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.
Long Gone
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not yet drummer
A bold bank robber from Bowlin' Green
Was sent to the jail house yesterday
But late last night he made his getaway
[Chorus]
He was long gone from Kentucky
Long gone, what I mean
A long gone John from Bowlin' Green
Long John stood on the railroad tie
Waitin' for freight train to come by
Freight train came by puffin' and flyin'
Oughta seen long John grabbin' that blind
[Chorus]
They caught him in 'Frisco to seal his fate
At San Quentin they jailed him one evening late
But out on the ocean John did escape
'Cause the guards forgot to close the Golden Gate
[Chorus]
Well, they offered a reward to bring him back
Even put bloodhounds on his track
Those doggone bloodhounds lost his scent
Now nobody knows where John went
[Chorus]
A gang of men tried to capture Dean
So they chased him with a submarine
Dean jumped overboard and grabbed the submarine
And made that gang catch a flyin' machine
He's long gone from Kentucky
A long gone, that boy's lucky
A long gone, what I mean
A long gone John from Bowlin' Green
He's long gone, I said, from Kentucky
Long gone, hmm, that boy's lucky
Long gone; yeah, he's got nothing in the head
Long gone, long gone
Louis Armstrong’s song Long Gone tells the story of Long John Dean, a bank robber who managed to escape from jail twice. In the first verse, the singer asks his bandmate Pops if he has heard about Long John Dean, who was sent to jail but escaped the night before. The catchy chorus repeats the line, “long gone from Kentucky”, as a nod to Long John Dean’s hometown of Bowling Green, and how he managed to evade the authorities at every turn. In the second verse, the lyrics describe how Long John waited for a freight train to come by and hopped on as a means of escape. The following verse details how Long John was eventually captured and imprisoned in San Quentin, but managed to escape when the guards forgot to close the Golden Gate. The final verse is a humorous account of Long John outsmarting his pursuers, as he jumps overboard and commandeers a submarine to evade a gang of men.
The song illustrates the idea of the American outlaw as a symbol of rebellion and non-conformity. Long John Dean is portrayed as cunning, daring, and lucky, with a disregard for authority and a willingness to take risks to achieve his goals. The upbeat tempo and lively melody create a sense of joy and excitement that accompanies the story of Long John’s escape. Louis Armstrong’s dynamic and gravelly voice adds to the sense of adventure, making the listener feel as if they are living vicariously through Long John’s exploits.
Line by Line Meaning
Pops, did you hear the story of Long John Dean?
Have you heard the tale of a famous outlaw named Long John Dean, Pops?
Not yet drummer
No, I haven't heard it yet, drummer.
A bold bank robber from Bowlin' Green
He was a daring thief who stole from banks in Bowlin' Green.
Was sent to the jail house yesterday
Long John Dean was arrested and taken to jail just yesterday.
But late last night he made his getaway
But he managed to escape from jail late last night.
[Chorus]
Long John Dean has managed to escape from prison and is now on the run.
He was long gone from Kentucky
He had already fled from Kentucky and was nowhere to be found.
Long gone, ain't he lucky?
He was very fortunate to have escaped from custody.
Long gone, what I mean
He is long gone and there is no telling where he might be headed.
A long gone John from Bowlin' Green
Long John Dean was last seen in Bowlin' Green and is now considered a fugitive.
Long John stood on the railroad tie
Long John was waiting for a train to pass by while standing on a railroad tie.
Waitin' for freight train to come by
He was anticipating the arrival of a freight train.
Freight train came by puffin' and flyin'
The train he was waiting for arrived quickly and energetically.
Oughta seen long John grabbin' that blind
Long John quickly and expertly climbed onto the train even though he was visually impaired.
[Chorus]
Long John had yet to be caught and was still on the loose.
They caught him in 'Frisco to seal his fate
He was eventually caught in San Francisco, sealing his fate.
At San Quentin they jailed him one evening late
He was jailed at San Quentin one late evening.
But out on the ocean John did escape
Despite being imprisoned on the ocean, Long John still found a way to escape.
'Cause the guards forgot to close the Golden Gate
He managed to escape because the guards failed to secure the Golden Gate Bridge.
[Chorus]
Long John is still missing and no one knows where he went.
Well, they offered a reward to bring him back
A reward was offered for anyone who could capture Long John and bring him back.
Even put bloodhounds on his track
They even utilized bloodhounds to help track down Long John.
Those doggone bloodhounds lost his scent
However, the bloodhounds were not able to keep track of Long John's scent and lost him.
Now nobody knows where John went
His whereabouts are still unknown to this day.
[Chorus]
Long John is still long gone and nobody knows where he is.
A gang of men tried to capture Dean
A group of men attempted to capture Long John Dean.
So they chased him with a submarine
They even used a submarine to chase after him.
Dean jumped overboard and grabbed the submarine
Long John then jumped overboard and was able to seize control of the submarine.
And made that gang catch a flyin' machine
He managed to outsmart the gang chasing him and left them standing there while he made his escape via a flying machine.
He's long gone from Kentucky
Long John has managed to avoid capture and is still on the loose.
A long gone, that boy's lucky
He has been incredibly lucky to have escaped from custody multiple times.
A long gone, what I mean
He has managed to evade the authorities and his whereabouts are unknown.
A long gone John from Bowlin' Green
Long John Dean is a notorious fugitive who hails from Bowlin' Green.
He's long gone, I said, from Kentucky
Long John is no longer in Kentucky and has likely traveled to another location.
Long gone, hmm, that boy's lucky
Despite the numerous attempts to catch him, Long John has managed to avoid being captured.
Long gone; yeah, he's got nothing in the head
Long John may be lucky, but he is not very intelligent.
Long gone, long gone
Long John is still on the run and nobody knows where he is.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BALE'WA M. MUHAMMAD, CHRIS CORNELL, EZEKIEL L. LEWIS, LESLIE JEROME HARMON, PATRICK MICHAEL SMITH, TIMOTHY Z. MOSLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bender138
The albom of W.C.Handy songs is one of the best albums ever produced. It borders on magic.
@recsec
Just started watching The Defiant Ones and this song showed up in the opening credits. Had to pause the movie to hear the song. Credits say the music is from W.C. Handy and words by Chris Smith. The song in the movie is Long Gone which was adapted from Long Gone (From Bowling Green). Very good song.
@ChloeBambiiRose
Thank you! Im watching now, I had to find it
@donnaspringer5789
Trummy Young's trombone is tingle-inducing!
@postatility
The jazz historians worship Louis' "Hot Five" and "Hot Seven" recordings of the 1920's,and justifiably so,since they were definitive sessions of that period,and of Louis' importance. But Pops' band from this period also produced work of great quality,and this is the best example.Pure brilliance!!!
@johnwillattplant
I used to teach this song - but never heard this wonderful, immortal version (I got the music out of a W.C. Handy songbook. This is just glorious - thanks for posting!
@drmoss_ca
Velma Middleton always sounds as if she had lots of - what was known at the time as - "it"!
@tonywatson4979
This one is priceless.
@JuanFecit
Muchas gracias por compartirlo.
@fillra
Thanks for this, ocosteau. Louis Armstrong and The All Stars July 12, 1954, Chicago, IL Louis Armstrong (Trumpet, Vocal) Velma Middleton (Vocal) Trummy Young (Trombone) Barney Bigard (Clarinet) Billy Kyle (Piano) Arvell Shaw (Bass) Barrett Deems (Drums)