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.
You Can't Lose a Broken Heart
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then lose your guy
You can't lose a broken heart
If you ever break up
Then try to make up
It's tough to make a brand new start
Think it over
While strolling neath the moon
Don't say things in December
You'll regret in June
Ware your remarks
Before you speak
Or you may be sorry soon
Don't be erratic
Be diplomatic
To keep your heart's in tune
Cruel harsh words
Often spoken
Will upset your apple cart
So don't lose your head
Then lose your guy
'Cause, you can't lose a broken heart
Don't lose your head
Then lose your girl
You can't lose a broken heart
If you ever break up
Then try to make up
It's tough to make a brand new start
Take a walk
And think it over
While strolling neath the moon
Don't say things in December
Baby you'll regret in June
Ware your remarks
Before you speak
Or you may be sorry soon, baby
Don't be erratic
Be diplomatic
To keep your heart's in tune
Cruel harsh words
Often spoken
Will upset your apple cart, baby
So don't lose your head
Then lose your girl
'Cause, you can't lose a broken heart
No, you can't, can't lose a broken heart
The lyrics to Louis Armstrong's "You Can't Lose a Broken Heart" advise caution and restraint when it comes to matters of the heart. The song warns against the dangers of a hasty reaction to a falling out with a romantic partner. It suggests taking a break from the situation, thinking things through while taking a stroll under the moon, and being mindful of our words before speaking. The refrain of the song is a reminder that a broken heart cannot be lost, indicating that it is better to be cautious than to act impulsively in a relationship.
The lyrics of the song reflect the wisdom and perspective of an elder who has lived through the ups and downs of life and learned valuable lessons in the process. The tune is delivered with Armstrong's signature warm and mellow tone, imbuing the song with a reflective and soulful quality that is both comforting and poignant.
One interesting fact about "You Can't Lose a Broken Heart" is that it was written by Irving Berlin, who was one of the most successful and influential songwriters of the 20th century. The song was written specifically for Armstrong and was part of a musical revue called "Star Time" that featured the jazz legend as the lead performer. The show was a critical and commercial success and helped to elevate Armstrong's status as a performer.
Another interesting fact about the song is that it was recorded as a duet between Armstrong and vocalist Billie Holiday in 1949. The duo's rendition of the tune became a hit and is now regarded as a classic example of jazz singing. The recording showcases Armstrong's virtuosic trumpet playing and Holiday's impeccable phrasing and emotional depth.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't lose your head
Don't become overly emotional or irrational
Then lose your guy
Which may cause you to lose the person you care about
You can't lose a broken heart
But remember that a heart that's already been broken can't be broken again
If you ever break up
If you and your partner ever separate
Then try to make up
Try to reconcile and repair the relationship
It's tough to make a brand new start
It's difficult to start over and create a new relationship
Take a walk
Take time to clear your head and think
Think it over
Think about how you really feel and what you want to say
While strolling neath the moon
While walking quietly at night
Don't say things in December
Don't say things in the heat of the moment that you might regret later
You'll regret in June
You'll regret when you've had time to think about it
Ware your remarks
Be careful about what you say
Before you speak
Think about the impact your words may have
Or you may be sorry soon
Otherwise you may end up regretting it
Don't be erratic
Don't act impulsively
Be diplomatic
Handle the situation with care
To keep your heart's in tune
To keep your emotions and intentions aligned
Cruel harsh words
Words that are intended to hurt or upset
Often spoken
Frequently used
Will upset your apple cart
Will disrupt your plans or cause issues in your relationship
So don't lose your head
Don't let your emotions cloud your judgement
Then lose your girl
As it may cause you to lose the girl you are in love with
'Cause, you can't lose a broken heart
Remember that a heart that has already been broken can't be hurt further
No, you can't, can't lose a broken heart
Emphasizes the idea that a heart that's already been broken can't be broken again
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FLOURNOY E MILLER, JAMES JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-yo1jp5ok2x
Who is here after watching The Perfect Find?
@negarahim2681
Iam
@matildamanagemakola2828
I'm here😂❤
@adehamm1601
I’m here too 😂
@DanetteMcMillan-lk9hd
Me too!❤
@evansnjoku
😂 we are here 🎉
@donkulture
Perfect find brought me here but damn this song is beautiful
@falleslipita1774
am here cos of Netflix 😊
@kimellis8943
Netflix made me look this up too🎉 so far I am loving the music of these 2 beautiful legends... The movie will have to wait 😊✌️♥️🙏🕯️
@traceyannmurphy8516
Less than 24 hours later and me too 😅