What Did I Do To Be So Black And Blue?
Louis Armstrong · Other Songs - Louis Armstrong
Springs all of lead
feel like old *ed
wished I was dead
What did I do
to be so black
and blue?
Even the mouse
ran from my house
They laugh at you
and scorn you too
What did I do
to be so black
and blue?
IÂ’m white,
Inside
But that donÂ’t help my case
Cause I canÂ’t hide
What is in my face
How will it end
AinÂ’t got a friend
My only sin
is in my skin
What did I do
to be so black
and blue?
How will it end
Aint got a friend
My only sin
Is in my skin
What did I do
To be so black and blue?
What Did I Do To Be So Black And Blue?
Louis Armstrong's 1954 recording of 'What Did I Do To Be So Black And Blue?' stands as a pivotal moment in jazz history, marking his transition from the traditional Dixieland style to the modernist bebop era. Recorded with his Hot Five, the track features Armstrong's virtuosic improvisation, showcasing his mastery of complex harmonic structures and rapid tempos that would define the future of jazz. The song reflects the influence of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, demonstrating Armstrong's ability to absorb and reinterpret avant-garde ideas while maintaining his signature melodic sensibility. As a cornerstone of the bebop repertoire, this performance highlights Armstrong's enduring innovation and his role as a bridge between the swing era and the jazz revolution of the 1950s.