That Old Feeling
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Lyrics

The lyrics to Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong's song “That Lucky Old Sun” are about an exhausted and overworked laborer who is lamenting his struggles unfulfilled life compared to the apparently effortless task of the sun rolling around in the sky all day. The singer begins by describing his daily routine of working hard to earn a living, but despite his efforts, he struggles to make ends meet. In contrast, the sun has no cares or worries and simply moves around the heavens without any responsibilities. The singer is tired and worn out and finds himself crying in desperation for a break from his struggles. He requests a silver lining or a way out, and the sun becomes the symbol of his life goal- to work less and be able to roll around heaven all day.

The singer is not just longing for physical rest but a kind of spiritual relief or salvation. He wants to be taken to paradise by a silver cloud and be freed from all his troubles. He longs for a river that will wash away all his worries and give him nothing more to do like the lucky sun. The song captures a sense of hopelessness and desperation that is felt when one feels trapped in their daily routine and unable to break free. It resonates with people who are struggling with the everyday grind of life and long for a way out.