Mona Lisa
Nat King Cole(냇 킹 콜) Lyrics


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Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you
You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
Is it only 'cause you're lonely they have blamed you?
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile?

Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there and they die there
Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely lovely work of art?

Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there and they die there
Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely lovely work of art?





Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa

Overall Meaning

, men have named you, you're so like the lady with the mystic smile. These opening lyrics of Nat King Cole’s classic song ‘Mona Lisa’ beautifully capture the wonder and mystery surrounding the subject of the famous Leonardo da Vinci portrait, and indeed all women who seem to embody an enigmatic quality that draws men in. The song asks whether the subject of the painting, Mona Lisa, is lonely or brokenhearted, or if her enigmatic smile is simply meant to charm and tempt lovers. It also muses on the dormant dreams and desires of those who have been drawn to her beauty but left without fulfilling them.


The song paints a picture of a timeless beauty frozen in time, a woman whose undying allure has captivated generations of men. It suggests that she might be more than just a painting, that men have ascribed a kind of life and meaning to her that transcends her artistic value. The lyricist questions whether there is more to Mona Lisa than just an enigmatic smile, whether she is “warm” and “real” or whether she is simply a “cold and lonely lovely work of art”.


Overall, the song is a tribute to the power of enigma, the mystery that surrounds beauty and the way it touches the human heart. It is a poignant reminder of the complexity of love and the power of art to capture a moment in time and preserve it for posterity.


Line by Line Meaning

Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you
You are a representation of art, admired and sought after by many.


You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
Your enigmatic smile is similar to that of the mysterious lady.


Is it only 'cause you're lonely they have blamed you?
People often blame your mysterious smile on your loneliness.


For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile?
Your smile has a strange, mysterious quality to it that is often talked about.


Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa?
Do you use your captivating smile to attract a potential love interest, Mona Lisa?


Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Perhaps your smile is simply a way for you to hide a broken heart.


Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
Countless people have come to see you and your smile, hoping to fulfill their own dreams of love and happiness.


They just lie there and they die there
However, those dreams often go unfulfilled and wither away in your presence.


Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa?
Are you a living, breathing person with warmth and emotion, or simply a cold and lifeless work of art?


Or just a cold and lonely lovely work of art?
Perhaps you are just a beautiful painting, admired from afar by countless admirers but ultimately alone and cold.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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