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.
Chim Chim Cher-ee
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chim, chimney
Chim, chim, cher-ee
A sweep is as lucky
As lucky can be
Chim, chimney
Chim, chimney
Good luck will rub off when
I shake 'ands with you
Or blow me a kiss
And that's lucky too
Now as the ladder of life
'As been strung
You may think a sweeps
On the bottommost rung
Though I spends me time
In the ashes and smoke
In this 'ole wide world
There's no 'appier bloke
Up where the smoke is
All billered and curled
'Tween pavement and stars
Is the chimney sweep world
When the's 'ardly no day
Nor 'ardly no night
There's things 'alf in shadow
And 'alf way in light
On the roof tops of London
Coo, what a sight
I choose me bristles with pride
Yes, I do
A broom for the shaft
And a broom for the flue
Though I'm covered with soot
From me 'ead to me toes
A sweep knows 'e's welcome
Wherever 'e goes
Chim, chimney
Chim, chimney
Chim, chim, cher-ee
When you're with a sweep
You're in glad company
No where is there
A more 'appier crew
Than them wot sings
"Chim, chim, cher-ee
Chim, cher-oo"
On the chim chimney
Chim, chim, cher-ee
Chim, cher-oo
Louis Armstrong's Chim Chim Cher-ee is an ode to the unassuming chimney sweep, describing his humble life and his role in bringing good luck. The chorus of "Chim, chimney, chim chim cher-ee" is a nod to the chimney sweep's call to announce his arrival, which was required by law in London during the 1800s. The song opens with the lines "a sweep is as lucky as lucky can be," suggesting that the job of sweeping chimneys, though considered menial, is a necessary and fortunate profession. The song goes on to describe the world of the chimney sweep, from "the ashes and smoke" to "the pavement and stars."
The song is also dotted with references to good luck and cheer. The singer suggests that good luck will rub off on you if you are to shake hands or blow a kiss with a sweep, and speaks of the happiness of the chimney sweep himself. The final lines of the chorus sing the praises of the chimney sweep's company, describing the joy of being in their presence and joining them in singing "Chim, chim, cher-ee" and "Chim, cher-oo."
Line by Line Meaning
Chim, chimney
The singer starts the song by repeating the word Conveying excitement over the job of a chimney sweep.
A sweep is as lucky As lucky can be
The singer believes that the life of a chimney sweep is fortunate as it provides them with opportunities and good luck.
Good luck will rub off when I shake 'ands with you Or blow me a kiss And that's lucky too
The sweep shares his positive aura and believes that his luck can influence others.
Now as the ladder of life'Has been strung You may think a sweeps On the bottommost rung
The artist admits that although people may believe that a chimney sweep's job is at the lowest level, he considers himself lucky and happy.
Though I spends me time In the ashes and smoke In this 'ole wide world There's no 'appier bloke
The artist continues to express how content he is with his job despite being covered with soot and spending most of his time amongst debris.
Up where the smoke is All billered and curled 'Tween pavement and stars Is the chimney sweep world
The singer describes the area where the chimney sweep works in mystical language, suggesting that it is a secretive and fantastical place.
When the's 'ardly no day Nor 'ardly no night There's things 'alf in shadow And 'alf way in light On the roof tops of London Coo, what a sight
The singer goes on to describe the beauty of London, highlighting a time when there isn't any true light or dark, hence the roof tops being half in shadow and half in light.
I choose me bristles with pride Yes, I do A broom for the shaft And a broom for the flue
The artist takes pride in his work, explaining that he chooses his equipment carefully to ensure he does the best job possible.
Though I'm covered with soot From me 'ead to me toes A sweep knows 'e's welcome Wherever 'e goes
Despite being dirty from top to bottom, the chimney sweep is happy to visit any place because he's confident he'll be welcomed.
When you're with a sweep You're in glad company
The artist suggests that being in the company of a chimney sweep is a joyful experience.
No where is there A more 'appier crew Than them wot sings Chim, chim, cher-ee Chim, cher-oo
The singer explains how happy the crew of chimney sweeps are, especially when they sing their well-known and catchy song.
On the chim chimney Chim, chim, cher-ee Chim, cher-oo
The song concludes with the chorus once again, emphasizing the happiness and luck that a chimney sweep can bring to others.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@allexbarbosasantos8128
Chim chim chim-in-ey, chim chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim cher-ee!
A sweep is as lucky, as lucky can be
Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim cher-oo!
Good luck will rub off when I shakes hands with you
Or blow me a kiss and that’s lucky too
Chim chim chim-in-ey, chim chim chim-in-ey
Now, as the ladder of life has been strung
You may think a sweep’s on the bottommost rung
Though I spend my time in the ashes and that hm-hmm
In this whole wide world there’s no happier cat
Chim chim chim-in-ey, chim chim chim-in-ey
I choose me bristles with pride, yes, I do
A broom for the shaft and a brush for the flute
Though I’m covered in soot from my head to my toe
A sweep knows he’s welcome where’er he goes
Chim chim chim chim-in-ey, chim chim chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim chim chim-in-ey, chim chim chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim cher-ee!
’en you’re with a sweep, you’re in good com’any
Nowhere there’s a more happy crew
Than them that sings chim cham chim cher-oo
Chim-in-ey chim-ee cher-oo chim-cher-ee!
@Metalyang
fantastico me sorprende no haber oido esta version antes, gracias por subirlo amigo ;)
@nicolassuarez7971
Without a doubt, this is a great union: with the great composers of Disney and the great Lous Armstrong.
@donkpone
louis armstrong era de alto puedo, todo lo que hacía lo ponía en un nivel muy, muy alto.
@Pollaliberte
La versión de Dick Van Dyke es la mejor sólo por tener su energía y originalidad pero... LOUIS ARMSTRONG! Le da un toque de misterio ;D Amo esta versión.
@cherifdiallo9049
Que ce son est superbe. Louis je ne t'ai pas connu mais je découvre là un virtuose de la musique. Des gens comme toi n'existerons plus.
Louis vraiment tu es le prophète de la musique.
@TheElessar22
Increíble! GRANDE LOUIS ARMSTRONG!!
@kristen50001
Best thing I’ve heard all quarantine!
@user-ro5pm8ub9i
Шикарная песня супер голос супер исполнение спасибо
@alexdesslin
encore un chef d'oeuvre du grand Louis, the KING of JAZZ !!
@audreygraciam4032
best version so far!!!! i'm addicted with this