In 1983, she travelled to Toronto to seek a musical career. In 1986, she founded a trio with bassist David Piltch and pianist Aaron Davis. Offered a record deal in 1989, the Holly Cole Trio released an EP, Christmas Blues, that year, which featured a version of The Pretenders' "2,000 Miles". This was followed by their first full album, Girl Talk, in 1990.
A succession of releases followed through the early 1990s. For example, 1991's Blame It On My Youth, covered songs by Tom Waits ("Purple Avenue", aka "Empty Pockets"), Lyle Lovett ("God Will"), includes show tunes such as "If I Were a Bell" (from Guys and Dolls) and "On the Street Where You Live" (from My Fair Lady), and even remakes "Trust In Me", from Disney's The Jungle Book, into a strikingly sultry and sinister song of seduction and death. Also recorded in this period was "Alison", a reinterpretation of Elvis Costello's original.
Following 1993's Don't Smoke in Bed, the trio released a CD entirely of songs by Tom Waits, called Temptation. With this 1995 release, the "Trio" was dropped from the group's name.
Cole next went into a two-album flirtation with pop music, perhaps keeping with the "diva" fad of the late 90s. These albums, Dark Dear Heart (1997) and Romantically Helpless (2000) veered further from jazz by introducing pop elements to Cole's sound.
In 2001, she returned to the Christmas jazz roots of her first CD with Baby It's Cold Outside, which included such should-be classics as "Christmas Time is Here" (from A Charlie Brown Christmas), "Santa Baby", and the title track. Swapping cold for hot, she moved to a Summer theme in 2003's Shade, this time reinterpreting Cole Porter ("Too Darn Hot"), Irving Berlin ("Heatwave"), and The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson ("God Only Knows").
Cole's latest album, Holly Cole (originally entitled This House Is Haunted) was released in Canada in March 2007. It was released in the US in January 2008 and was followed by a US tour.
Cole tours frequently, particularly around the holiday season, in Canada. She was also a part of the 1999 Lilith Fair tour.
Too Darn Hot
Holly Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's too darn hot!
I'd like to sup with my baby tonight,
Refill the cup with my baby tonight.
I'd like to sup with my baby tonight,
Refill the cup with my baby tonight,
But I ain't up to my baby tonight
Cause it's too darn hot
It's too darn hot!
It's too darn hot!
I'd like to coo with my baby tonight,
And pitch the woo with my baby tonight.
I'd like to coo with my baby tonight,
And pitch the woo with my baby tonight.
But brother you fight my baby tonight
Cause it's too darn hot
According to the Kinsey Report
Ev'ry average man you know
Much prefers his love-y dove-y to court
When the temperature is low,
But when the thermometer goes 'way up
And the weather is sizzling hot,
Mister pants for romance is not
Cause it's too, too,
Too darn hot!
It's too darn hot!
It's too, too darn hot!
I'd like to coo with my baby tonight
And pitch the woo with my baby tonight
I'd like to coo with my baby tonight,
Pitch the woo with my baby tonight
But brother, you fight my baby tonight
Cause it's too darn hot!
According to the Kinsey Report
Ev'ry average man you know
Much prefers his lovey dovey to court
When the temperature is low
But when the thermometer goes 'way up
And the weather is sizzling hot,
Mr. Gob for his squab,
A marine for his queen,
A G.I. for his cutie-pie is not
Cause it's too, too,
Too darn hot!
It's too darn hot!
It's too darn hot
It's too darn hot
It's too darn hot
It's too darn hot!
Holly Cole's version of Cole Porter's "Too Darn Hot" is an ode to hot summer nights that make it difficult to enjoy romance. The song describes the singer's desire to spend time with her partner but is hindered by the oppressive heat. She wants to "sup" (eat) with her baby and "coo" (whisper sweet nothings) to him, but she just can't handle the heat. Even average men, according to the Kinsey Report, don't have the desire to court their lovers during the hot summer months. It's just too darn hot!
The song has a fun and catchy melody that is supplemented by the brassy and upbeat arrangement of the music. It's a perfect song to dance and sing along to. The lyrics accurately encapsulate how unbearable the heat can be during the summer months and how difficult it can be to focus on anything besides feeling irritable and overheated.
Line by Line Meaning
It's too darn hot!
The heat is unbearable and making it difficult to do anything.
I'd like to sup with my baby tonight, Refill the cup with my baby tonight.
I would love to have a meal and a drink with my partner tonight.
But I ain't up to my baby tonight Cause it's too darn hot
I'm not in the mood for anything tonight because of the extreme heat.
I'd like to coo with my baby tonight, And pitch the woo with my baby tonight.
I would like to whisper sweet nothings to my partner and be romantic with them.
But brother you fight my baby tonight Cause it's too darn hot
Unfortunately, the heat is making it difficult for me and my partner to enjoy each other's company.
According to the Kinsey Report Every average man you know Much prefers his love-y dove-y to court When the temperature is low, But when the thermometer goes 'way up And the weather is sizzling hot, Mister pants for romance is not
The Kinsey Report says that men prefer to be romantic with their partners when it's cooler outside, but when it's hot, the desire for romance decreases.
Cause it's too, too, Too darn hot!
The heat is just too much to handle!
Mr. Gob for his squab, A marine for his queen,A G.I. for his cutie-pie is not
Even men in relationships, like a cook for his partner, a marine for his wife, or a soldier for his girlfriend, don't feel like being romantic in such hot weather.
It's too darn hot!
The heat is unbearable and making it difficult to do anything.
It's too darn hot
The heat is unbearable and making it difficult to do anything.
It's too darn hot!
The heat is unbearable and making it difficult to do anything.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind