Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” is one of the most iconic songs of the past 50 years. The song’s message of hope, love, and optimism continues to resonate with audiences of all ages and backgrounds, making it one of the most beloved songs of all time. In this article, we’ll explore the story and meaning behind the iconic song.
The Story Behind the Song
“What a Wonderful World” was written by songwriters Bob Thiele and George Weiss in 1967. The intention of the optimistic song was to provide a soothing remedy to the growing issues that America was facing in the late 1960s, which included the tragedies of JFK’s assassination, racial conflicts, and the Vietnam war.
The song was specially written for Louis Armstrong, who was keen to record the song. But the president of ABC records (the record Armstrong fell under) Larry Newton vetoed recording the song. He desired Armstrong to do uptempo songs, just like his hit “Hello Dolly!”. As a result, the jazz legend secretly recorded “What a Wonderful World” immediately after a Las Vegas show in September 1967.
Larry Newton tried to shut down the session when he found out about it. But songwriter Bob Thiele was capable of locking him out. In revenge, Newton refused to promote the single upon its release.
As a result, the song wasn’t successful in America. It didn’t even reach the US Billboard Hot 100. However, “What a Wonderful World” did manage to reach number one on the UK Singles Chart. It was also a hit in many other European countries
The Meaning of What a Wonderful World
The song paints a vivid picture of the beauty in the world, despite the challenges America faced during the 1960s.
The opening verse describes the natural world with its green trees, red roses, and blue skies, emphasizing the simple joys that can be found in everyday life. The chorus, “And I think to myself, what a wonderful world” functions as a reminder to value these simple pleasures.
The second verse continues to describe the natural world, but also acknowledges the presence of darkness by mentioning the dark sacred night. The dark sacred night, however, is contrasted by the bright blessed day and the narrator’s optimistic outlook on the world.
The third verse introduces the idea of diversity and unity among people, with the colors of the rainbow seen in both the sky and on the faces of people passing by. The image of friends shaking hands and spreading love reinforces the message of connection and love between people.
The final verse even celebrates the sound of crying babies as a symbol of new life and growth. They’ll learn more than the narrator will ever know.
The Song’s Legacy
Despite the song’s initial lack of success in the United States, the song still became a hit in 1988, when it was featured in the movie “Good Morning, Vietnam”. “What a Wonderful World” eventually peaked at number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
What a Wonderful World” has been covered by numerous artists. One of the most popular covers is by the Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, who blended the song with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in a medley that became a hit in the late 1990s. Other notable covers are from Eva Cassidy, Rod Stewart, and Katie Melua.
Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World” continues to bring joy and hope to people all around the world. So the next time you’re feeling down or disheartened, just recall the words of this timeless classic: “And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.”
Interested in more stories behind Louis Armstrong songs? Click here
Imagine the knucklehead record executive who hated this iconic song. It goes to show how venal the music industry is and that the true lasting power of a song may have nothing to do with where it ended up on the Billboard Top 100 or Top 40