Coming to prominence in the 1920s as an inventive trumpet and cornet player, Armstrong was a foundational influence in jazz, shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance. With his instantly-recognizable gravelly voice, Armstrong was also an influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes. He was also skilled at scat singing (vocalizing using sounds and syllables instead of actual lyrics).
Renowned for his charismatic stage presence and voice almost as much as for his trumpet-playing, Armstrong's influence extends well beyond jazz music, and by the end of his career in the 1960s, he was widely regarded as a profound influence on popular music in general. Armstrong was one of the first truly popular African-American entertainers to "cross over", whose skin-color was secondary to his music in an America that was severely racially divided. He rarely publicly politicized his race, often to the dismay of fellow African-Americans, but took a well-publicized stand for desegregation during the Little Rock Crisis. His artistry and personality allowed him socially acceptable access to the upper echelons of American society that were highly restricted for a black man.
Armstrong was born and brought up in New Orleans, a culturally diverse town with a unique musical mix of creole, ragtime, marching bands, and blues. Although from an early age he was able to play music professionally, he didn't travel far from New Orleans until 1922, when he went to Chicago to join his mentor, King Oliver. Oliver's band played primitive jazz, a hotter style of ragtime, with looser rhythms and more improvisation, and Armstrong's role was mostly backing. Slow to promote himself, he was eventually persuaded by his wife Lil Hardin to leave Oliver, and In 1924 he went to New York to join the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. At the time, there were a few other artists using the rhythmic innovations of the New Orleans style, but none did it with the energy and brilliance of Armstrong, and he quickly became a sensation among New York musicians. Back in Chicago in 1925, he made his first recordings with his own group, Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five, and these became not only popular hits but also models for the first generation of jazz musicians, trumpeters or otherwise.
Other hits followed through the twenties and thirties, as well as troubles: crooked managers, lip injuries, mob entanglements, failed big-band ventures. As jazz styles changed, though, musical purists never lost any respect for him -- although they were sometimes irritated by his hammy onstage persona. Around the late forties, with the help of a good manager, Armstrong's business affairs finally stablilized, and he began to be seen as an elder statesman of American popular entertainment, appearing in Hollywood films, touring Asia and Europe, and dislodging The Beatles from the number-one position with Hello Dolly". Today many people may know him as a singer (a good one), but as Miles Davis said: βYou canβt play nothing on modern trumpet that doesnβt come from him."
The 62-year-old Armstrong became the oldest act to top the US charts when "Hello Dolly" reached #1 in 1964. Four years later Satchmo also became the oldest artist to record a UK #1, when "What a Wonderful World" hit the top spot.
Amazing Grace
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost
But now am found
Was blind but now I see
Thru many dangers toils and snares
'Twas grace that brought us safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
When we've been there
Ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing gods praise
Then when we first begun
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost
But now am found
Was blind but now I see
Louis Armstrong's version of βAmazing Graceβ is a beautiful and powerful song about redemption, faith, and hope. The lyrics speak to the idea that no matter how far one has strayed from grace, there is always the possibility of finding redemption and being brought back into the light. The opening stanza is a powerful declaration of the transformative power of grace, as the singer describes how it saved a wretch like them. This line is particularly poignant because it acknowledges the singer's imperfections and limitations but asserts that grace has the power to overcome these barriers.
The second stanza speaks to the idea that life is full of dangers and troubles, but it is through the power of grace that we are able to overcome them. The use of the past tense in the line βwe have already comeβ suggests that the singer has already experienced many trials in life, but has been able to persevere because of the grace that has guided them. The idea that grace has brought the singer βsafe thus farβ is a powerful reminder that we are never alone, and that even in the darkest moments, grace is there to guide us.
The final stanza is a triumphant declaration of the eternal glory that awaits those who follow grace. The imagery of being βbright shining as the sunβ is a powerful metaphor for the idea that those who have found grace are transformed into beings of unparalleled radiance and beauty. The use of the phrase βno less daysβ suggests that the glory of this transformation is eternal, without end. Overall, this song is a powerful reminder that despite the trials and tribulations of life, grace has the power to transform and uplift us, leading us to a life of joy and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Amazing grace
This is a song about the immense and unbelievable grace of God.
How sweet the sound
The sound of grace coming from God is so pleasing and wonderful that it can't be fully described.
That saved a wretch like me
God's grace has the power to save even the most undeserving and unworthy people.
I once was lost
Before receiving this grace, I was wandering aimlessly without direction or purpose.
But now am found
Thanks to God's grace, I have been found and given a new life and purpose.
Was blind but now I see
I was spiritually blind before, but now I can see and understand God's love and purpose for my life.
Thru many dangers toils and snares
Despite facing many hardships, struggles, and temptations, God's grace has brought us this far.
We have already come
We've made it through so much already, and all because of God's grace and protection.
'Twas grace that brought us safe thus far
Every step of the way, we have been kept safe and protected by God's grace and love.
And grace will lead me home
God's grace will continue to guide and lead me all the way to my eternal home in Heaven.
When we've been there
When we've been in Heaven with God for a long time,
Ten thousand years
Even after thousands of years in Heaven,
Bright shining as the sun
Our spirits and souls will shine with the glory and love of God.
We've no less days to sing gods praise
We will never run out of days to sing and praise God for his amazing grace and love.
Then when we first begun
In fact, our love and praise for God will only continue to grow stronger as we spend eternity with Him.
Lyrics Β© Sugarmusic s.p.a., Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: John Newton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brendamuller6982
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see
Was Grace that taught my heart to fear
And Grace, my fears relieved
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far
And Grace will lead us home
And Grace will lead us home
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see
Was blind, but now I see
@blatherskite9601
We already know how good Louis was, just never heard this before.
Magic! So energising!
@deanasimms
That doesnβt sound like him
@wyattkody3582
I cannot express all of the gratitude i feel for Louis, and the man who posted this. I thank you for sharing and allowing all to hear the thing called ACTUAL MUSIC
@timedraggin705
turning play into prayer. overflow of bliss joy and love.
@brendamuller6982
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see
Was Grace that taught my heart to fear
And Grace, my fears relieved
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far
And Grace will lead us home
And Grace will lead us home
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see
Was blind, but now I see
@danaabigail1502
Mi papΓ‘ era mΓΊsico siempre le gustΓ³ la mΓΊsica toda su vida se dedico a eso, y el dΓa de su entierro uno de sus amigos la tocΓ³ en trompeta π
@manuk59
Bellissima. Grazie a Dio di averci donato questo grande talento.
@CarolKingMonahan
My Dad loved Louie and so do I. Born in the USA on July 4, 1900. rip
@michellesumner9719
an absolutely amazing piece
@namnhan2003
Different and beautiful way to play this song.....