Saul Chaplin (February 19, 1912 – November 15, 1997) was an American compos… Read Full Bio ↴Saul Chaplin (February 19, 1912 – November 15, 1997) was an American composer and musical director.

He was born Saul Kaplan in Brooklyn, New York. He had worked on stage, screen and television since the days of Tin Pan Alley. In film, he won four Oscars for collaborating on the scores and orchestrations of An American in Paris (1951), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) and West Side Story (1961).

Following education at New York University's School of Commerce, Chaplin joined the ASCAP and started out penning tunes for the theatre, vaudeville and for New York's famous songwriting district, Tin Pan Alley. While in New York, Chaplin teamed with Sammy Cahn to compose original songs for Vitaphone movie shorts, filmed in Brooklyn by Warner Brothers. During this period the team was sometimes billed only by surname ("Cahn and Chaplin"), in the manner of Rodgers and Hart or Gilbert and Sullivan.

Cahn and Chaplin relocated to Hollywood and scored two films for Universal Pictures. Chaplin then moved to Columbia Pictures to score Cover Girl and The Jolson Story. While on the latter film, Chaplin and Al Jolson penned the million-selling hit tune The Anniversary Song. In the late 1940s, Chaplin moved to MGM to work on a long string of films including On the Town (1949), Kiss Me Kate (1953), High Society (1956) and Merry Andrew (1958). For collaborating on such hits as Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen and Please Be Kind, Chaplin was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985.

While he still continued composing, Chaplin became a movie producer in the early '60s and was behind such major features as West Side Story (1961), Can-Can (1960), I Could Go On Singing (1963), The Sound of Music (1965), STAR! (1968), Man of La Mancha (1972) and That's Entertainment, Part 2 (1976). He won Academy Awards for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, An American in Paris and West Side Story as well as a nomination for High Society.

He published his autobiography, The Golden Age of Movie Musicals and Me in 1994. Chaplin worked with and was friends with most of the major songwriters and performers of his era, such as Cole Porter, Ira Gershwin, Al Jolson, Leonard Bernstein, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Phil Silvers, Julie Andrews, Frank Sinatra and others. His memoir focused on the behind the scenes aspect of moviemaking.

Chaplin was married to Betty Levin, who worked as script supervisor on The Sound of Music. In late 1997, the 85-year-old Chaplin suffered a bad fall and on November 15 died as a result of his injuries in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Bidin' My Time
Saul Chaplin 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 song "Bidin' My Time" by Saul Chaplin is a perfect example of a laid-back country tune that celebrates taking one's time in life. The lyrics tell a story of a character who is not in a hurry to do anything or go anywhere, who likes to take life slow and easy, and who is content with being patient. This character is "bidin' his time" and is proud of it, finding a certain pleasure in being busy but not being in a rush.

The song's lyrics are straightforward, and its message is easy to understand. The tune has a cheerful, happy-go-lucky feel, making it ideal for a lazy afternoon in the sun. The singer tells us that he is not going to worry about the future, but instead, he is going to live in the moment, taking his time and enjoying the good times. The chorus reinforces this with the words, "Next year, next year, somethin's bound to happen, this year, this year, I'll just keep on nappin' and bidin' my time."

Overall, the song is a fun and catchy tune celebrating a lifestyle of taking it slow and relaxing. It is a reminder to enjoy the present and not to be in a rush to get things done, as there is always time to take things one step at a time.

Line by Line Meaning

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

Cause that's the kinda guy I'm
I am naturally inclined to be patient,

While other folks grow dizzy
While others get impatient,

I keep busy
I find things to do to occupy myself while waiting,

Bidin' my time.
Patiently waiting for the right moment to act.

Next year, next year,
In the future,

Somethin's bound to happen,
Something significant will happen,

This year, this year,
In the present,

I'll just keep on nappin'
I'll continue to patiently wait and rest,

And bidin' my time
Continuing to wait patiently,

Cause that's the kinda guy I'm.
Because it is my nature to be patient,