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.
New Orleans Alone
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fields of cotton look wintry white
When it's Christmas time in New Orleans
A barefoot choir in prayer fills the air
Mississippi folks gathering there
'Cause it's Christmas time in New Orleans
Leading the band to a good old Creole beat
Golly, what a spirit, you can only hear it
Down on Basin Street
Your kids will disappear, when you hear
Hallelujah, St. Nicholas is here
When it's Christmas time in New Orleans
You'll see a Dixieland Santa Claus
A leading the band to a good, good old Creole beat
And golly, what a spirit and you can only hear it
A down on Basin Street
Your kids will disappear and when you hear
Hallelujah, old Santa is near
When it's Christmas time in New Orleans
Yes, when it's Christmas time
It's Christmas time in New Orleans
The song "Christmas in New Orleans" by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong celebrates the unique joy and spirit of the holiday season in the city of New Orleans. The opening lines describe the beauty of the city's landscape during Christmas time, with magnolia trees shining brightly in the night and cotton fields looking like a winter wonderland. The following lines describe the festive atmosphere of the city during the holiday season, as Mississippi locals gather to celebrate and sing hymns. The song then takes on a more playful tone, with a Dixieland Santa Claus leading the band and spreading holiday spirit down on Basin Street.
The lyrics suggest that Christmas in New Orleans is a special experience, with the city's culture and music adding to the joy of the holiday. The song captures the unique blend of religious and secular traditions that exist in the city, as the choir's prayers are mixed with the upbeat sound of Dixieland jazz. The mention of Basin Street, a famous music district in New Orleans, also suggests that music is a central part of the city's holiday celebration.
Overall, "Christmas in New Orleans" celebrates the distinctive spirit of the city during the holiday season, emphasizing the joy and fun that can be found in the midst of the season's more serious meanings and traditions.
Line by Line Meaning
Magnolia trees at night, sparkling bright
The magnolia trees in New Orleans shine brightly at night and add to the festive atmosphere.
Fields of cotton look wintry white
During Christmas time, the cotton fields take on a snowy appearance, making it feel like winter in spite of the warm weather.
When it's Christmas time in New Orleans
The song is about the unique experience of New Orleans during the holiday season.
A barefoot choir in prayer fills the air
The sound of a choir singing in prayer is everywhere in New Orleans, especially during Christmas time.
Mississippi folks gathering there
People from all over Mississippi come to New Orleans during Christmas time to join in the festivities.
'Cause it's Christmas time in New Orleans
The reason for the gathering and celebration is because it's Christmas time in New Orleans.
You'll see a Dixieland Santa Claus
Santa Claus in New Orleans is different from anywhere else in the world, as he embraces the Dixieland jazz culture.
Leading the band to a good old Creole beat
Santa Claus is often seen leading a band that plays a unique, Creole style of jazz music that adds to the festive atmosphere.
Golly, what a spirit, you can only hear it
The joyful, lively spirit of New Orleans during Christmas time is so strong that you can feel it in the air and hear it in the music that's played.
Down on Basin Street
The specific location where you can experience the unique Christmas culture of New Orleans is on Basin Street.
Your kids will disappear, when you hear
Children get so caught up in the excitement and magic of Christmas time in New Orleans that they seem to disappear into the crowd.
Hallelujah, St. Nicholas is here
When Santa Claus arrives, especially the Dixieland version, it feels like a religious experience, as people shout 'Hallelujah.'
Yes, when it's Christmas time
The chorus repeats that the song is specifically about the experience of Christmas time in New Orleans.
It's Christmas time in New Orleans
Ending with this line emphasizes the special, unique celebration that occurs in New Orleans during Christmas time.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Dick Sherman, JOE VAN WINKLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@throckmortensnivel2850
"God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own..." Thank you, Billie, and Louis, for the beauty you brought to the world.
@gratefulyankee377
Two of the most immortal icons of jazz whose legacies will live on forever
@krisdemars1355
Right on brother 🌹
@carolegriggs3107
So true, and Billy's voice always gives me goose bumps. Heaven on Earth💜
@loilt5091
Louis & Billie...it doesn't get any better!!
@samuelmuiruri4704
u would not think amstrong could play for another artist. well, what a giant, great singer but will play sax for billie holliday
@loilt5091
@@samuelmuiruri4704
Sax?...time for some homework.
Louis Armstrong is widely acknowledged as the greatest trumpet player in the history of jazz.
@samuelmuiruri4704
@@loilt5091 my bad, i stand corrected.
@rexstil99
@@loilt5091 he’s my favorite but definitive best is a stretch when you consider people like miles Davis and John Coltrane
@loilt5091
@@rexstil99
Best❓
Best what...technical chops, groundbreaking virtuosity, a game changing, genre defining genius, a charming, heart warming icon. Or the FATHER of it all, even before Duke...the man who laid it all out there, setting the standard & example for everybody. Even the great Miles Davis admitted that Louis said it ALL, before any of us! Scholarly, former young lions like Wynton know the score...he'll tell you who The Man is.
Sure, Trane's got a few of those covered and then there's Diz's blinding, Be-Bop mastery, bringing the Latin connection & so many other greats, but when the dust finally settles, there's only one. The general public mostly know him as the gravelly voiced charmer, but his horn is the beacon on the battlefront, that blazed through the frontier and eras...from it's Storyville birthplace and Buddy Bolden, past King Oliver, to New York & the World! 🌐