In 1926 returned to Chicago where he recorded as the Hot Five and Hot Seven, producing classic jazz such as West End Blues, Potato Head Blues, Cornet Chop Suey, Heebie Jeebies and Tight Like That. In effect, Louis "invented" swing and brought the soloist into the spotlight with his trumpet and his vocals.
During the 1930's his popularity soared as an entertainer and leader of a big band. Hits included Swing That Music, The Saints, Struttin with Some Bar-B-Que, Pennies From Heaven and Jeepers Creepers.
In the mid-1940's he returned to the small band format, Armstrong and the All Stars, with Jack Teagarden, Barney Bigard, Earl Hines and rhythm. He maintained this format with varied personnel until his death in 1971. During his last decade he had hits of Hello Dolly and What A Wonderful World.
It is widely accepted that Louis Armstrong was the most influential instrumentalist and vocalist jazz has ever known.
It Ain't Me
Louis Armstrong And His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me to save my tears
Well I'm so mad about him
I can't live without him
Never treats me sweet and gentle
The way he should
I've got it bad
My poor heart is so sentimental
Not made of wood
I've got it so bad
And that ain't good
But when the fish are jumpin'
And Friday rolls around
My man an' I, we gin some
We pray some, and sin some
He don't love me like I love him
The way he should
I've got it bad
And that ain't good
Yes I've got it bad
And that ain't good
The lyrics of the song "I Got it Bad" by Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington speak to the heartache of unrequited love. The singer conveys her deep affection for her love interest, despite the fact that he does not treat her with kindness and tenderness. She is aware that others are advising her to move on and save her tears, yet she is so deeply infatuated that she feels she cannot live without him. Her heart is fragile and sentimental, not unlike the wood of an instrument, and she is consumed by her love for this individual.
The singer goes on to describe how she and her love interest spend their time together, even though he does not return her feelings to the same degree. They engage in various activities, including fishing, praying, and even sinning, yet she is cognizant that he does not love her the way she loves him. Ultimately, she is left with the painful realization that she has it bad and that it is not good. The song perfectly captures the yearning and heartache that come with unrequited love, as well as the difficulty of letting go of someone who holds such a prominent place in one's heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Though folks with good intentions
Although well-meaning people advise me
Tell me to save my tears
To save my tears is the advice they give
Well I'm so mad about him
But I'm so in love with him
I can't live without him
I feel I can't survive without him
Never treats me sweet and gentle
He never treats me in a kind and caring way
The way he should
The way a partner should treat their significant other
I've got it bad
I'm suffering from a strong emotional attachment
And that ain't good
And it's not something positive
My poor heart is so sentimental
My heart is very emotional and easily affected
Not made of wood
It's not emotionless or unfeeling
I've got it so bad
I'm really struggling with this emotional connection
And that ain't good
And it's not something positive
But when the fish are jumpin'
But when life is going well
And Friday rolls around
And Friday arrives
My man an' I, we gin some
My partner and I, we have some drinks
We pray some, and sin some
We also pray and indulge in some sins
He don't love me like I love him
He doesn't feel the same level of affection towards me
The way he should
The way a partner should feel towards their significant other
I've got it bad
I'm really struggling with this emotional connection
And that ain't good
And it's not something positive
Yes I've got it bad
I'm suffering from a strong emotional attachment
And that ain't good
And it's not something positive
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thomas .Hennessey
Pops Foster's string bass work was dynamite and cutting edge in 1929.
Heinz Becker
right
Leon Davis Jr
I love this version, it take me back to my childhood when used to watch Tom and Jerry cartoons
John Rothfield
Best recording I've found of this song!!! 1929
chris strachwitz
Again it's Pops Foster who drives this great band - and I agree this is the best version of this song by far!
John Rothfield
Louis Armstrong's solo is at 1:20.
Luna Love
😍🎺
Thomas .Hennessey
Armstrong fronting Luis Russell's band for 1 record session. Russell's band would become Armstrong's regular group in the mid 1930s after he does a lot of traveling and working with many other bands
Daniel Weinstein
There were a few more sessions in late '29, early '30.
Thomas .Hennessey
@Daniel Weinstein True, I missed those. The last 1 with Russell at this point is Feb. 1,1930. He records with another NY band in April before leaving for southern California. His first record there is July 16, 1930 with Louis and Lil accompanying country music star Jimmie Rodgers on Blue Yodel No.9 Louis does this tune with Johnny Cash on Cash's tv show Oct. 1,1970. Louis had recorded a country western studio album with some of the Nashville A-Team in Aug. 1970.