Reuben "Ruby" Braff (March 16, 1927 – February 9, 2003) was an American jaz… Read Full Bio ↴Reuben "Ruby" Braff (March 16, 1927 – February 9, 2003) was an American jazz cornetist and trumpeter.

Braff was a wonderfully characterful and melodic player with an immediately identifiable sound and unique tone on the cornet, an uncommon instrument in post-war jazz. He style was fundamentally based on that of earlier players including Louis Armstrong, Bobby Hackett and Bunny Berigan but he transcended these influences to always sounds fresh, sparky and somehow modern.

He was born in Boston and began playing in local clubs in the 1940s. In 1949, he was hired to play with the Edmond Hall Orchestra. He relocated to New York in 1953 where he was much in demand for band dates and recordings.

He died February 10, 2003, in Chatham, Massachusetts.

"Sure, they’ve made statements about my supposedly combining a modern approach with a feeling for traditional forms. Well, people say all sorts of things, because they want to categorise and label. I’ve only ever had two labels. Either it’s good or it stinks." - Ruby Braff speaking in 1968

Bidin' My Time
Ruby Braff Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

But I'm bidin' my time,
Cause that's the kinda guy I'm
While other folks grow dizzy
I keep busy
Bidin' my time.

Next year, next year,
Somethin's bound to happen,

This year, this year,
I'll just keep on nappin'

And bidin' my time
Cause that's the kinda guy I'm.
There's no regrettin'

When I'm settin'
Bidin' my time.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ruby Braff's song "Bidin' My Time" are more complex than just being about procrastination or laziness. The song is about being patient and waiting for the right moment to take action. The singer is busy, but in their own way, and they are confident that something good will come their way eventually. The line "While other folks grow dizzy, I keep busy" suggests that the singer is not idle, but rather they are working towards their goals in a more deliberate and thoughtful manner.

The next verse begins with the line "Next year, next year, something's bound to happen." Here, the singer is expressing their optimism for the future, that something good is just around the corner. In the meantime, they will continue to "keep on nappin'" and "bid their time." The final lines of the song reinforce this idea, with the singer asserting that there is "no regrettin'" when they are "settlin'" and "bidin' their time."

Overall, the song conveys a message of patience, optimism, and the value of working hard towards one's goals, even if it means waiting a bit for the right opportunity to arise.

Line by Line Meaning

But I'm bidin' my time,
I am patiently waiting for the right moment,

Cause that's the kinda guy I'm
This is just the type of person I am,

While other folks grow dizzy
While others are running around frantically,

I keep busy
I am using my time wisely and staying productive,

Next year, next year,
I am anticipating that things will be better in the future,

Somethin's bound to happen,
I am confident that good things will come my way eventually,

This year, this year,
For now, I am comfortable with my current situation,

I'll just keep on nappin'
I will continue to rest and relax until the time is right,

And bidin' my time
I will remain patient and wait for the right opportunity,

Cause that's the kinda guy I'm.
Patience is an important characteristic of mine,

There's no regrettin'
I have no regrets about waiting for the right moment,