Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971) was a trumpet player, singer, and bandleader, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in the history of jazz.
Buzzard Song
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once de buzzard fold his wing an' light over yo' house,
All yo' happiness done dead
Buzzard keep on flyin' over, take along yo' shadow
Ain' nobody dead dis mornin'
Livin's jus' begun
Two is strong where one is feeble
Sharin' grief an' sharin' laughter,
An' love like Augus' sun
Trouble, is dat you over yonder
Lookin' lean an' hungry?
Don' you let dat buzzard keep you
Hangin' round my do'
Ain' you heard de news this mornin'?
Step out, brudder, hit de gravel
Porgy who you used to feed on,
Don' live here no mo'
Ha, ha, ha, ha! Buzzard, on yo' way!
Ole age, what is you anyhow,
Nuttin' but bein' lonely
Pack yo' things an' fly from here,
Carry grief an' pain
Dere's two folks livin' in dis shelter
Eatin', sleepin', singin', prayin'
Ain' no such thing as loneliness
An' Porgy's young again
Buzzard, keep on flyin',
Porgy's young again
The lyrics in "Buzzard Song" tell a story of hardship and resilience. The song opens with a warning that a buzzard overhead means trouble - that all your happiness is done dead. However, the song then switches to a more positive message: despite the challenges of life, there is hope and love to be found in working and living together. The buzzard, as a symbol of death and despair, is encouraged to move on and not be a part of this community.
There is also a hint of a personal narrative in the lyrics. The mention of Porgy, possibly a reference to the character of the same name from the novel "Porgy" by DuBose Heyward, implies that the singer has been through some tough times and come out the other side. The line "Porgy who you used to feed on, don' live here no mo'" suggests that Porgy has either died or moved away. However, the final line "Buzzard, keep on flyin', Porgy's young again" implies a sense of renewal and resilience - even in the face of death, life goes on.
Line by Line Meaning
Boss, dat bird mean trouble
When the buzzard appears, it signifies trouble
Once de buzzard fold his wing an' light over yo' house,
If the buzzard perches on your house, it's an omen of bad luck
All yo' happiness done dead
The buzzard's presence indicates that happiness has left
Buzzard keep on flyin' over, take along yo' shadow
The buzzard can be a source of fear that follows you wherever you go
Ain' nobody dead dis mornin'
Despite the buzzard's presence, nobody has died today
Livin's jus' begun
Life is still fresh and new
Two is strong where one is feeble
Two people are stronger than one alone
Man an' woman livin', workin',
A couple live together and work to make a living
Sharin' grief an' sharin' laughter,
They share emotional experiences, whether good or bad
An' love like Augus' sun
Their love shines brilliantly
Trouble, is dat you over yonder
The buzzard is still around, indicating potential trouble still lurks
Lookin' lean an' hungry?
It appears eager to cause harm
Don' you let dat buzzard keep you
Don't let the buzzard be the source of your troubles
Hangin' round my do'
Stay away from me and my home
Ain' you heard de news this mornin'?
There's nothing to worry about despite the buzzard's presence
Step out, brudder, hit de gravel
Leave your worries behind and enjoy life
Porgy who you used to feed on,
The bird of prey, Porgy, is no longer a threat
Don' live here no mo'
Porgy is not present in this area anymore
Ha, ha, ha, ha! Buzzard, on yo' way!
The buzzard can leave now, as it's no longer needed
Ole age, what is you anyhow,
There's no need to worry about growing old
Nuttin' but bein' lonely
Loneliness is the only downside of aging
Pack yo' things an' fly from here,
Leave behind what makes you feel lonely
Carry grief an' pain
Don't let your negative emotions consume you
Dere's two folks livin' in dis shelter
The couple is together, providing each other with support and companionship
Eatin', sleepin', singin', prayin'
They lead a simple life, focused on their basic needs and faith
Ain' no such thing as loneliness
As long as they have each other, there's no such thing as loneliness
An' Porgy's young again
With age comes wisdom and peace of mind
Buzzard, keep on flyin',
The buzzard is no longer a threat and can continue on its way
Porgy's young again
Life is still vibrant and full of opportunities
Lyrics © RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOROTHY HEYWARD, DU BOSE HEYWARD, GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hbcmechanic6041
when myspace was alive - this was my page song - most excellent tune - thank you