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.
Shadrack
Louis Armstrong And His Orchestra Lyrics
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There was three children from the land of Israel
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
They took a little trip to the land of Babylon
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Nebudchanezzer was the king of Babylon
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
He took a lot of gold, and made an idol
And he told everybody "when you hear the music of the trombone"
And he told everybody "when you hear the music of the clarinet"
And he told everybody "when you hear the music of the horn
You must fall down and worship the idol"
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
But the children of Israel would not bow down
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Couldn't fool 'em with a golden idol
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
I said, you couldn't fool 'em with a golden idol
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
So the king put the children in the fiery furnace
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Heaped on coals and red-hot brimstone
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Eleven times hotter, hotter than it ought to be
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Burned up the soldiers that the king had put there
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
But the Lord sent an angel with the snow-white wings
Down in the middle of the furnace
Talkin' to the children 'bout the power of the Gospel
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Well, they couldn't burn a hair on the head of
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Laughin' and talkin' while the fire jumpin' 'round
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Old Nebudchanezzer called, "hey there!"
When he saw the power of the Lord
And they had a regal time in the house of Babylon
Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego
Oh, Abednego
Louis Armstrong's "Shadrack" tells the story of three children from the land of Israel, Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego. They were taken as prisoners to the land of Babylon, ruled by King Nebudchanezzer. The king built an idol made of gold and commanded everyone to worship it when they hear the music of the trombone, clarinet, and horn. But the three children refused to bow down to the idol, as it was against their belief in God. The king, angry with their disobedience, decided to throw them into a fiery furnace, which was heated eleven times hotter than it should have been. However, the Lord sent an angel to protect them from the fire, and the children emerged unharmed. The amazed king recognized the power of God and had a regal time with them in the house of Babylon.
"Shadrack" reflects the Biblical story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were three Jewish captives in Babylon during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar. They refused to worship the golden idol he had erected and were thrown into a fiery furnace but emerged unscathed as God protected them. The song has a strong message of faith and courage to stand up for one's beliefs, regardless of the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
The story of Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego
Introduction to the tale that the song tells
There was three children from the land of Israel
Establishment of the identity of the singers in the story
They took a little trip to the land of Babylon
Narrating the journey of the singers to a foreign land
Nebudchanezzer was the king of Babylon
Introduction of the antagonist in the story
He took a lot of gold, and made an idol
Narration of the king's creation of a golden idol
And he told everybody "when you hear the music of the trombone"
The king's command for everyone to worship the idol when the trombone is played
And he told everybody "when you hear the music of the clarinet"
The king's command for everyone to worship the idol when the clarinet is played
And he told everybody "when you hear the music of the horn
The king's command for everyone to worship the idol when the horn is played
You must fall down and worship the idol"
The king's requirement for everyone to bow down to the idol
But the children of Israel would not bow down
The children's defiance against the king's command
Couldn't fool 'em with a golden idol
The children's resilience against the temptation of the idol
I said, you couldn't fool 'em with a golden idol
Reiteration of the children's loyalty to their faith
So the king put the children in the fiery furnace
The king's punishment for the children's disobedience
Heaped on coals and red-hot brimstone
Description of the intensity of the furnace's heat
Eleven times hotter, hotter than it ought to be
The extreme heat of the furnace
Burned up the soldiers that the king had put there
The danger of the furnace even to the king's soldiers
But the Lord sent an angel with the snow-white wings
Divine intervention in the form of an angel
Down in the middle of the furnace
Angel's physical location within the story
Talkin' to the children 'bout the power of the Gospel
The angel's conversation with the children on the Gospel's strength
Well, they couldn't burn a hair on the head of
The children's miraculous survival from the heat of the furnace
Laughin' and talkin' while the fire jumpin' 'round
The children's joyous attitude despite the adversity they faced
Old Nebudchanezzer called, "hey there!"
The king's reaction upon witnessing the children's miracle
When he saw the power of the Lord
The king's acknowledgement of the divine intervention
And they had a regal time in the house of Babylon
Celebration of the children's victory
Oh, Abednego
A mention of one of the children, expressing admiration or affection
Lyrics © CARL FISCHER, LLC
Written by: ROBERT MACGIMSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Mittelsdorf
on Jubilee
Are you crazy? This is the lyrics for "begin the beguine" by Cole Porter... "Jubilee" as sung by Louis Armstrong was written by Hoagy Carmichael