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.
Down By the River Side
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside
I'm gonna study, study, war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
I'm gonna lay down my heavy load
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my heavy load
Down by the riverside
Gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Yes, laid down ?
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my heavy load
Down by the riverside
God is tiding on no more
No more
The lyrics to Louis Armstrong's song "Down By the River Side" speaks about laying down one's armor and sword, and heavy load down by the riverside, indicating the end of the war. The singer in the song is tired of fighting and is ready to give up the battle. The lyrics highlight a desire for peace; the singer will no longer study war but instead focus on living in peace. The repetitive lyrics emphasize the decision and commitment to stop fighting and study war no more.
The riverside may represent a place of beginning, where one can start anew, and a place of rest, where one can lay down troubles and burdens. The battle may represent any struggle or conflict in one's life. The song signifies a desire for a new beginning, for rest, and for peace. The song encourages listeners to consider what they can do to create peace.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I am deciding to put down my weapons and surrender to peace and harmony, finding a peaceful place by the river to do so.
I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside
I'm gonna study, study, war no more
In this peaceful setting by the river, I'll dedicate my time to learn about more peaceful things, putting an end to the study of war.
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
I've fully committed to ending the study and practice of war, and I'm never going to turn back on this decision.
I'm gonna lay down my heavy load
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
To find inner peace and relaxation, I am releasing all the burdens that have been wearing me down and finding solace by the river.
I'm gonna lay down my heavy load
Down by the riverside
Gonna study war no more
By letting go of my heavy burdens, I'll have more time and energy to dedicate to peaceful activities, leaving war behind for good.
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
With this repeated statement, I am reassuring myself and others that I'm sticking to my commitment of abandoning the study and practice of war.
Yes, laid down ?
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Confirming my decision to lay down my heavy load and leave war behind, I find peace and relaxation by the river.
I'm gonna lay down my heavy load
Down by the riverside
God is tiding on no more
No more
By giving up my burdens and making peace, I feel closer to God and the infinite, and I'm leaving behind any negativity and war-like behavior.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TERRY RENDALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SmashNet TV
I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside
I'm gonna study, study, war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
I'm gonna lay down my heavy load
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my heavy load
Down by the riverside
Gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
Yes, laid down Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my heavy load
Down by the riverside
God is tiding on no more
No more
MOHAMMED BOULIF
Marvelous song. Soothing, especially for retired people like me who have laid down the sword and shield and chose not to study war anymore.
Dasha Bondarenko
MOHAMMED BOULIF And I can't make myself retire and lay down my sword and shield. Though it's high time .
Ljubica Pavić Kabić
Quite correct!
JOANA ISABEL COLL TRUYOL
Swords and wars are useless.......
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Monira Regragui
My beautiful friend who died on my birthday in his early 50's recalled this song to me which is the first time I have listened to it on this application.
Great thanks to most of the possee.
R.i.p
Missing you all
Ingrid Lee
In my Senior Year of High School, I sing this song when I’m stressed out to my max.
daniel cheesy man
haha same this song does wonders.
Brigitte Ludwig
Wow
Allen Mamba
My late father would play this song on his LP, this reignite memories of him. MHSRIP ❤