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.
Hello Brother
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A man wants a place in the sun
A man wants a gal proud to say
That she'll become his lovin' wife
He wants a chance to give his kids a better life, yes
Well hello, hello, hello brother
You can travel all around the world and back
But no matter where you go you're gonna find
That people have the same things on their minds
A man wants to work for his pay
A man wants a place in the sun
A man wants a gal proud to say
That she'll become his lovin' wife
He wants a chance to give his kids a better life
Well hello brother, hello, yeah
He wants a chance to give his kids a better life, yes
Well hello, hello, brother hello
I said hello, hello, brother hello
Louis Armstrong's song Hello Brother is a touching ode to the dreams and desires that are universal among all people, regardless of geographical location or ethnicity. The lyrics explore the most basic desires of a man- to work hard and earn his keep, to provide a better life for his loved ones, and to have a loving partner by his side. These desires are so fundamental to human nature that they can be found in every nook and corner of the world. The song thus creates an emotional connect with the listener by highlighting our shared humanity.
The repeated use of the greeting "hello brother" throughout the song further reinforces this feeling of unity and camaraderie. It feels like Armstrong is addressing everyone in the world with this simple but impactful phrase. The song feels like a call to action, a plea for people to come together and work towards the common goal of creating a better world for everyone.
Overall, Hello Brother is a soulful and thought-provoking song that highlights the enduring human desires and our innate sense of brotherhood. It is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with listeners across generations.
Line by Line Meaning
A man wants to work for his pay
Every man wants the opportunity to work and earn a living.
A man wants a place in the sun
Every man desires his own space and freedom to pursue his dreams.
A man wants a gal proud to say, That she'll become his lovin' wife
Every man wishes to find a spouse who will love and cherish him.
He wants a chance to give his kids a better life, yes
Every father desires to provide a better life for his children.
Well hello, hello, hello brother
Greetings to all my fellow human beings.
You can travel all around the world and back
No matter how far you venture, human desires and needs remain the same.
You can fly or sail or ride a railroad track
The mode of transportation does not affect the universal desires of mankind.
But no matter where you go you're gonna find, That people have the same things on their minds
Wherever you go, people desire the same things, and their primary concerns are identical.
Hello brother, hello, yeah
Greetings to my fellow human beings around the world.
He wants a chance to give his kids a better life, yes
Every father desires to provide a better life for his children.
Well hello, hello, brother hello
Greetings to all my human siblings around the world.
I said hello, hello, brother hello
Once again, greetings to all my fellow humans.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: DAVID JAY WEISS, ROBERT THIELE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Orseia Ortiz
A man wants to work for his pay
A man wants a place in the sun
A man wants a gal proud to say
That she'll become his lovin' wife
He wants a chance to give his kids a better life
Well hello ah hello brother
You can travel all around the world and back
You can fly or sail or ride a railroad track
But no matter where you go you're gonna find
That people have the same things on their minds
A man wants to work for his pay
A man wants a place in the sun
A man wants a gal proud to say
That she'll become his lovin' wife
He wants a chance to give his kids a better life
Well hello brother, hello
He wants a chance to give his kids a better life, yes
Well hello, hello, brother hello
I said hello, hello, brother hello
Mystic Man
On 29 August 2020 I bought the CD "What a Wonderful World". I came across it unexpectedly at my local shop. Listening to it I was quickly captured by this song. OMG what a song! I have been playing it nonstop since then. Thanks Mr Louis Armstrong and the band for this classic hit. For me as of now, this is my song of the year for 2020.
Дмитрий Шамбаров
What a wonderful world. Great song and music. It's a"symphonic jazz " But video... Better not to see it. Louis did all for stopping war. But he is only jazzman. Thanks him forewer! Who agree?
Дмитрий Шамбаров
Sometime may be situations in you) life:"before and after" . You hear it in music. Me too.. My life was cutted to; before and after after lfirst listening"I wanna hold your hand" Beatles!
Дмитрий Шамбаров
Предобрейшая песня. Спасибо Луи! Ты жив, пока мы слушаем твои песни. Улыбайся нам с облаков!
Orseia Ortiz
A man wants to work for his pay
A man wants a place in the sun
A man wants a gal proud to say
That she'll become his lovin' wife
He wants a chance to give his kids a better life
Well hello ah hello brother
You can travel all around the world and back
You can fly or sail or ride a railroad track
But no matter where you go you're gonna find
That people have the same things on their minds
A man wants to work for his pay
A man wants a place in the sun
A man wants a gal proud to say
That she'll become his lovin' wife
He wants a chance to give his kids a better life
Well hello brother, hello
He wants a chance to give his kids a better life, yes
Well hello, hello, brother hello
I said hello, hello, brother hello
luigiguerrato
Orseia Ortiz &
Franc Contreras
These are just basic human needs and desires. And all humans -- even Latin American immigrants -- experience them.
Lauren Wallace
I love Louis Armstrong. I really do. I just heard this song and it is amazing
Martin Tanksley
Lady, you have GREAT taste like I do.......
Mystic Man
Its a classic!