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.
Nobody Knows De Trouble I've Seen
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nobody knows my sorrow
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Glory, Hallelujah
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Sometimes I'm up
Sometimes I'm down
Oh, yes, Lord
Sometimes I'm almost to the ground
Oh, yes, Lord
Oh, nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows my sorrow
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Glory, Hallelujah
Oh, every day to you I pray
Oh, yes Lord
For you to drive my sins away
Oh, yes Lord
Oh, nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
(Glory) glory Hallelujah (hallelujah) (Lord)
The song "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen" is a spiritual song that was popularized in the early 20th century. The lyrics of the song reflect on the struggles of life and how nobody seems to understand the problems the singer is facing. The repetition of the phrase "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen" emphasizes the singer's feeling of isolation and loneliness. Despite the hardships, the singer finds hope in Jesus and the idea of salvation. The use of "Glory, Hallelujah" further emphasizes the idea that even though things are difficult now, there is a hope for a better future.
The song is often interpreted as a reflection of the African American experience in America. During the time the song was written, African Americans faced significant discrimination and oppression, and the song's lyrics reflect the feeling of isolation and hopelessness that many felt. The song became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement, with artists like Mahalia Jackson and Nina Simone performing their versions and adding their interpretations.
The words "Nobody knows but Jesus" in the song suggest that the singer finds hope and support from their faith. It is a sentiment that is reflected in many spirituals of the time, which were often sung by African American slaves as a way of finding hope and comfort in their difficult lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
No one understands the struggles I have faced in my life
Nobody knows my sorrow
No one truly comprehends the sadness I carry with me
Nobody knows but Jesus
Only my faith brings me comfort and understanding of my pain
Glory, Hallelujah
Despite my troubles, I will still praise the Lord and have hope
Sometimes I'm up
Occasionally, I feel good and optimistic
Sometimes I'm down
But often times, I fall into a place of sadness and despair
Oh, yes, Lord
Acknowledgement of a higher power and seeking guidance
Sometimes I'm almost to the ground
My troubles can bring me down to the point of feeling defeated
Oh, every day to you I pray
I turn to prayer to help ease my pain and struggles
For you to drive my sins away
I ask for forgiveness and cleansing from my wrongdoings
(Glory) glory Hallelujah (hallelujah) (Lord)
Praising the Lord even in moments of sadness and pain
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Bluewater Music Corp., Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LOUIS ARMSTRONG, DP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@esme8937
Nobody knows
the trouble I've seen;
Nobody knows
My sorrows
Nobody knows
the trouble I've seen
Glory Hallelujah!
Sometimes I'm up,
sometimes I'm down;
O yes Lord.
Sometimes I'm almost to the ground;
O yes Lord.
Nobody knows
the trouble I've seen;
Nobody knows
But Jesus
Nobody
the trouble I've seen;
Glory Hallelujah!
@VoicesofHistory
This song was played at my Father’s funeral in 1968, in California. He died at only 37 years of age. My Dad was a professional trumpet player and U.S. Army Veteran. Today is his 85th birthday. Happy Birthday Dad!!!
@counter-weightmedias2263
Voices of History That's a sad comment, I wish him a happy birthday
@counter-weightmedias2263
Gonzo 1o so he can easily listen to music dumbass
@counter-weightmedias2263
Gonzo 1o He's one man, I've been through hundreds of comments on these types of videos. I'm not saying he's telling the truth because I can't be sure, but he's one and if I was old I'd use this to listen to music.
@TheAto2000
Way more than you'd expect, especially knowing music like this for example from when they were young is available here . For someone who's looking at a song from back then, you sure are disrespectful of older people.
@harrytrotter5267
Gonzo 1o YouTube is for every one.
@gelmir4eva
See the smile on his face before he does his piece? He sings the blues, songs about sadness, love lost and love found and yet he smiles about it. What an inspiration. What a great soul. The world needs more Louis Armstrongs :)
@KyBullet1
The blues are nothing but a good man feeling bad.
@jcmarineservicesofswfl5606
“And yet , I smile “ Ezekiel
@mileswalcott7241
@@KyBullet1God bless you 🙏