Louis Armstrong (August 4, 1901 - July 6, 1971) nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, … Read Full Bio ↴Louis Armstrong (August 4, 1901 - July 6, 1971) nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana.
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.

Makin Whoopee
Louis Armstrong Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Another bride, another June
Another sunny honeymoon
Another season, another reason
For makin' whoopee

A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
The groom is nervous; he answers twice
It's really killin'

That he's so willin' to make whoopee

Picture a little love nest
Down where the roses cling
Picture the same sweet love nest
Think what a year can bring

He's washin' dishes and baby clothes
He's so ambitious he even sews
But don't forget, folks
That's what you get, folks, for makin' whoopee

Another year or maybe less
What's this I hear? Well, you can't confess
She feels neglected, and he's suspected
Of makin' whoopee

She sits alone 'most every night
He doesn't phone her; he doesn't write
He says he's busy, but she says, "Is he?"
He's makin' whoopee

He doesn't make much money
Only five thousand per
Some judge who thinks he's funny
Says, "You'll pay six to her"

He says, "Now, Judge, suppose I fail?"
The judge says, "Budge right into jail"
You'd better keep her; I think it's cheaper
Than makin' whoopee

You'd better keep her

I know it's cheaper
Than makin' whoopee

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Louis Armstrong and Oscar Peterson's song Makin' Whoopee tell the story of two people, a bride and a groom, who get married and have a wonderful honeymoon. However, as time passes, their life together becomes less enjoyable, and they become a classic example of a couple who is 'making whoopee'. They start fighting and arguing over small things, and it is suggested that the man is working too hard and neglecting his wife, while he is suspected of having affairs.

The lyrics paint a picture of the ups and downs of a relationship and the expectations that come with it. It suggests that the honeymoon phase has worn off, and the reality of married life has set in. The song acknowledges that while love may be great, it is not always easy, and relationships take work to maintain.

Line by Line Meaning

Another bride, another June
It seems not all the brides are different and the wedding takes place in June

Another sunny honeymoon
It's another happy day for the couple to enjoy each other's company

Another season, another reason
Every season has an occasion and a reason for the couple to celebrate together

For makin' whoopee
It's time to have sex with the partner, and eventually engage in some real fun

A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
There's a lot of shoe-throwing and rice showering, marking the newlywed's passage through the aisle

The groom is nervous; he answers twice
It's almost as though the groom is unsure of this marriage and is answering twice to reassure himself

It's really killin'
This situation is causing much distress

That he's so willin' to make whoopee
The groom is only excited to engage in the act of lovemaking

Picture a little love nest
Imagine a couple cozying up in a little nest, exclusively meant for their love

Down where the roses cling
The love nest is situated somewhere beautiful, surrounded by roses

Think what a year can bring
Within a year, couples can experience a lot of ups and downs

He's washin' dishes and baby clothes
He is willing to do anything to build his domestic and family life

He's so ambitious he even sews
He is full of energy and passion so much so that he's even taken up sewing

But don't forget, folks
It's important to remember that every action, however trivial, has consequences

That's what you get, folks, for makin' whoopee
This is exactly what you'll end up with if you're consumed only with sex and not preparing for the future

Another year or maybe less
After a year or maybe even less, the married life doesn't seem as interesting

What's this I hear? Well, you can't confess
Despite hearing some rumors, the couple refuses to discuss and confess to that it may be happening to their relationship

She feels neglected, and he's suspected Of makin' whoopee
She now feels like her partner has forgotten her in pursuit of other interests, maybe even engaging in sex with someone else

She sits alone 'most every night
She's been left alone, and feels like she doesn't have anyone to share her life with

He doesn't phone her; he doesn't write
He's showing no interest in her life or how she's doing. No calls, texts, or letters

He says he's busy, but she says, "Is he?"
He's always occupied or so he tells her, but she suspects that might not be the truth

He's makin' whoopee
With the little time he has for himself, he's indulging in sex with someone else

He doesn't make much money
He's not a wealthy man

Only five thousand per
His income is only five thousand

Some judge who thinks he's funny
The judge is insensitive and has no sympathy for the defendant

Says, "You'll pay six to her"
The judge has ruled in favor of the plaintiff, and the defendant has to pay more than they could afford

He says, "Now, Judge, suppose I fail?"
The man pleads to request for mercy or another solution as he might not be able to fulfill the requirements of the judgment

The judge says, "Budge right into jail"
The judge is unsympathetic to the defendant and would rather they went to jail than fail to fulfill the judgment

You'd better keep her; I think it's cheaper
It's better to hold on to your partner than to sleep with others, as the latter always comes with a higher price

Than makin' whoopee
Than indulging in sex and betraying the trust of your partner

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GUS KAHN, WALTER DONALDSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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