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: “You can’t play nothing on modern trumpet that doesn’t 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.
Cabaret
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, what good is sitting, alone in the room?
Come, hear the music play
Life is a cabaret, old chum
Come to the cabaret
Put down that knitting
That book and the broom
Life is a cabaret, old chum
So come to the cabaret
Come taste the wine
Come hear the band
Yes, it's time for celebrating
Right this way, your table's waiting
No use permitting some prophet of doom
Wipe all your smiles away
Life is a cabaret, old chum
So come to the cabaret, yeah
Come taste the wine
Oh, come hear that band
It's time for celebrating
Right this way, your table's waiting
Oh, start, violin
Carry the tune
Yes, it isn't a longer stay, yeah
Life is a cabaret, old chum
Only a cabaret, old chum
So come to the cabaret
Louis Armstrong’s song Cabaret is an invitation to join the celebration of life in a cabaret. He asks his audience to stop being alone and join him at the cabaret for the music and entertainment. The lyrics suggest that one should put down their knitting, book, and broom, and go on a holiday to experience life. The line "life is a cabaret, old chum" repeats throughout the song, emphasizing that the cabaret is a representation of life itself.
The song also cautions against allowing anyone to dampen the spirit of celebration with their negative outlook. "No use permitting some prophet of doom" suggests that the joy and happiness of the cabaret should not be affected by pessimistic people. The song encourages the audience to celebrate with good wine, great music, and a positive outlook. As the violin starts up the tune, the lyrics encourage the listener to let go of their worries and enjoy the moment.
In conclusion, this song celebrates the spirit of living life to the fullest and not to let anyone steal our joy. The cabaret is a metaphor for life, urging people to come and experience the pleasures it has to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes, what good is sitting, alone in the room?
What is the point of being alone in a room?
Come, hear the music play
Listen to the music being played and enjoy yourself.
Life is a cabaret, old chum
Life is like being in a Cabaret, friend.
Come to the cabaret
Come and join the Cabaret.
Put down that knitting
Stop knitting.
That book and the broom
Stop whatever you are doing.
Time for a holiday
It's time to take a break.
So come to the cabaret
Join the Cabaret and enjoy the entertainment.
Come taste the wine
Drink the wine being served.
Come hear the band
Listen to the band playing music.
Yes, it's time for celebrating
It's time to celebrate and have fun.
Right this way, your table's waiting
Follow me to your reserved table.
No use permitting some prophet of doom
It's pointless to allow someone to be pessimistic.
Wipe all your smiles away
Don't let anyone ruin your happiness.
So come to the cabaret, yeah
Join the Cabaret and enjoy yourself.
Oh, start, violin
Begin to play the violin.
Carry the tune
Play the melody smoothly and correctly.
Yes, it isn't a longer stay, yeah
It won't be a long stay, but enjoy the moment.
Life is a cabaret, old chum
Life is like being in a Cabaret, friend.
Only a cabaret, old chum
Just a Cabaret, my friend.
So come to the cabaret
Join the Cabaret and enjoy yourself.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Fred Ebb, John Kander
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dougobrien4877
No stage gimmicks, no auto tune, just simple class.
@TonyGPizza
Can anyone hear this man and not smile?
@VGHCX
I sang this song at my 40th high school reunion. I received a standing ovation. I practiced for 5 months to get it down.
@dougobrien4877
Simply wonderful
@ruddle17
Beethoven was the most important musician of the 19th century. Louis Armstrong was the most important musician of the 20th century.
@theblueriverjazzbandmusic2540
Yes! And folks that disagree, are entitled to their opinions, but I always say “do your homework” and you’ll discover!
@johnsmith100
Not Justin Bieber?
@obscureshowtunes
He was phenomenal. THEY BROKE THE MOLD!
@josephschauster3689
Great trumpet player and singer
@johnastrup1549
Louis the man