
The Old Folks' departure will cease the liveliness of the children playing for a day.
The day they take the Old Folks away
The day the Old Folks leave this world, leaving a void in the hearts of many.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEDETTE LEE HILL, WILLARD ROBISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@romainjaccoud7936
So brilliant, precise, divine... as always with Sir Oscar!!
@mcrohof
I was there, watching Oscar the first time Live; I can't put into words how excited I really was for that! Well, I could give it a shot, but it might get censored if I weren't careful ;)
@pinkieldred
OMG..absolutely wonderful! Wonderful ...means "Capable of eliciting wonder and astonishment". We used this word so casually, so lightly it loses it's true meaning at times. This is a great example of wonder and astonishment. To jazz lovers this is EARGASIMS. O Peterson and Pedersen make magic here.
@boogiebluester
Thanks for you're positive comment!! I just learned a new word!! It was a pleasure to post this video!
@pinkieldred
boogiebluester ...lol. Old folks is such a great song and so many jazz artist have done it. What a great you tube contribution ....thank you for posting it
...
@boogiebluester
Pinkie Eldred
You're welcome!
@UkuleleAversion
The only jazz pianist that comes close to the technical mastery of Oscar is Keith Jarrett.
@jetherocardoso
Genius.
@JooB788
Oscar Peterson "Old Folks" Piano
@boogiebluester
@Andreeeiiii Thanks a lot!!