As a piano player, he formed a jazz trio in 1938 that played Los Angeles nightclubs, one of the first jazz trios featuring guitar and piano. Prior to this he had played music since he was a child and had worked with bands since he was sixteen. He was raised in Chicago and exposed to the abundant jazz scene there. He was heavily influenced by pianist Earl "Fatha" Hines.
Later he became more popularly known as a singer and crooner and his work became more orchestrated.
His first mainstream vocal hit was in 1944 with Straighten Up and Fly Right, based on a black folk tale that his father had used as a theme for a sermon. Although hardly a rocker, the song's success proved that an audience for folk-based material existed. It is considered a predecessor to the first rock and roll records. Indeed, Bo Diddley, who performed similar transformations of folk material, counted Cole as an influence.
Beginning in the late 1940s, Cole began recording and performing more pop-oriented material for mainstream audiences, often accompanied by a string orchestra. His stature as a popular icon was cemented during this period with such hits as The Christmas Song (1946), Nature Boy (1948), Mona Lisa (1950), and his signature tune Unforgettable (1951). While this shift to pop music led some jazz critics and fans to accuse Cole of selling out, he never totally abandoned his musical roots; as late as 1956, for instance, he recorded an all-jazz album, After Midnight. In 1991, Mosaic Records released the Complete Nat King Cole Trio Recordings on Capitol, which contained 349 songs on twenty-seven LPs or eighteen CDs.
Throughout the 1950s Cole continued to rack up hit after hit, including Smile, Pretend, A Blossom Fell, and If I May. Most of his pop hits were collaborations with famed arranger/conductor Nelson Riddle. It was with Riddle that Cole released his first ten-inch long-play album in 1953 entitled Sings for Two in Love. Several more albums followed, including the Gordon Jenkins arranged Love Is the Thing, which reached number one on the album charts in April 1957.
Inspired by a trip to Havana, Cuba in 1958, Nat went back there that same year and recorded Cole Espanol, an album sung entirely in Spanish and Portuguese. The album was a hit not only in the U.S., but in Latin America as well. The album was so popular, that two others followed: A mis amigos in 1959, and More Cole Espanol in 1962.
Musical tastes were changing in the late 1950s, and despite a successful stab at rock n' roll with Send for Me, Cole's ballad singing had grown old to younger listeners. Like contemporaries Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, Nat found that the pop singles chart had been almost entirely taken over by youth oriented acts. In 1960, Nat's longtime collaborator Nelson Riddle, left Capitol Records for Frank Sinatra's newly formed Reprise Records label. The two parted ways with one final hit album Wild Is Love, based on lyrics by Ray Rasch and Dotty Wayne. Nat would later re-tool the concept album into an off-Broadway production called I'm With You.
As the 1960s progressed, Nat once again found success on the American singles chart, starting with the country/pop flavored hit Ramblin' Rose in August of 1962. Three more hit singles followed: Dear Lonely Hearts, Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer, and That Sunday, That Summer. Nat's final album was entitled L.O.V.E, and was recorded in late 1964. It was released just prior to his death and reached number four on the Billboard Albums chart in the spring of 1965. A "Best Of" album went gold in 1968. His 1957 song When I Fall in Love was a chart topping hit for the U.K. in 1987.
Cole was the first African-American to have his own radio program. He repeated that success in the late-1950s with the first truly national television show starring an African-American. In both cases, the programs were ultimately canceled because sponsors shied away from a black artist. Cole fought racism all his life, refusing to perform in segregated venues. In 1956, he was attacked on stage in Birmingham, Alabama by members of the White Citizens' Council who apparently were attempting to kidnap him. Despite injuries, Cole completed the show but vowed never to perform in the South again.
On 23rd August 1956, Cole spoke at the Republican National Convention in the Cow Palace, San Francisco, California. He was also present at the Democratic National Convention in 1960, to throw his support behind President John F. Kennedy. Cole was also among the dozens of entertainers recruited by Frank Sinatra to perform at the Kennedy Inaugural gala in 1961. Nat King Cole frequently consulted with President Kennedy (and later President Johnson) on the issue of civil rights. Yet he was dogged by critics, who felt he shied away from controversy when it came to the civil rights issue. Among the most notable was Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who was upset that Cole didn't take stronger action after the 1956 on-stage attack.
In 1948, Cole purchased a house in the all-white Hancock Park neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. The property owners association told Cole they didn't want any undesirables moving in, to which Cole retorted "Neither do I. And if I see anybody undesirable coming in here, I'll be the first to complain."
He and his second wife, Maria Ellington, were married in Harlem's Abyssinian Baptist Church by Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. They had five children, including twin girls. Daughter Carol Cole, and son Kelly Cole were adopted. Kelly Cole died in 1995. Nat's daughter, Natalie Cole, and his younger brother, Freddie Cole are also singers.
Natalie and her father had an unexpected hit in the summer of 1991. The younger Cole mixed a 1961 recording of her father's rendition of Unforgettable with her own voice, creating an electronic duet. Both the song and the album of the same name won several Grammy awards the following year.
Cole performed in many short films, and played W. C. Handy in the film Saint Louis Blues. He also appeared in The Nat King Cole Story, China Gate, and The Blue Gardenia.
Nat King Cole was a heavy smoker of Kool menthol cigarettes, believing that smoking up to three packs a day gave his voice the rich sound it had (Cole would smoke several cigarettes in rapid succession before a recording for this very purpose). Cole died of lung cancer at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, on 15th February 1965. His funeral was held at St. Victor's Catholic Church in West Hollywood, and he was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Cat Ballou, his final film, was released several months later.
Looking Back
Nat King Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see where I caused you strife
But I know, oh yes, I know
I'd never make that same mistake again
Looking back over my deeds
I can see signs a wise man heeds
And if I just had the chance
Once my cup was overflowing
But I gave nothing in return
Now I can't begin to tell you
What a lesson I have learned
Looking back over the slate
I can see love turned to hate
But I know, oh yes I know
I'd never make that same mistake again
The song "Looking Back" by Nat King Cole is a reflective and introspective ballad about personal growth and regret. The first verse begins with the singer acknowledging the mistakes he has made in the past that have caused strife in his life, specifically towards the person he is singing to. However, he then states that he has learned from these mistakes and would never make them again. This theme of personal growth and redemption continues throughout the song as the singer reflects on other past actions that have caused him regret.
The second verse focuses on the lessons he has learned and the signs of a wise man that he should have heeded. The singer admits that he was once selfish and took more than he gave, but now realizes the value of giving back to others. The final verse delves deeper into the singer's past mistakes, including a turning point where love turned to hate due to his actions. However, he again reiterates that he has learned from these mistakes and would never repeat them.
Overall, the lyrics of "Looking Back" convey a sense of self-reflection and personal growth. The singer acknowledges his past mistakes and regrets, but also emphasizes the importance of learning from them and striving to be better in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking back over my life
As I reflect on my past experiences and choices
I can see where I caused you strife
I am able to recognize the instances where I caused pain or difficulty to someone close to me
But I know, oh yes, I know
However, I understand and acknowledge
I'd never make that same mistake again
That I would not repeat those same poor choices in the future
Looking back over my deeds
Upon reflection of my actions
I can see signs a wise man heeds
I can identify the warning signs or lessons that a wise person would take notice of
And if I just had the chance
If given an opportunity
I'd never make that same mistake again
I would not repeat the same mistake in the future
Once my cup was overflowing
At one point in my life, I had an abundance of something
But I gave nothing in return
However, I did not reciprocate or give back in equal measure
Now I can't begin to tell you
Now, I cannot express or describe to you
What a lesson I have learned
What an important life lesson I have gained from that experience
Looking back over the slate
Reflecting on the events and relationships in my past
I can see love turned to hate
I can recognize instances where affection or fondness were replaced by hostility or anger
But I know, oh yes I know
Despite this, I still understand and acknowledge
I'd never make that same mistake again
That I would not repeat those same negative actions or behaviors in the future
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Belford C. Hendricks, Brook Benton, Clyde Otis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1958 {May 4th} "Looking Back" by Nat King Cole peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Most-Played R&B Records By Jockeys chart, the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck' by Elvis Presley...
And also at the time, "Looking Back" was at #4 on Billboard's Best Selling R&B Records In Stores chart...
Between 1942 and 1991 the Montgomery, Alabama native had thirty nine records on the Billboard's R&B charts, thirty one made the Top 10 with six reaching #1...
His "Unforgettable" charted twice, in 1951 it peaked at #12, then as a duet with his daughter Natalie Cole, it reached #10 in 1991...
Sadly, Nat King Cole, born Nathaniel Adams Coles, passed away at the young age of 45 on February 15th, 1965 {lung cancer}...
May he R.I.P.
* "Looking Back" was Mr. Cole's fourth of four of his records to peak at #2, his other three #2 records were "I Can't See For Lookin'" {1944}, "I'm A Shy Guy" {1945}, and "Nature Boy" {1948}...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Most-Played R&B Records By Jockeys' Top 10 on May 4th, 1958:
At #3. "Twilight Time" by the Platters
#4. "Witch Doctor" by David Seville
#5. "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry
#6. "Talk To Me, Talk To Me" by Little Willie John
#7. "What Am I Living For" by Chuck Willis
#8. "To Be Loved" by Jackie Wilson
#9. "All I Have Do To Is Dream" by the Everly Brothers
#10. "He's Got The Whole World In His Hand" by Laurie London
@patriciapierre878
This. song. is. dedicated. to. my. late. Mum. who. passed. away. some. nine. weeks. ago. Mum. just. simply. loved. this. song. Mum,. wherever. you. are,. I. hope. you. will. continue. enjoying. it.
@100AMBUS
this was my mom's favorite song.. my daughter played this for her as she laid sick in the hospital.. she smiled and said NAT KING COLE... RIP MOM RIP
@cammiesmith632
mike collymore it was my uncle fav as well he was like a father to me and leading up to his death he use to sing it to me..... RIP uncle
@garylykins2584
I listened to this song back in my junior year in high school, I was always looking back, I am 73 now, and still looking back. Funny how time slips away. Great song, great lyrics and it brings back great memories.
@hillaryndimele4858
I have listened to this wonderful song still my childhood and it brings sweet memories all the time....
@ruthiecampbellcampbell1247
Ruthieca mpell
@richardmalig42
True.....I am in my early 70s.....how time slips away....
@rickrick5041
It's so easy to have a great song like this. All you need is an absolutely perfect voice in every way, great lyrics, great musicians, be able to tell a story with your heart and mean it, and be Nat King Cole
@user-kt9wr6ut7f
MR NAT KING COLE WAS AND IS ONE OF THE GREATEST SINGERS EVER IN HIS OWN RIGHT , HE COULD GO FROM LOW TO HIGH WITH THE GREATEST OF EASE, AWESOME AND DYNAMIC.
@kernal1042
im 80 and looking back,,,amazing how i listen in my teens at this song and it fits today