About the song
“What a Wonderful World” is a timeless song that captures the essence of Louis Armstrong’s legendary charm and optimism. Written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss, the song was first recorded by Armstrong in 1967. Despite its lackluster reception in the United States, due to a lack of promotion by ABC Records’ president Larry Newton, it found success in the United Kingdom, where it topped the pop charts in 1968.
The song’s journey did not end there. In 1988, after being featured in the film *Good Morning, Vietnam*, “What a Wonderful World” was reissued and climbed to number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. This resurgence helped cement its place in music history, leading to its induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
The composition of the song was produced by Thiele, who initially used the pseudonym George Douglas. However, his real name has been recognized on the song since its reissue in 1988. There is some debate over whether Tony Bennett was originally offered the song before Armstrong, but George Weiss, one of the songwriters, stated that the song was written specifically for Armstrong. Weiss admired Armstrong’s ability to unite people of different races through his music.
The recording session for “What a Wonderful World” was a memorable one. Armstrong was performing at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, and he recorded the song at nearby United Recording studio. Despite some challenges, including a disruptive ABC Records president and interruptions from freight train whistles, Armstrong remained professional. His dedication was evident as he worked through these issues, ensuring that the musicians were fairly compensated for their overtime.
This song is a celebration of life’s simple joys and remains a cherished classic, embodying Armstrong’s hopeful view of the world.
Video
Lyrics
I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, “How do you do?”
They’re really saying
I love you
I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more
Than I’ll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Ooh, yes