Basin Street

Louis Armstrong

About Basin Street

"Basin Street Blues" is a song often performed by Dixieland jazz bands, written by Spencer Williams in 1928 and recorded that year by Louis Armstrong. The verse with the lyric "Won't you come along with me / To the Mississippi..." was later added by Glenn Miller and Jack Teagarden. The Basin Street of the title refers to the main street of Storyville, the red-light district of early 20th-century New Orleans, north of the French Quarter. It became a red light district in 1897.


Year:
1995
94 
#1

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Now won't you come along with me
To the Mississippi?
We'll take a trip to the land of dreams
Blowing down the river, down to New Orleans

The band is there to meet us
Old friends to greet us
That's where the line and the dark folks meet
A heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street

I said, Basin Street, Basin Street
Where the elite always meet
Down in New Orleans, the land of dreams
You'll never know how nice it seems

Or just how much it really means
Just to be, yes, siree, in New Orleans
The land of dreams where I can lose
My Basin Street blues

Now, you're glad you came with me
Down the Mississippi
We took a trip in a land of dreams
And floated down the river down to New Orleans

Where to, Basin Street, Basin Street
Where the elite always meet
Down in New Orleans, the land of dreams
You'll never know how, how much it seems

Or just how much it really means
Just to be, yes, siree, yeah, New Orleans
The land of dreams where I can lose
My Basin Street blues

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Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana. more »

15 fans

Written by: Spencer Williams

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Genre Classification
"Basin Street" by Louis Armstrong falls under the genre of Traditional Pop and Jazz music.
Historical Significance
The song's title, "Basin Street," refers to a real-life street in New Orleans, the birthplace of Jazz Music, and connects strongly to Armstrong's own roots.
Album Information
The song "Basin Street" is featured in Louis Armstrong's album "New Orleans Nights," which was released in 1957.
Artistry Insight
"Basin Street" reflects Armstrong's distinctively expressive and inventive trumpet style, his engaging singing voice, and his uniquely loose and rhythmic phrasing – all of which made him a major influencer in Jazz music.
Cultural Impact
The song is a testament to Armstrong's love for the city of New Orleans and its Afro-American culture. Through his music, he contributed significantly in popularizing the city's music style worldwide.
Collaborations
Louis Armstrong performed "Basin Street" alongside the All-Stars band, a group he led from the mid-1940s until his death in 1971. Notable members of this band at various times included Earl "Fatha" Hines, Barney Bigard, and Jack Teagarden.
Live Performances
One iconic performance of "Basin Street" by Louis Armstrong was at the Ed Sullivan Show in the 1950s, which reached a wide national audience and solidified the song's popularity.
Recognition
Though "Basin Street" did not chart in the music rankings, it gained vast recognition and remains one of Armstrong's signature songs, representing his fundamental role in the development of Jazz music.
Song's Theme
"Basin Street" evokes nostalgia for the vibrant, music-filled life of New Orleans, with references to the red-light district where jazz was born.
Legacy Metaphor
In a broader context, "Basin Street" is seen as a metaphor for Armstrong's legacy, underlining the powerful influence of New Orleans and its music on American and global culture.

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