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.
I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you
When you're dead in your grave
No more women will you crave
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you
I trust you in my home, you rascal, you
I trust you in my home, you rascal, you
You wouldn't leave my wife alone
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you
I fed you since last fall, you rascal, you
I fed you since last fall, you rascal, you
I fed you since last fall
Then you got your ashes hauled
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you
You asked my wife to wash your clothes, you rascal, you
You asked my wife to wash your clothes, you rascal, you
You asked my wife to wash your clothes
And something else I suppose
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you
You know you done me wrong, you rascal, you
You know you done me wrong, you rascal, you
You know you done me wrong
You done stole my wife and gone
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you
You asked my wife for a meal, you rascal, you
You asked my wife for a meal, you rascal, you
You asked my wife for a meal
And something else you tried to steal
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you
Please, don't let me find you, rascal, you
Please, don't let me find you, rascal, you
Please, don't let me find you
'Cause you'll leave this world behind you
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you
Ain't no use to run, you rascal, you
Ain't no use to run, you rascal, you
Ain't no use to run
I done bought a Gatling gun
And you still having your fun, you rascal, you
I'm gonna kill you just for fun, you rascal, you
I'm gonna kill you just for fun, you rascal, you
I'm gonna kill you just for fun
The buzzards gonna have you when I'm done
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you
You done messed with my wife, you rascal, you
You done messed with my wife, you rascal, you
You done messed with my wife
And I'm gonna take your life
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you
The song I'll Be Glad When You're Dead is a classic blues tune that was first recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1929. The lyrics express a sentiment of anger and frustration towards an individual who has caused trouble in the singer's life. The repeated line "I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you" sets the tone for the song and emphasizes the singer's desire for the person to no longer be a part of their life.
The lyrics also suggest that the individual in question has caused harm to the singer's romantic partner or spouse, as they mention wanting them to "leave my woman alone." The use of the phrase "you dog" further emphasizes this idea and adds to the overall disdain that the singer feels towards this person. The last verse, where the singer says they'll be standing on the corner when the person's body is dragged by, shows a sense of triumph and satisfaction at the idea of the person being gone.
Overall, the lyrics to I'll Be Glad When You're Dead reflect a common theme in blues music, which is the expression of emotional pain and frustration through song. The use of repetition and catchy melodies make it a memorable and popular tune that has been covered by many artists throughout the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you, uh-huh
I'll be happy when you're dead, you wicked person, yes indeed
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you, oh yeah
I'll be pleased when you're gone, you unscrupulous character, without a doubt
Well I let into my home, you gonna leave my woman alone
I allowed you into my house, but you must stop trying to win over my woman
Now I'll be glad when you die, you rascal you, uh-huh
I'll be happy when you pass away, you rogue, absolutely
I'll be glad, oh I'll be tickled to death when you leave this earth it's true, oh yeah
I'll be thrilled to bits when you depart from this world, it's really true, oh yeah
When you're lyin' down six feet deep, no more fried chicken will you eat
When you're buried six feet under, you won't be able to enjoy fried chicken anymore
Ah, you just ain't no good! oh, you dog
You're simply terrible! Oh, you bad person
Now listen here, I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you, uh-huh
Now hear me out, I'll be happy when you're gone, you villain, yes indeed
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you, oh yeah
I'll be pleased when you've departed, you unscrupulous person, without a doubt
I'll be standin' on the corner high, when they drag your body by
I'll be standing on the street corner, watching as they drag your body away
I'll be glad when you're dead, you know I'm gonna be so happy when you're gone you dog
I'll be happy when you're no longer alive, I'm going to be elated when you're gone, you bad person
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you
I'll be happy when you're gone, you unscrupulous person
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Blocktimusprime
“When you lay six feet deep, no more fried chicken will you eat” is the coldest line of all time
@emilya.nannymoss9272
Even though the stupid funeral director wouldn't permit my dad to play this song for your wake, I found this song not long after you passed.
Miss you Grandma. Need your guidance from the Summerland even more now than ever with all the crap you know I'm going through this year so far. Love you. 😰💝💪🍀
RIP Georgina Christine Mateka
12/25/22 - 04/28/17
"You may be gone but you're never over... - " Eminem
@kim20525
My condolences!! She lived a long time!!
@emilya.nannymoss9272
@@kim20525 tysm. She was a very astute and wise woman. Hope you are doing well & that your elders are still with you. If not may my Grandma give them guidance in the Summerland. She's awesome as I'm sure your own elders are too. ❤💛💚💙💜
@kim20525
💚💚💚💚
@babuddha
Sorry for your loss. The funeral director was outside of his lane. Don't let paid servants make the rules.
@emilya.nannymoss9272
@@babuddha Namaste' & tysm for the words of comfort. They are greatly appreciated. Brightest Blessings. :)
@bobcooper82
OG diss track
@hannahrae927
straight up. lol
@rodneytg1
I was about to post the same thing. 💯