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.
Frankie and Johnny
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, what a couple in love
Frankie was loyal to Johnny
Just as true as the stars above
He was her man
But he done her wrong
Some ice cream she wanted to buy
The soda jerk told her that Johnny
Was making love to Nellie Bligh
He was her man
But he was doing her wrong
Now Frankie's dad was a policeman
She stole his old forty-four gun
Then back to the drugstore she beat it
Just as fast as she could run
After her man
Who was doing her wrong
Now Frankie peaked in on the party
She got a surprise when she saw
That Nellie and Johnny were making love
And sipping soda through a straw
He was her man
But he was doing her wrong
So Frankie flew into a tantrum
She whipped out that old forty-four
And her rootie-toot-boom, that gal did shoot
Right through that hardwood swinging door
She shot her man
'Cause he was doing her wrong
So bring on your crepe and your flowers
Bring on your rubber-tired hack
'Cause there's eight men to go to the graveyard
But only seven are coming back
She shot her man
'Cause he was doing her wrong
Now this is the end of my story
And this is the end of my song
Frankie is down in the jailhouse
And she cries the whole night long
"He was my man
But he was doing me wrong"
Louis Armstrong’s “Frankie and Johnny” is a famous ballad that tells the tragic love story of Frankie and Johnny. It is set in the early 20th century and begins by introducing the two lovers as sweethearts “in love”. Frankie is described as being true and loyal to Johnny, whom she loves deeply. However, their relationship is not without its problems. The chorus repeats the line “He was her man but he done her wrong”, which sets the stage for what is to come.
One day, while at the drugstore, Frankie is told by the soda jerk that Johnny is making love to Nellie Bligh. This news devastates Frankie as she loved Johnny dearly and could not bear the thought of him with another woman. She goes home and steals her father’s forty-four gun, determined to confront Johnny. Frankie catches Johnny and Nellie having sex, and she speaks to them briefly before pulling the trigger and shooting Johnny. The final chorus repeats “she shot her man / ‘cause he was doing her wrong” before ending on a melancholy note, with Frankie in jail, crying throughout the night.
Line by Line Meaning
Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts
The beginning of the story about two people that loved each other, named Frankie and Johnny.
Oh, what a couple in love
They were deeply in love with each other.
Frankie was loyal to Johnny
Frankie was faithful to Johnny, never questioning his love for her.
Just as true as the stars above
Frankie's loyalty was as true as the stars shining brightly in the sky.
He was her man
Johnny was Frankie's boyfriend.
But he done her wrong
But Johnny betrayed Frankie and cheated on her.
Frankie went down to the drugstore
Frankie went to the drugstore for some ice cream.
Some ice cream she wanted to buy
Frankie had a craving for ice cream.
The soda jerk told her that Johnny
The employee at the counter told Frankie that Johnny.
Was making love to Nellie Bligh
Was having an affair with Nellie Bligh.
Then back to the drugstore she beat it
Frankie quickly returned to the drugstore.
Just as fast as she could run
Frankie hurriedly made her way back to the drugstore to confirm what she had heard about Johnny.
After her man
Frankie was after Johnny.
Who was doing her wrong
Who was cheating on her with Nellie.
Now Frankie peaked in on the party
Frankie snuck in and watched Johnny's secret hangout with Nellie.
She got a surprise when she saw
Frankie was caught off guard when she saw Johnny and Nellie together.
That Nellie and Johnny were making love
Johnny and Nellie were caught in the act of intimacy.
And sipping soda through a straw
And enjoying soda drinks having a good time.
So Frankie flew into a tantrum
Frankie became extremely angry.
She whipped out that old forty-four
Frankie took out her father's gun.
And her rootie-toot-boom, that gal did shoot
Frankie fired a shot.
Right through that hardwood swinging door
The bullet pierced through the door.
She shot her man
Frankie shot Johnny.
'Cause he was doing her wrong
Johnny was shot because he cheated on Frankie.
So bring on your crepe and your flowers
Frankie's funeral is happening.
Bring on your rubber-tired hack
Bring on the hearse to transport Frankie.
'Cause there's eight men to go to the graveyard
Eight people, including Frankie and attendants, are going to the cemetery.
But only seven are coming back
Only seven people will return from the cemetery as Frankie won't return to life.
Now this is the end of my story
The tale of Frankie and Johnny is coming to a conclusion.
And this is the end of my song
Louis Armstrong finishes telling the tale of the doomed lovers.
Frankie is down in the jailhouse
Frankie was caught and is now in jail.
And she cries the whole night long
Frankie is filled with woe and cries in sorrow over the loss of her lover.
"He was my man
Frankie is still asserting that Johnny was hers.
But he was doing me wrong"
But he betrayed her by cheating on her with Nellie.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PD TRADITIONAL, SANFORD SCHMIDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@innocentgomez8401
Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts
Oh, what a couple in love
Frankie was loyal to Johnny
Just as true as the stars above
He was her man
But he done her wrong
Frankie went down to the drugstore
Some ice cream she wanted to buy
The soda jerk told her that Johnny
Was making love to Nellie Bligh
He was her man
But he was doing her wrong
Now Frankie's dad was a policeman
She stole his old forty-four gun
Then back to the drugstore she beat it
Just as fast as she could run
After her man
Who was doing her wrong
Now Frankie peaked in on the party
She got a surprise when she saw
That Nellie and Johnny were making love
And sipping soda through a straw
He was her man
But he was doing her wrong
So Frankie flew into a tantrum
She whipped out that old forty-four
And her rootie-toot-boom, that gal did shoot
Right through that hardwood swinging door
She shot her man
'Cause he was doing her wrong
So bring on your crepe and your flowers
Bring on your rubber-tired hack
'Cause there's eight men to go to the graveyard
But only seven are coming back
She shot her man
'Cause he was doing her wrong
Now this is the end of my story
And this is the end of my song
Frankie is down in the jailhouse
And she cries the whole night long
"He was my man
But he was doing me wrong"
@thomasrexdale3706
this is it!! i saw Pops twice in the late 50s w his All Stars at the Capitol Theatre in Davenport IA. Thats where Bix Beiderbeck came from --the have a jazz festivial there every year . i was the pianist for the recreation of the recordings of The Original Dixieland Jazz band for its 70th anniversary--what a pleasure--Thx for posting this true American artist--the incredible forever ours!! RIP ,,,
@philpots48
This is a wonderful version and the piano has the right sound too.
@jaec45
I find this version (rendition) by far the best, as compared to others.
Booyah Louis!
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@alvileppala316
Alvi's Dixie Stompers has this fantastic story of Frankie and Johnny in its repertoire. I've got that at Traditional New Orleans Jazz Camp 2010 when visiting the first time NOLA.That is unknown in Finland. I'm reading at the moment about their sad lovestory witten by William Faulkner.
@gonzalogetselteris3662
Fantástico! Hace años que no lo encontraba... lo escuchaba de chico (hace poco más de 20 años)
@Planktontube
great song, perfect version, thanks alot.
@blackacgomes9708
Brasil gosta de Jazz e blues !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@worldofnana1
Love this great Memories .love the Piano to .
@SortirDunLarme
Love this song! Been looking for it. Thanx for posting it!
@jenniferjuniper97
Thank you for sharing.