The orchestra was led by Eddie Sauter and Bill Finegan, who were both experienced big band arrangers. Sauter played mellophone, trumpet, and drums, and had attended Columbia University and Juilliard; Finegan had studied at the Paris Conservatory. They began recording together in 1952, using inventive arrangements that made use of a variety of unusual instruments, including many orchestral instruments as well as oddities like the kazoo and the beaten human chest.
Their first chart appearance was with "Doodletown Fifers", their version of a Civil War tune called "Kingdom Coming and the Year of Jubilo". "Nina Never Knew" (featuring vocalist Joe Mooney) and "The Moon is Blue" (with Sally Sweetland) soon followed on the charts. With the success of the singles, they put together a 21-member touring ensemble and began playing venues in 1953. However, because the group played in dance halls rather than concert venues, they encountered little success on the road, and quit touring in 1955 after having accrued much debt.
In March 1957, the pair disbanded the group, and Sauter moved to Germany; Finegan continued as an arranger. They reunited in the studio in 1959 to release a new album, Return of the Doodletown Fifers, and to do jingles for advertisers. After Sauter's death in 1981, Finegan revived the name Sauter-Finegan Orchestra for concerts in New York City in the 1980s.
"World Without Time," from "Adventures in Time" was chosen by host Richard Heffner as the theme music for The Open Mind (TV series).
Old Folks
The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't have a choice, you know I'm only young
I′m getting older, I′m getting smaller
Everybody tells you, "you've got to walk taller"
You did a war, and now you′re poor
And like your friends, you're gonna get it in the end
You′ve heard it all before
It′s not like I think
The old folks are losers
They can't work computers
They die in December time
Can't put it off, you put it on
Don′t ever stop, it doesn′t last long
The younger folk, they
Don't understand, they
Back in the day, they
You′re gonna get it in the end
You heard it all before
You can't go on much more
Its not like I think
The old folks are losers
They can′t work computers
They die in December time
Fall down for no reason
The churches are heaving
The old folks, they live the life
I'm down on the floor, I′ll settle down, you do what they tell ya,
You're gonna get it in the end,
You're gonna get it in the end.
The old folks are losers, they can′t work computers
The old folks are losers, they can′t work computers
The old folks are losers
They can't work computers
They die in December time
Fall down for no reason
The churches are heaving
The old folks remember why
The old folks are losers
They can′t work computers
They die in December time
The lyrics of "Old Folks" by The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra appear to be about the generational divide between the young and the old. The singer seems to be a young person who is critical of the older generation, perceiving them as outdated and out of touch. The lines "I don't have a choice, you know I'm only young" and "I'm getting older, I'm getting smaller / Everybody tells you, 'you've got to walk taller'" suggest a sense of frustration and powerlessness that comes with being young. The phrase "you did a war, and now you're poor / and like your friends, you're gonna get it in the end" could be a reference to the Great Depression or to the aftermath of World War II, which left many older people financially struggling.
The chorus repeats the same lines: "It's not like I think / The old folks are losers / They can't work computers / They die in December time." The repetition of these lines emphasizes the singer's perception of the older generation as outdated and not able to keep up with the modern world. The line "fall down for no reason / the churches are heaving / the old folks, they live the life" might suggest a sense of boredom or stagnation among older people, as they attend church and participate in other traditional activities.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the generation gap and the ways in which younger people might view and stereotype older generations. It also reflects a sense of frustration and impatience that can come with youth.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know I'm born, I'm only young
I don't have much life experience, as I'm still young
I'm getting older, I'm getting smaller
As I age, I feel like I'm losing my youth and vitality
Everybody tells you, "you've got to walk taller"
People often advise you to be more confident and assertive
You did a war, and now you're poor
You suffered in a war and now struggle with financial instability
And like your friends, you're gonna get it in the end
Just like your friends, you'll eventually face the same hardships and struggles
It's not like I think the old folks are losers
I don't necessarily believe that the elderly are inferior to younger people
They can't work computers
Some older individuals are not well-versed with technology
They die in December time
Many elderly people pass away during the winter months
Can't put it off, you put it on
Time to face your responsibilities and not procrastinate
Don't ever stop, it doesn't last long
Life is short, so make the most of every moment
The younger folk, they don't understand
Younger generations may not comprehend the struggles of the elderly
They're gonna get it in the end
Eventually, the younger folks will also face challenges and difficulties
Fall down for no reason
Sometimes the elderly experience physical limitations for no apparent cause
The churches are heaving
Religious institutions often attract older members
The old folks, they live the life
Elderly people have rich life experiences that younger generations may not appreciate
Writer(s): Willard Robison, Dedette Lee Hill
Contributed by Jacob M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.