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.
Sweet Georgia Brown
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On sweet Georgia brown,
Two left feet, oh, so neat,
Has sweet Georgia brown!
They all sigh, and want to die,
For sweet Georgia brown!
I'll tell you just why,
It's been said she knocks 'em dead,
When she lands in town!
Since she came, why it's a shame,
How she cools them down!
Fellas she can't get
Must be fellas she ain't met!
Georgia claimed her, Georgia named her,
Sweet Georgia brown!
No gal made has got a shade
On sweet Georgia brown,
Two left feet, oh, so neat,
Has sweet Georgia brown!
They all sigh, and want to die,
For sweet Georgia brown!
I'll tell you just why,
You know I don't lie; not much:
All those gifts those courters give,
To sweet Georgia brown,
They buy clothes at fashion shows,
With one dollar down,
Oh, boy! tip your hat!
Oh, joy! she's the cat!
Who's that, mister? 'tain't a sister!
Sweet Georgia brown!
"Sweet Georgia Brown" is a classic jazz song that celebrates the beauty and allure of a woman named Georgia Brown. The lyrics describe her as the epitome of perfection, with no other woman able to match her beauty or grace. The first stanza makes this clear with the line "No gal made has got shade on sweet Georgia Brown," followed by a compliment to her dancing ability despite having "two left feet." The second stanza highlights how men fall at her feet, wanting to be with her, and it is explained that she cools them down, and calms them out.
The last verse gives an insight into the lavish lifestyle that men give Georgia Brown. They attend fashion shows and spend lots of money on her, but it doesn't matter because she is worth it. The song ends with a reference to her nickname given by the state of Georgia, who claims her as their own.
Overall, the song is a celebration of a woman's beauty and allure, and while it may feel somewhat dated in today's modern world, it remains a beloved classic.
Line by Line Meaning
No gal made has got a shade
No other woman can compare to Sweet Georgia Brown
On sweet Georgia brown,
In terms of beauty, Sweet Georgia Brown is unmatched
Two left feet, oh, so neat,
Despite her clumsiness, Sweet Georgia Brown still manages to look good
Has sweet Georgia brown!
This is just a playful way of referring to Sweet Georgia Brown
They all sigh, and want to die,
Men become tongue-tied and infatuated with Sweet Georgia Brown
For sweet Georgia brown!
Men are entranced by Sweet Georgia Brown's charms
I'll tell you just why,
The following lines will explain what makes Sweet Georgia Brown so special
You know I don't lie, not much:
Louis Armstrong is known for his sense of humor
It's been said she knocks 'em dead,
Sweet Georgia Brown is known for her beauty and charisma
When she lands in town!
People take notice when Sweet Georgia Brown is around
Since she came, why it's a shame,
Other women pale in comparison to Sweet Georgia Brown
How she cools them down!
Sweet Georgia Brown has a disarming charm that affects everyone around her
Fellas she can't get
There are some men who resist Sweet Georgia Brown's charms
Must be fellas she ain't met!
Those men who don't fall for her simply haven't had the pleasure of her company yet
Georgia claimed her, Georgia named her,
Sweet Georgia Brown is a product of her environment and upbringing
Sweet Georgia brown!
Louis Armstrong repeats the title of the song
All those gifts those courters give,
Men shower Sweet Georgia Brown with extravagant gifts
To sweet Georgia brown,
Once again, Louis Armstrong emphasizes the focus of the song
They buy clothes at fashion shows,
The men who pursue Sweet Georgia Brown are rich and fashionable
With one dollar down,
They are also generous and willing to spend large sums of money on her
Oh, boy! tip your hat!
Louis Armstrong is urging the listener to acknowledge Sweet Georgia Brown's beauty and charm
Oh, joy! she's the cat!
Louis Armstrong continues to praise Sweet Georgia Brown
Who's that, mister? 'tain't a sister!
Sweet Georgia Brown is so attractive that even other women are envious of her
Sweet Georgia brown!
Louis Armstrong ends the song with another repetition of the title
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MAX LODERBAUER, PAULA SCHOPF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
eve.
Well let me tell you well no chick made
Could be the same
As Sweet Georgia Brown
Crazy feet that dance so neat
Has sweet Georgia Brown
Fella's sigh, and even cry
For sweet Georgia Brown
I tell you just why
You know I don't lie
It's been said
She knocks them dead
In any old town
Since she came right
It's a shame
How she brings them down
Thalis K.
The man doesn't just play the instrument. He paints with it.
Benjamin Asbury
+Thalis Kalfigkopoulos he is beautifully talented
Gilles Febvrel
The words of your comment ("He [Joe Duren] paints with it") are the best to express my feelings while watching and listening this video. (I'm French, 66yo). :-))
Remy Bryan
Benjamin Asbury And plays it...
You can do both
Andy Ashton
Absolutely nice analogy
Michael Caza-Schonberger
Thalis K. the “instrument” is called a clarinet, and it’s hearing a recording of this song that made me want to take up the king of the woodwind instruments!
Drew Cummings
Here to celebrate this beauty of a song entering the public domain!
Nellie K. Adaba
Great 👍🏿, love to play this on piano 🎹.
john sweeney
I like the sentiment....I too want people out there to know I appreciate this gem
LordoftheJimmy
Wow! That was amazing. As Birdieberry said, I've never heard a clarinet played like that before. Joe Duren I believe was the name Louie said. I'd love to hear more of this guy!