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.

The Ballad Of Davy Crockett
Louis Armstrong Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Version as produced for Walt Disney Records
Born on a mountain top in Tennessee
The greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew every tree
Kilt him a b'ar when he was only three
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier

Fought single-handed through many a war

Till the enemy was whipped and peace was in store
And while he was handlin' this risky chore
He made himself a legend forever more
Davy, Davy Crockett, the man who knew no fear

He went off to Congress and served a spell
Fixin' up the Government and the laws as well
Took over Washington, so I heard tell
And he patched up the crack in the Liberty Bell
Davy, Davy Crockett, seeing his duty clear

When he came home his politic'ing was done
And the western march had just begun
So he packed his gear and his trusty gun

And lit out a-grinnin' to follow the sun
Davy, Davy Crockett, leading the pioneer

Overall Meaning

The Ballad of Davy Crockett, as sung by legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong, tells the story of the iconic American folk hero Davy Crockett. The lyrics outline Crockett's upbringing as a child born on a mountain top in Tennessee, where he learned the lay of the land while growing up in the woods. The song notes that he killed a bear when he was only three years old, hinting at his strength and courage even at a young age.

As he grew older, he fought in many wars, earning a reputation as a fearless warrior. The lyrics also detail Crockett's political career, where he went to Congress to fix up the government and laws as well as patching up the crack in the Liberty Bell. The song concludes with Crockett leaving Congress to go out West, carrying his trusty gun and leading the pioneer push to settle the West.

Overall, the song celebrates Davy Crockett as a man who embodied the rough and tumble spirit of the American frontier, a man who was both strong and smart, brave and politically savvy. The song's catchy melody and upbeat lyrics have helped cement Davy Crockett's place as one of America's great folk heroes.

Line by Line Meaning

Born on a mountain top in Tennessee
Davy Crockett, the legendary American folk hero, was born on a mountain peak situated in the state of Tennessee, the greenest state in the United States of America.

The greenest state in the land of the free
Tennessee is known as the greenest state in America, a title that speaks to its natural beauty, abundance of forests, and stunning scenery.

Raised in the woods so's he knew every tree
Crockett was raised in the heart of the forest, a place where he developed a strong connection with the natural world and learned how to navigate and survive in the wilderness.

Kilt him a b'ar when he was only three
At just three years old, Crockett killed a bear, an impressive feat that demonstrated his fearlessness, tenacity, and strength.

Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier
Crockett was a central figure in the expansion of the American frontier. His bravery and adventurous spirit made him a beloved and prominent leader in the community.

Fought single-handed through many a war
Crockett was known for his military prowess and bravery on the battlefield. He fought many battles alone and emerged victorious despite the odds.

Till the enemy was whipped and peace was in store
Crockett was instrumental in securing peace by defeating his enemies through his heroism and military strategy.

And while he was handlin' this risky chore
Despite the inherent risks associated with going to war, Crockett took on this difficult task with courage, determination, and the conviction that he was fighting for what was right.

He made himself a legend forever more
Crockett's incredible accomplishments and bravery paved the way for him to become a legendary figure in American folklore, a status that he still holds today.

Davy, Davy Crockett, the man who knew no fear
Crockett was fearless in the face of adversity, a person capable of taking on any challenge, no matter how difficult or dangerous it might be.

He went off to Congress and served a spell
Following his military career, Crockett transitioned to politics and spent a period of time serving in Congress as a representative for the state of Tennessee.

Fixin' up the Government and the laws as well
During his tenure in Congress, Crockett worked tirelessly to improve the government and political system, using his expertise and experience to address issues and strengthen laws.

Took over Washington, so I heard tell
There are legends that suggest Crockett took over Washington, D.C. during his time in Congress, although it is unclear how true these rumors actually are.

And he patched up the crack in the Liberty Bell
One of Crockett's most famous accomplishments is that he supposedly played a role in repairing the crack in the Liberty Bell, a symbol of American freedom and democracy.

Davy, Davy Crockett, seeing his duty clear
Throughout his life, Crockett remained committed to serving his country and fulfilling his duties as an American citizen. His sense of duty and loyalty never wavered.

When he came home his politic'ing was done
After leaving Congress, Crockett decided to return home and leave political life behind him permanently.

And the western march had just begun
At this time, America was expanding westward at a rapid pace, and Crockett felt drawn to explore this new frontier and carve out a new path for himself.

So he packed his gear and his trusty gun
Like any adventurer, Crockett prepared for his journey by gathering the tools and equipment necessary to survive in the wilds of the west, including his trusty gun.

And lit out a-grinnin' to follow the sun
With a sense of excitement and optimism, Crockett set out on his journey, ready to take on the challenges of the wilderness and explore new territories.

Davy, Davy Crockett, leading the pioneer
Crockett was a true pioneer, an adventurer who showed courage, stamina, and resourcefulness as he journeyed westward and helped pave the way for future generations of Americans to follow in his footsteps.

Writer(s): George Edward Bruns, Tom Blackburn

Contributed by Lily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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