William Howard Taft Armstrong was born in Dayton, Tennessee, and grew up in… Read Full Bio ↴William Howard Taft Armstrong was born in Dayton, Tennessee, and grew up in LaFollette, Tennessee. As a young teenager he taught himself to play the fiddle, and joined a band led by Blind Roland Martin and his brother Carl. They toured the United States performing a wide range of music, from work songs and spirituals through popular Tin Pan Alley tunes and foreign language songs.

In 1929 he recorded with Sleepy John Estes and Yank Rachell. The following year he recorded in Knoxville for Vocalion Records, with his brother Roland Armstrong and Carl Martin, billed as the Tennessee Chocolate Drops. Adding guitarist Ted Bogan, the band toured as part of a medicine show and backed blues musicians such as Big Bill Broonzy and Memphis Minnie. As Martin, Bogan and Armstrong, they also performed at the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago. In 1934 Armstrong and Bogan recorded "State Street Rag" and "Ted's Stomp" on the Bluebird label, with Armstrong using the stage name "Louie Bluie" which he had been given by a fan.

Although Armstrong's early recordings were in the style of country rags or blues, this was not his sole repertoire as a performer. According to his sometime accompanist, author Elijah Wald, his early theme song was the Gershwin standard "Lady Be Good", and his group's repertoire included a wide range of hit songs of the period, including Italian, Polish, Mexican and country songs which he would play to meet the varying demands of his audience.

After serving in World War II, Armstrong moved to Detroit and worked in the auto industry until 1971. With a revival of interest in oldtime African American music, Martin, Bogan and Armstrong reunited to perform. The band recorded, performed at clubs and festivals and went on a tour of South America sponsored by the U.S. State Department. They played together until Martin's death in 1979.

Armstrong was the subject of two documentaries, Louie Bluie and Sweet Old Song. He continued to perform with a younger generation of musicians, and released his first solo album Louie Bluie on Blue Suit Records in 1995, earning him a W.C. Handy Award nomination.

Along with his music, Armstrong was an expert painter, designing album covers for his group and occasionally for other artists, including Elijah Wald. He also made necklaces from beads, pipe cleaners and "found objects." He spoke several languages, and was a masterful performer who could keep an audience entranced with his stories as well as with his music.

He died in Boston, aged 94, following a heart attack.

Dinah
Howard Armstrong Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Carolina
Gave me Dinah;
I'm the proudest one
Beneath the Dixie sun.

News is spreadin'
'Bout our weddin';
I hear church bells ringin',

Here's the song my heart keeps singin':

Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!

Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!

Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!

But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean liner,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!

Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!

Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!

Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!

But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,

I would hop an ocean!,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!

Overall Meaning

The song "Dinah" by Howard Armstrong is a declaration of love towards a woman named Dinah who comes from Carolina. The singer describes his pride in being with Dinah and the news of their wedding spreading throughout town. He praises her beauty and asks if there is anyone finer in the state of Carolina. He also admits to being afraid that Dinah might change her mind about him every night. However, the thought of her leaving for China makes him willing to cross oceans just to be with her.

The lyrics of "Dinah" capture the essence of love and devotion towards one's partner. Despite his fears, the singer reaffirms his love for Dinah and expresses his willingness to go to great lengths to be with her. The song is also a celebration of southern culture, as evidenced by the reference to Dixie and Carolina. Overall, the lyrics are straightforward and capture the simplicity of a love song.

Line by Line Meaning

Carolina
A place where the singer met Dinah

Gave me Dinah;
Dinah is a gift from Carolina

I'm the proudest one
The singer is proud to have Dinah

Beneath the Dixie sun.
The singer is proud to have Dinah in Dixie

News is spreadin'
News of the wedding is spreading

'Bout our weddin';
The singer and Dinah are getting married

I hear church bells ringin',
The bells are ringing for their wedding

Here's the song my heart keeps singin':
The singer loves Dinah and is happy to be with her

Dinah,
Name of the singer's lover

Is there anyone finer
The singer believes Dinah is the best

In the state of Carolina?
There is no one better than Dinah in Carolina