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.
When It's Sleepy Time Down South
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The folks are crooning songs soft and low
You needn't tell me, boy, because I know
When it's sleepy time down south
Soft wind blowing through the pinewood trees
The folks down there live a life of ease
When old mammy falls on her knees
Steamboats on the river a-coming, a-going
Splashing the night away
You hear those banjos ringing, all the people all singing
They dance 'til the break of day, oh
Dear old southland with his dreamy songs
Take me back where I belong
Right here in my mammy's arms
When it's sleepy time down south
Dear old southland with his dreamy songs
Take me back where I belong
Right here in my mammy's arms
When it's sleepy time, sleepy time, down south
Yes, Lord
The lyrics of Louis Armstrong's song When It's Sleepy Time Down South is a nostalgic ode to his southern roots. The first verse describes the peaceful ambiance of the region at night time when the moon is shining on the fields and the folks are singing soft and low songs. Armstrong has an emotional connection with the place and knows that it's sleepy time down south.
In the second verse, he paints a beautiful picture of the pinewood trees and the simple life of the folks. Armstrong mentions old mammy falling on her knees, which represents the religious practices and traditions of the southern black community. The verse ends with the title being repeated, emphasizing the sleepy nature of the community.
The third verse brings in the symbol of the steamboats on the river and banjos being played, adding to the joyful atmosphere of the southern nights. Armstrong wants to go back to his roots and be in the comfort of his mammy's arms, ending with "Yes, Lord" acknowledging his religious upbringing.
Overall, the lyrics of When It's Sleepy Time Down South showcases the peaceful and beautiful nature of southern life and the emotional connection Armstrong has with his hometown.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the pale moon's shining on the fields below
The moon is shining on the fields below.
The folks are crooning songs soft and low
The people are softly singing songs.
You needn't tell me, boy, because I know
I already know, no need to tell me.
When it's sleepy time down south
When it's late at night in the Southern regions.
Soft wind blowing through the pinewood trees
The gentle wind is blowing through the pine trees.
The folks down there live a life of ease
The people there have a comfortable and peaceful lifestyle.
When old mammy falls on her knees
When the old woman kneels.
When it's sleepy time down south
When it's late at night in the Southern regions.
Steamboats on the river a-coming, a-going
Boats are coming and going on the river.
Splashing the night away
Making noise and causing splashes during the night.
You hear those banjos ringing, all the people all singing
You can hear banjos and people singing.
They dance 'til the break of day, oh
They dance until dawn.
Dear old southland with his dreamy songs
The Southern region with its soothing music.
Take me back where I belong
Bring me back to where I should be.
Right here in my mammy's arms
Right here with my mother.
When it's sleepy time down south
When it's late at night in the Southern regions.
Dear old southland with his dreamy songs
The Southern region with its soothing music.
Take me back where I belong
Bring me back to where I should be.
Right here in my mammy's arms
Right here with my mother.
When it's sleepy time, sleepy time, down south
When it's late at night in the Southern regions.
Yes, Lord
Yes, Lord.
Lyrics © OTIS RENE PUBLICATIONS, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Clarence Muse, Leon Rene, Otis Rene
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnemerick5860
Now the pale moon's shining, on the fields below
Dark folks crooning songs soft and low
You needn't tell me, boy, because I know
When It's sleepy time down south
The soft winds blowing through the pinewood trees
Folks down there live a life of ease
When old mammy falls on her knees
When It's sleepy time down south.
Oh, steamboats up the river coming, going
Splashing the night away
hear those banjos ringing, dark folks are singing
And they dance 'til the break of day
Dear old southland with his dreamy song
Take me back where I belong
Right in my mammy's arms
When it's sleepy time down south
@Wolfhoundersful
Pale moon shining on the fields below
Folks are crooning songs soft and low
Needn't tell me so because I know
It's sleepy time down south
Soft winds blowing through the pinewood trees
Folks down there like a life of ease
When old mammy falls upon her knees
It's sleepy time down south
Steamboats on the river a coming or a going
Splashing the night away
Hear those banjos ringing, the people are singing
They dance til the break of day, hey
[2x:]
Dear old southland with his dreamy songs
Takes me back there where I belong
How I'd love to be in my mammy's arms
When it's sleepy time way down south
Sleepy time down south
@Robbie521000
I had a Great Uncle that passed in 2019 at the age of 96. He was born in Luray S.C. and when he would get a leave of absence while in the Navy, all the Black Servicemen would have to get off the train just before it arrived in Charleston and walk home. He moved to Philly in 1953. I spent a lot of time with and around him as I grew up. He loved and played a lot of Louis Armstrong's music, but this was his favorite. He often spoke of his life in the South during segregation, but he would always laugh at the mistreatment. He was a sharp dressed gentlemen and had a full life smile. When I was 46 he said, "Robbie, make sure they play When It's Seepy Time Down South at my new beginning". I had this piece played at his Homegoing; he would have laughed. O'Yea.
@timothylewis2450
Thanks for sharing. ❤️
@wolfgang4697
Thank you for this, God rest your Grand Uncle
@andrewr.2114
So sorry sir for your loss
@markkleindorf9185
I'm in New Orleans now playing it to my dad on his 92nd birthday..hot..
@Robbie521000
@@markkleindorf9185 Blessing to your Dad Brother. It's a beautiful piece and special to a lot of people.
@tonycampanelli4938
I said once you could say again we will never see a man like Louis Armstrong ever again.
@user-rj5ld7jh7n
Beautiful song thanks louis
@jrb1802uk
My dad passed away in January. He loved Trad Jazz, Louis Armstrong was his favourite. We played 'We have all time time in the World' at his funeral. I miss him so much . I grew up listening to Louis, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and love this Genre also.
@Jazztpt
The way Louis plays the trumpet, absolutely timeless and unique.