During World War II, Wesley Prince left the group and Cole replaced him with Johnny Miller. The King Cole Trio signed with the fledgling Capitol Records in 1943.
In 1947, Irving Ashby replaced Oscar Moore. The trio split up in 1955 after Nat's solo career took frontstage.
Straighten Up and Fly Right
King Cole Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The monkey thought that ev'rything was on the square
The buzzard tried to throw the monkey off his back
But the monkey grabbed his neck and said, now, listen, Jack
Straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and fly right
Ain't no use in divin', what's the use of jivin'
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down papa, don't you blow your top
The buzzard told the monkey, you're choking me
Release your hold and I'll set you free
The monkey looked the buzzard right dead in the eye and said
Your story's touching, but is sounds like a lie
Straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and stay right
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down papa, don't you blow your top
Straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and stay right
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down papa, don't you blow your top
Fly right
The King Cole Trio's song, "Straighten Up and Fly Right," tells the story of a monkey who takes a ride on the back of a buzzard. The monkey thinks everything is going well until the buzzard tries to shake him off. But the monkey grabs the buzzard's neck and tells him to straighten up and fly right. The monkey urges the buzzard to stop jiving and flying aimlessly and instead focus and fly the right way. The monkey sees through the buzzard's lies and reminds him to keep things straight and honest. The chorus repeats "Straighten up and fly right" and reminds the listener to stay cool and not get angry.
Line by Line Meaning
A buzzard took the monkey for a ride in the air
The buzzard took the monkey for a ride through the air.
The monkey thought that ev'rything was on the square
The monkey thought everything was fair and honest.
The buzzard tried to throw the monkey off his back
The buzzard attempted to throw the monkey off his back.
But the monkey grabbed his neck and said, now, listen, Jack
The monkey seized the buzzard's neck and warned him to pay attention.
Straighten up and fly right
Behave properly and fly in the correct direction.
Straighten up and fly right
Behave properly and fly in the correct direction.
Straighten up and fly right
Behave properly and fly in the correct direction.
Cool down papa, don't you blow your top
Calm down, don't lose your temper.
Ain't no use in divin', what's the use of jivin'
There's no point in fooling around or trying to be clever.
Straighten up and fly right
Behave properly and fly in the correct direction.
Cool down papa, don't you blow your top
Calm down, don't lose your temper.
The buzzard told the monkey, you're choking me
The buzzard claimed the monkey was suffocating him.
Release your hold and I'll set you free
If the monkey lets go, the buzzard promises to free him.
The monkey looked the buzzard right dead in the eye and said
The monkey stared intensely into the buzzard's eyes and spoke.
Your story's touching, but it sounds like a lie
The monkey believed the buzzard's story was emotional but dishonest.
Straighten up and fly right
Behave properly and fly in the correct direction.
Straighten up and stay right
Behave properly and stay on the right path.
Straighten up and fly right
Behave properly and fly in the correct direction.
Cool down papa, don't you blow your top
Calm down, don't lose your temper.
Straighten up and fly right
Behave properly and fly in the correct direction.
Straighten up and stay right
Behave properly and stay on the right path.
Straighten up and fly right
Behave properly and fly in the correct direction.
Cool down papa, don't you blow your top
Calm down, don't lose your temper.
Fly right
Do the right thing and follow the correct path.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Irving Mills, Nat King Cole
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
C Flow
LOVE THIS!!! Much respect to his "pop" hits (Unforgettable, Too Young, etc.) NOTHING beats the trio years!!!! HE WAS A PIANO PLAYER EXTRAORDINAIRE!!!!
johnhardman3
Exactly!
johnmillercpainc
This is my favorite song by Nat King Cole. I don't usually listen to music that came out before I was born. However, this is an exception. This song is really good!
lambokid20
The song may be about 70 years old but my god does it sound good, just goes to show you cant beat the classics
Alexandria Siegers
Lovin' this so much! Especially the whole band singing in the head : )
꧁Spice Princess Art꧂
We used to have this on CD and I used to listen to it ALOT when I was a young kid, so this particular song gives me some good flashbacks 8D Thanks for posting!
Emmanuel Dimal
simply one of the best of NAT KING COLE!
mtunderstands
I love this song. Personally this is my rejoinder whenever the fools at work start coming down on me for nothing. I tell 'em "You'd better straighten up and fly right!" It's fun to watch the expressions on their faces whenever I tell them that.
Charon58
People forget what a great piano player he was
sauquoit13456
On this day in 1944 {April 29th} "Straighten Up and Fly Right" by The Nat 'King' Cole Trio peaked at #1 {for 10 non-consecutive weeks} on Billboard's Best Sellers in Store chart...
Was co-composed by Nat 'King' Cole; recorded on November 30th, 1943 and was released by Capitol Records...
Two covered versions have charted; the Andrews Sisters {# 8 in 1944} and the DeJohn Sisters {#73 in 1958}...