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.
Sugar
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he shows 'em, pearly white
Just a jack knife has Macheath dear
And he keeps it way out of sight
When that shark bites with his teeth, dear
Scarlet billows they begin to spread
Fancy white gloves has Macheath dear
On the sidewalk, one Sunday morning
Lies a body, oozin' life
Someone's sneaking 'round the corner
Could that someone perhaps, per chance be Mack the Knife
From a tugboat, on the river going slow
A cement bag is dropping down
You know that cement is for the weight dear
You can make a large bet Macheath's in town
My man Louis Miller, he split the scene babe
After drawing out all the bread from his stash
Now Macheath spends like a sailor
Do you suppose this guy, he did something rash
Old Satchmo, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darrin
They did this song nice, Lady Ella too
They all sang it, with so much feeling
That Old Blue Eyes, he ain't gonna add nothing new
But with this big, fat band, jumping behind me
Swinging hard, Jack, I know I can't lose
When I tell you, all about Mack the Knife babe
It's an offer, you can never refuse
We got Patrick Williams, Bill Miller playing that piano
And this wonderful, great big band, bringing up the rear
All these bad cats, in this band now
They make the greatest sounds, you're ever gonna hear
Oh Sookie Taudry, Jenny Diver, Polly Peachum, Old Miss Lulu Brown
Hey the line forms, on the right dear
Now that Macheath,that bum is back in town
You'd better lock your doors, and call the law
Because Mackie's back in town
Louis Armstrong's Sugar is a song with a rich history that has fascinated audiences from the 1950s to today. It tells the story of a notorious criminal named Macheath, who wields a "jack knife" with deadly effects. Armstrong's expressive voice and the band's lively accompaniment inject the song with excitement and drama. The opening lines of the song describe the contrast between the charming appearance of a shark's pearl-white teeth and the ruthlessness with which it attacks its prey. Similarly, Macheath's knife is hidden out of sight, but when it is used the consequences are violent.
The song's second verse describes the aftermath of one of Macheath's attacks - a body lying on the street with "scarlet billows" spreading around it. The vivid image highlights the gruesome nature of the crime. Macheath appears again in the third verse, this time on a riverboat dropping a large bag of cement into the water. This is a clear indication that the villain means business and is involved in nefarious activity. The verse also introduces Louis Miller, who has recently left town, leaving behind a lot of borrowed money. The suggestion is that Macheath has something to do with Miller's disappearance.
The song is full of suspense and vivid imagery, making it a compelling tale of crime and intrigue. Armstrong's performance is full of energy and intensity, reflecting the drama of the lyrics. The song's popularity has endured, with numerous artists recording their own versions over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear
Mack the Knife has a captivating personality that can lure anyone in.
And he shows 'em, pearly white
Mack the Knife can be charming, but he uses it to his advantage and can be a dangerous person to cross.
Just a jack knife has Macheath dear
Mack the Knife is a dangerous man with just a simple weapon.
And he keeps it way out of sight
No one knows when Mack the Knife will strike because he is a secretive and unpredictable character.
When that shark bites with his teeth, dear
When Mack the Knife attacks, he leaves a trail of destruction behind him.
Scarlet billows they begin to spread
His victims are often left bleeding and injured after his attacks.
Fancy white gloves has Macheath dear
Mack the Knife is careful and sophisticated when he commits his crimes.
So there's never, never a trace of red
He takes precautions to avoid getting caught, never leaving any evidence behind.
On the sidewalk, one Sunday morning
A crime has been committed, and a body lies lifelessly on the street.
Lies a body, oozin' life
The victim has been fatally wounded.
Someone's sneaking 'round the corner
There is a potential witness or accomplice who may have seen the crime take place.
Could that someone perhaps, per chance be Mack the Knife
It is possible that Mack the Knife is the criminal responsible for the victim's fate.
From a tugboat, on the river going slow
Mack the Knife is being discreet and taking a slow and steady approach.
A cement bag is dropping down
Mack the Knife is making a move to dispose of evidence, using the weight of the cement to hide something.
You know that cement is for the weight dear
He is using the cement to weigh down the body or a weapon.
You can make a large bet Macheath's in town
Mack the Knife is back, and his presence is felt by those who live there.
My man Louis Miller, he split the scene babe
Louis Miller left town, taking his money with him to avoid Mack the Knife.
After drawing out all the bread from his stash
He left town wealthy, taking all his savings with him.
Now Macheath spends like a sailor
Mack the Knife is now spending Louis Miller's money recklessly.
Do you suppose this guy, he did something rash
Louis Miller may have made a wise decision when he chose to leave town to protect himself from Mack the Knife.
But with this big, fat band, jumping behind me
With a lot of support, Louis Armstrong is telling this story in a grand way.
Swinging hard, Jack, I know I can't lose
Louis Armstrong is confident in his performance and believes he will not fail.
When I tell you, all about Mack the Knife babe
Louis Armstrong wants to educate people about the dangers and actions of Mack the Knife.
It's an offer, you can never refuse
You cannot ignore the warning that is given in the song.
We got Patrick Williams, Bill Miller playing that piano
The musicians in the band are all very talented.
And this wonderful, great big band, bringing up the rear
The band is a spectacle, and they create a lively atmosphere.
All these bad cats, in this band now
The members of the band are all skilled and incredible musicians.
They make the greatest sounds, you're ever gonna hear
The band is truly amazing, and their music is a treasure.
Oh Sookie Taudry, Jenny Diver, Polly Peachum, Old Miss Lulu Brown
Names of characters who are often associated with Mack the Knife and his antics.
Hey the line forms, on the right dear
Now that Mack the Knife is back in town, everyone is taking precautions and trying to protect themselves.
Now that Macheath, that bum is back in town
The dangerous Mack the Knife is back, and people are preparing for his presence.
You'd better lock your doors, and call the law
The people are desperate to avoid Mack the Knife and protect themselves from him.
Because Mackie's back in town
Mack the Knife has returned and is instilling fear in everyone who hears of his arrival.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL HUNT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
on What A Wonderful World
What A Wonderful World - Casey Abrams - Lyrics
I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Singing how do you do
They're really singing
I love you
I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Musical Interlude
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Singing how do you do
They're really singing
I love you
I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They goin’ learn much more
Than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
I think to myself
What a wonderful world