About the song
“Hello, Dolly!” is a beloved song from the renowned musical of the same name, created by composer and lyricist Jerry Herman. This upbeat and charming tune first gained widespread attention when Louis Armstrong recorded it in December 1963. Released as a single in January 1964, just as the Broadway show was opening in New York City, Armstrong’s version quickly became a massive hit.
Armstrong’s recording achieved remarkable success, climbing to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. This notable achievement was significant because it interrupted the Beatles’ impressive run of three consecutive chart-topping hits, which had dominated the charts for 14 weeks. Not only did “Hello, Dolly!” become Armstrong’s most successful single, but it also earned him a Gold record and became a standout track in his career.
The song’s popularity was further underscored by its impact on the charts. It spent nine weeks at the top of the adult contemporary chart and made Armstrong the oldest artist ever to achieve a No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 since its inception in 1958. In recognition of its success, “Hello, Dolly!” was ranked as the No. 3 song of 1964 by Billboard, just behind two Beatles hits.
Louis Armstrong’s rendition of “Hello, Dolly!” was celebrated at the 7th Annual Grammy Awards in 1965, where the song won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year, and Armstrong himself received the award for Best Vocal Performance, Male. His performance alongside Barbra Streisand in the 1969 screen adaptation of the musical further cemented the song’s place in popular culture.
The song’s catchy melody even found its way into political campaigns. During the 1964 U.S. presidential election, President Lyndon B. Johnson adopted a version of the tune called “Hello, Lyndon!” as a campaign anthem. This version was performed by Carol Channing at the Democratic National Convention and recorded by Ed Ames for distribution.
In 2018, the song’s enduring appeal was recognized when it was listed at number 178 on the Billboard Hot 100’s 60th Anniversary chart. “Hello, Dolly!” remains a classic, celebrating its place in music history and its ability to charm audiences across generations.
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Lyrics
Hello, Dolly
This is Louis, Dolly
It’s so nice to have you back where you belong
You’re lookin’ swell, Dolly
I can tell, Dolly
You’re still glowin’, you’re still crowin’
You’re still goin’ strong
I feel the room swayin’
While the band’s playin’
One of our old favorite songs from way back when
So take her wrap, fellas find her an empty lap, fellas
Dolly’ll never go away again
I feel the room swayin’
While the band’s playin’
One of our old favorite songs from way back when
So golly, gee, fellas
Have a little faith in me, fellas
Dolly’ll never go away
Promise you’ll never go away
Dolly’ll never go away again