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.
Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I miss it, each night and day
The longer I stay away
Miss the moist covered vines
The tall sugar pines
Where mocking birds use to sing
And I like to see the lazy Mississippi
The Mardi Gras memories
Of creole tunes that fill the air
I dream of oleanders in June
And soon I'm wishing that I was there
Do you know what is means to miss New Orleans
And there is something more
I miss the one I care for
More than I miss New Orleans
In Ella Fitzgerald's song "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans," the lyrics delve into the theme of nostalgia for the city of New Orleans. The song lyrics express Ella Fitzgerald's longing to return to the city's familiar settings, sounds, and memories. She misses it each day and night, but the more she stays away, the more she aches for the sights she used to know so well. The moist covered vines, the tall sugar pines, and the lazy Mississippi River are all pieces of New Orleans that she dearly misses. She also reminisces about the Mardi Gras memories and the creole tunes that used to fill the air. She yearns for oleanders blooming in June and wishes she could be there to experience it all once again.
While the song is about Ella Fitzgerald's longing for New Orleans, it is also says something about the human condition in general. People have a natural inclination to miss someone or something when they are not there, and to long for a return to the familiar. This feeling of nostalgia, whether it be for a place, person or thing, is universal and this song is a perfect representation of that.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you know what is means to miss New Orleans
Have you ever experienced the feeling of longing for New Orleans?
I miss it, each night and day
I feel the absence of New Orleans every moment, whether it's day or night
The longer I stay away
As time passes, my longing for New Orleans grows stronger
Miss the moist covered vines
I yearn for the sight of damp vines
The tall sugar pines
I miss the sight of the tall sugar pines
Where mocking birds use to sing
In the past, mocking birds would sing there, and I miss that too
And I like to see the lazy Mississippi
I enjoy seeing the Mississippi River flow slowly and calmly
Are hurrying to spring
As if rushing towards the season of rebirth, spring
The Mardi Gras memories
I fondly remember the festive atmosphere of Mardi Gras
Of creole tunes that fill the air
I remember the sound of Creole music that would fill the air during Mardi Gras
I dream of oleanders in June
I long to see the oleanders blooming in June
And soon I'm wishing that I was there
Before I know it, I am yearning to be back in New Orleans
And there is something more
In addition to my desire for New Orleans, there is another thing I miss
I miss the one I care for
More than anything, I miss the person I love
More than I miss New Orleans
My longing for that person exceeds even my yearning for New Orleans
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eddie De Lange, Louis Alter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rslashbri
Do you know what it means
To miss New Orleans
And miss it each night and day
I know I'm not wrong
The feeling's getting stronger
The longer I stay away
Miss the moist covered vines
The tall sugar pines
Where mocking birds used to sing
And I'd like to see the lazy Mississippi
A hurrying into spring
The Mardi Gras memories
Of creole tunes that filled the air
I dream of oleanders in June
And soon I'm wishing that I was there
Do you know what it means
To miss New Orleans
When that's where you left your heart
And there's something more
I miss the one I care for
More than I miss New Orleans
@uhtred5574
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
And miss it each night and day
I know I'm not wrong this feeling's gettin' stronger
The longer, I stay away
Miss them moss covered vines the tall sugar pines
Where mockin' birds used to sing
And I'd like to see that lazy Mississippi hurryin' into spring
The moonlight on the bayou a creole tune that fills the air
I dream about magnolias in bloom and I'm wishin' I was there
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
When that's where you left your heart
And there's one thing more I miss the one I care for
More than I miss New Orleans
The moonlight on the bayou a creole tune that fills the air
I dream about magnolias in bloom and I'm wishin' I was there
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
When that's where you left your heart
And there's one thing more I miss the one I care for
More more than I miss New Orleans
@keanulechat2510
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
And miss it each night and day
I know I'm not wrong, the feeling's getting stronger
The longer I stay away
Miss the moss-covered vines, tall sugar pines
Where mockingbirds used to sing
I'd love to see that old lazy Mississippi
Hurrying into Spring
The moonlight on the bayou
A Creole tune that fills the air
I dream about magnolias in bloom
And I'm wishin' I was there
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
When that's where you left your heart
And there's one thing more, I miss the one I care for
More than I miss New Orleans
@kilouis
Recorded live in Chicago at Medina Temple on June 1st,1956
Louis Armstrong - Trumpet,vocal
Edmond Hall - Clarinet,vocal
Trummy Young - Trombone,vocal
Billy Kyle - Piano
Dale Jones - Bass
Barrett Deems - Drums
Velma Middleton - Vocals
@scorpionola7457
There's a very good reason why we're consistently rated the happiest people in the USA in spite of the beatings we constantly take from Mother Nature (including this one). She can beat us all she wants (and she does) but she will never defeat us. I'm a Bywater New Orleanian who's been away on "vacation" for over a week and the homesickness is killing me already. Merci bon Dieu pour la Louisiane.
@firefall5748
For real .. New Orleans is the happiest place I've ever lived. It's also Drunk Central, which possibly has some effect on this :D
@InnocentKhajiit
As a frenchman, you have no idea how happy I am from your last sentence.
@cynthiahawkins2389
My husband lived in Jackson Sq for 30+ years, working on the waterfront, with a few of the Nevilles, who were merchant seamen before they took up music. Ric came up North, after Katrina in 2005, and happened to walk into my classroom, where I was teaching. (He was actually looking for the men's room).We married in 2008, and live in NYC now, but next year we are moving back. I will be a NOLA-newbie, and I can't wait!!!!
@cybelewilson8910
Oui Merci! Et bonjour de tes cousins du Quebec qui Aime la Louisiane ;)
@buttersstotch744
laissez le bon temps rouler toujours...
@purpleisaflavor
I left half my heart there as well. Can't wait until the day I can call this beautiful city home.
@zombiecow1909
same here my friend.
@thejoydivision8
Have you make it there yet?
@purpleisaflavor
@D D I lived there for 3 beautiful years and am presently in love with southwest New Mexico