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.
My Own Kentucky Home
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've turned the corner and I'm doin' fine
Shootin' at the birds on the telephone line
Pickin' 'em off with my gun of mine
I got a fire in my belly
And a fire in my head
Goin' higher and higher
Until I'm dead
She didn't grow up; she grew out
Mama says she's plain, but she's just bein' kind
Papa thinks she's pretty, but he's almost blind
Don't let her out much 'cept at night
But I don't care 'cause I'm all right
Oh, the sun shines bright on
My old Kentucky home
And the young folks roll on the floor
Oh, the sun shines bright on
My old Kentucky home
Keep them hard times away from my door
Brother Gene--he's big and mean
And he don't have much to say
He had a little woman who he whupped each day
But now she's gone away
He got drunk last night
Kicked mama down the stairs
But I'm all right, so I don't care
The lyrics of "Old Kentucky Home" by Louis Armstrong and His All-Stars take the listener to a rural Southern American setting where the singer talks about his family and their peculiarities. The first stanza shows the singer's carelessness about life, as he is shooting birds with his gun to pass the time. He describes the fire in his belly and head, which is a metaphor for his passion and enthusiasm for life. The second stanza talks about the singer's sister Sue, who is short and stout, but the singer loves her anyway, despite their parents' opinions. The chorus talks about how the young folks roll on the floor with the sun shining bright on their old Kentucky home. The last stanza talks about the singer's brother Gene, who is big and mean and abusive towards women. The singer is unconcerned about his brother's behavior and is only concerned about himself.
The singer's lack of concern about his brother's abuse towards women is a reflection of the societal norms prevalent in Southern America during that time. Domestic violence was not considered a punishable offense, and often went unreported. The song also reflects a sense of nostalgia for a simpler, more carefree time. The chorus talks about the young folks rolling on the floor, a symbol of their carefree nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Turpentine and dandelion wine
I may not have much, but I make do with what I have and I am content.
I've turned the corner and I'm doin' fine
I have overcome the challenges in my life and things are looking up for me.
Shootin' at the birds on the telephone line
I am enjoying the simple pleasures in life, like shooting at birds.
Pickin' 'em off with my gun of mine
I have a sense of ownership and control over my life.
I got a fire in my belly
I am filled with confidence and determination.
And a fire in my head
I have a strong will and mindset that keeps me going.
Goin' higher and higher
I continue to reach for my goals and strive for success.
Until I'm dead
I will never stop trying to better myself, even until the end of my life.
Sister Sue--she's short and stout
My sister may not fit society's idea of beauty standards, but she is beautiful to me.
She didn't grow up; she grew out
My sister's figure may not be what is considered ideal, but she is still a lovely person.
Mama says she's plain, but she's just bein' kind
My mother may not see the beauty in my sister, but she still loves her and is trying to protect her feelings.
Papa thinks she's pretty, but he's almost blind
My father may have an exaggerated view of how beautiful my sister is, but he still loves her and sees value in her.
Don't let her out much 'cept at night
We worry about my sister's safety and don't let her wander out alone.
But I don't care 'cause I'm all right
I know my sister is beautiful and I do not care what society thinks of her.
Oh, the sun shines bright on
Life is full of beauty and opportunities, even in difficult circumstances.
My old Kentucky home
My home is a place of comfort and familiarity.
And the young folks roll on the floor
The young people in my community have a carefree lifestyle and enjoy having fun.
Keep them hard times away from my door
I pray for protection and good times to come, instead of hardship and struggle.
Brother Gene--he's big and mean
My brother is tough and aggressive.
And he don't have much to say
My brother is not one to share his feelings or thoughts.
He had a little woman who he whupped each day
My brother was violent towards his partner in the past.
But now she's gone away
His partner has left him and he is alone now.
He got drunk last night
My brother has turned to alcohol to cope with his problems.
Kicked mama down the stairs
My brother has become physically abusive towards others.
But I'm all right, so I don't care
I have distanced myself from my brother's behavior and am focusing on my own well-being.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RANDY NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gvaillancourt1
Une bonne chanson, bien arrangée, avec de bons musiciens (ici les musiciens sont exceptionnels). dans cet ordre.
1) A good song (en 1852 by Stephen Foster)
2) a good arrangament (Louis Armstrong and perhaps King Oliver)
3) Good musicians (exceptionnal in this case)
in that order
Often, we don't like a good musician with a bad song , but we like a fair musician with a good song.
The song (melody and lyrics) is first, thefore the songwriter is very, very important.
@sunmoon7467
Been playing this all day. Beautiful
@johnastrup1549
My old louis in good shape,warm and tender.
@kiangibson7571
Best musician of All-time!
@sergeychubarev3724
Согласен на 100%
@thesavannalady
Gold old Satchmo...
@BibitEaDuDule
00:58 so much feelings
@jamesscere730
Fantisque!
@ninikubber4303
Acurrucame entre tus brazos quiero dormir adorandote...
@donaldoji6399
Satchmo is a immortal!
@virgilmounke3977
edited lyrics, i note..:D