Jordan was a talented singer with great comedic flair, and he fronted his own band for more than twenty years. He duetted with some of the biggest solo singing stars of his day, including Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald. Jordan was also an actor and a major black film personality, appearing in dozens of "soundies" (promotional film clips), making numerous cameos in mainstream features and short films, and starring in two musical feature films made especially for him. He was an instrumentalist who specialised in the alto saxophone but played all forms of the instrument, as well as piano and clarinet. A productive songwriter, many of the songs he wrote or co-wrote became influential classics of 20th-century popular music.
Although Jordan began his career in big band swing jazz in the 1930s, he became famous as one of the leading practitioners, innovators and popularisers of "jump blues", a swinging, up-tempo, dance-oriented hybrid of jazz, blues and boogie-woogie. Typically performed by smaller bands (typically five or six players), jump music featured shouted, highly syncopated vocals and earthy, comedic lyrics on contemporary urban themes. It strongly emphasized the rhythm section of piano, bass and drums; after the mid-1940s, this mix was often augmented by electric guitar. Jordan's band also pioneered the use of electronic organ.
With his dynamic Tympany Five bands, Jordan mapped out the main parameters of the classic R&B, urban blues and early rock'n'roll genres with a series of hugely influential 78 rpm discs for the Decca label. These recordings presaged many of the styles of black popular music in the 1950s and 1960s, and exerted a huge influence on many leading performers in these genres. Many of his records were produced by Milt Gabler, who went on to refine and develop the qualities of Jordan's recordings in his later production work with Bill Haley, including "Rock Around The Clock".
Let The Good Times Roll
Louis Jordan & His Tympany 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't care if you're young or old
Get together, let the good times roll
Don't sit there mumblin', talkin' trash
If you wanna have a ball
You gotta go out and spend some cash, and
Let the good times roll, let the good times roll
Get together, let the good times roll
Hey Mr. Landlord, lock up all the doors
When the police comes around
Just tell 'em that the joint is closed
Let the good times roll, let the good times roll
I don't care if you're young or old
Get together, let the good times roll
Hey tell everybody
Mr. King's in town
I got a dollar and a quarter
Just rarin' to clown
But don't let nobody play me cheap
I got fifty cents more that I'm gonna keep, so
Let the good times roll, let the good times roll
I don't care if you're young or old
Get together, let the good times roll
No matter whether rainy weather
Birds of a feather gotta stick together
So get yourself under control
Go out and get together and let the good times roll
Louis Jordan's "Let The Good Times Roll" is a classic R&B song that reminds people to enjoy the moments of life while we still have them. The lyrics start by telling people that life is short and that they should make the most out of it. Then, the chorus tells us to "let the good times roll," which means we should have fun and enjoy life to the fullest. The verses encourage us to be social and spend money to go out and have fun.
The song reflects the popular culture of the post-war period when people were eager to forget about the war and start having fun again. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy lyrics make it a perfect song to dance to, and it is still a favorite in many jukeboxes today.
One interesting aspect of this song is how it blends jazz, blues, and rock and roll, making it a unique and dynamic song. It is also known for being one of the earliest songs to feature a drum solo. Additionally, the song has been covered by numerous artists and bands, including B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, and Bruce Springsteen.
Another notable fact is how Louis Jordan often performed this song in the movie "Caldonia." The song's popularity rose to fame, especially after the movie, and it received several awards, such as the BMI Award for Most Played Song and the CashBox Award for Top Rhythm and Blues Record.
The chords for "Let The Good Times Roll" are as follows:
Verse: E A E
Chorus: A E A E B7 A E
In conclusion, "Let The Good Times Roll" is a timeless classic that continues to inspire people to have fun and enjoy life. Its catchy lyrics, upbeat tempo, and unique style have made it stand the test of time and remain a favorite among music lovers of all ages.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, everybody, let's have some fun
Let's enjoy ourselves together
You only live but once
Life is short, so make the most of it
And when you're dead you're done, so
There's no second chance at life
Let the good times roll, let the good times roll
Let's have a great time
I don't care if you're young or old
Everyone is welcome to join in the fun
Get together, let the good times roll
Let's unite in having a good time
Don't sit there mumblin', talkin' trash
Stop complaining and start enjoying
If you wanna have a ball
If you want to have fun
You gotta go out and spend some cash, and
You might have to spend some money to have fun
Hey mr. landlord, lock up all the doors
Keep the party contained and private
When the police comes around, Just tell 'em that the joint is closed
Keep the police from breaking up the party by pretending it's over
Hey tell everybody, Mr. king's in town
Spread the word that someone important is present at the party
I got a dollar and a quarter, Just rarin' to clown
I have some money and I'm ready to have a good time
But don't let nobody play me cheap
Don't take advantage of me
I got fifty cents more that i'm gonna keep, so
I have some extra money to keep for myself
No matter whether rainy weather
Regardless of the circumstances
Birds of a feather gotta stick together
People with similar interests should stick together
So get yourself under control
Calm down and enjoy yourself
Go out and get together and let the good times roll
Get together with others and have a great time
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Lee, Shirley Goodman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind