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.
Red Sails in the Sunset
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Lyrics
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Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea
Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me, baby
He sailed at the dawning; all the day I've been blue, baby
Red sails in the sunset, I'm trusting in you
Swift wings you must borrow
We marry tomorrow
And he goes sailing no more
Red sails in the sunset, baby, way out on the sea
Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me
The song Red Sails in the Sunset, performed by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, is a romantic ballad about a woman anxiously waiting for her lover to return home safely from his voyage at sea. She watches as the red sails on his ship fade into the horizon at sunset, hoping and praying that he'll make it back to her. The lyrics suggest that the couple will be married as soon as he arrives home, and that his sailing adventures will be over.
The woman's desperation and longing for her lover are poignantly captured in lines such as "All the day I've been blue, baby," and "I'm trusting in you." The visual image of the red sails on the sunset, representing both hope and fear, creates a sense of emotional depth and urgency. The lyrics speak to anyone who has ever been separated from a loved one and yearned for their safe return.
Line by Line Meaning
Red, oh
The color red is highlighted, possibly referring to the sunset.
Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea
There are red sails on a ship on the distant sea, possibly heading towards the sunset.
Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me, baby
The singer is asking the ship to safely bring back their loved one to them.
He sailed at the dawning; all the day I've been blue, baby
The singer has been sad all day since their loved one left in the morning.
Red sails in the sunset, I'm trusting in you
The singer is putting their faith in the ship with the red sails to bring their loved one back.
Swift wings you must borrow
The ship is asked to move quickly.
Make straight for the shore
The ship should head directly towards land.
We marry tomorrow
The singer and their loved one are getting married the next day.
And he goes sailing no more
After the wedding, the loved one will no longer go out to sea.
Red sails in the sunset, baby, way out on the sea
The ship with the red sails is still on the sea.
Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me
The singer's plea to the ship remains the same.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Wilhelm Grosz, Jimmy Kennedy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind