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.
The Happiest Christmas Tree
Nat King Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a hee and a ho and a ha ha
With a ho and a ha and a hee hee, oh
I'm the happiest Christmas tree
Ho ho ho, hee hee hee
Someone came and they found me
And took me home with them
Oh, I'm the happiest Christmas tree
Ho ho ho, hee hee hee
Look how pretty they dress me
Oh, lucky, lucky me
I got shiny bells that jingle
And tiny little lights that tingle
Whenever anyone passes by
I blink my lights and I wink my eye
Oh, I'm the happiest Christmas tree
Christmas day, wait and see
I'll be laughing happily
With a ho ho ho hee hee
With a hey and a hee and a ho ho
With a hee and a ho and a ha ha
With a ho and a ha and a hey hey
Oh, I'm the happiest Christmas tree
Ho ho ho, hee hee hee
Someone came and they found me
And took me home with them
Oh, I'm the happiest Christmas tree
Ho ho ho, hee hee hee
Look how pretty they dress me
Oh, lucky, lucky me
I got shiny bells that jingle
And tiny little lights that tingle
Whenever anyone passes by
I blink my lights and I wink my eye
Oh, I'm the happiest Christmas tree
Christmas day, wait and see
I'll be laughing happily
With a ho ho ho hee hee
With a hey and a hee and a ho ho
With a hee and a ho and a ha ha
With a hey and a hee and a ho ho
The lyrics to Nat King Cole's "The Happiest Christmas Tree" depict the joy and excitement felt by the Christmas tree as it is taken home and decorated. The song personifies the tree, giving it human-like qualities and emotions, as it proudly displays its shiny bells and twinkling lights. As the song progresses, the tree eagerly awaits Christmas Day, anticipating the happiness that will come as families gather around it and celebrate the holiday. The lyrics capture the childlike wonder of the holiday, with the repetitive use of "ho ho ho" and "hee hee hee" adding to the whimsy and merriment of the song.
Overall, "The Happiest Christmas Tree" is a lighthearted and cheerful ode to the importance of the Christmas tree in holiday celebrations. The tree is personified as a beloved presence in the home, bringing joy and laughter to all who are gathered around it. The song serves as a reminder of the simple pleasures of the season and the importance of embracing the childlike wonder that comes with the holiday.
Line by Line Meaning
With a hey and a hee and a ho ho
I'm getting into the festive spirit and feel like singing and dancing!
With a hee and a ho and a hah hah
I'm feeling so jolly and full of laughter that I can't contain myself!
With a ho and a hah and a hee hee, oh
I'm so happy and filled with joy that I'm bursting at the seams!
I'm the happiest Christmas tree
I'm not only a beautiful decoration, but I'm full of joy and happiness too!
Ho ho ho, hee hee hee
I'm filled with the sounds of laughter and happiness!
Someone came and they found me
I was just a lonely tree until someone came along and gave me a purpose!
And took me home with them
I was fortunate enough to find my perfect home and I'm so grateful!
Look how pretty they dress me
Thanks to my new family, I'm beautifully decorated and admired by all!
Oh, lucky, lucky me
I'm so grateful to be surrounded by so much joy and happiness!
I got shiny bells that jingle
I'm decorated in a way that makes me sound magical and enchanting!
And tiny little lights that tingle
I'm so beautifully lit up that everyone around me feels the holiday spirit!
Whenever anyone passes by
I love when people stop and admire me, it makes me feel special!
I blink my lights and I wink my eye
I'm so full of joy and happiness that I can't help but show it with my lights and decorations!
Christmas day, wait and see
On Christmas day, everyone will be so full of joy and excitement that they won't be able to contain themselves!
I'll be laughing happily
I'm so filled with joy that I can't help but laugh and spread the holiday spirit!
With a ho ho ho hee hee
I'm full of laughter, joy, and happiness!
With a hey and a hee and a ho ho
I'm still feeling festive and full of energy, let's keep celebrating!
With a hee and a ho and a hah hah
I'm still laughing and having a great time, the holiday spirit is contagious!
With a hey and a hee and a ho ho
Let's keep the holiday spirit alive and celebrate together!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cathy Lynn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TomZart
CHRISTMAS = 2021 **
Christmas is coming and I'm all alone
With no one to snuggle at night.
My wineglass is empty to help dull desire
To kiss you by soft candlelight.
A rare pearl of value, you don't leave alone
Or someone will steal them from you.
After they've gone and flown far away
It's hard to know just what to do.
I'm watching my neighbors hang lights on their tree
With tinsel and striped candy cane.
I took you for granted and didn't hug enough
And now I must suffer my pain.
Lord, I'm so lonely; I wish I could die
Then be born to relive again.
I realize the value of someone to love
And the danger of my selfish sin.
There's a ring on my phone and a knock at the door
Which do I dare go for?
If neither is you, I'll break down and cry
And again pound my fist on the floor.
I run down the hall and the doorknob turns
As the swirling snow rides on the wind.
There, in my doorway, it's the face I love
Such a beautiful present to send.
Now, I am happy and dancing around
With a permanent smile on my face.
As children are singing their Christmas love songs
And the world is a wonderful place.
THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE IN YOUR HEART !
By Tom Zart
Google = Most Published Poet On The Web
Tom’s 1,650 Poems Are Free To Share!
Google = George Bush Tom Zart
Google = Most Published Poet YouTube
@Nurseyid
With a hey and a hee and a ho ho
With a hee and a ho and a hah hah
With a ho and a hah and a hee hee
I'm the happiest Christmas tree
Ho ho ho, hee hee hee
Someone came and they found me
And took me home with them
Oh, I'm the happiest Christmas tree
Ho ho ho, hee hee hee
Look how pretty they dressed me
Oh, lucky, lucky me
I got shiny bells that jingle
And tiny little lights that tingle
Whenever anyone passes by
I blink my lights and I wink my eye
Oh, I'm the happiest Christmas tree
Christmas day, wait and see
I'll be laughing happily
With a ho ho ho hee hee
With a hey and a hee and a ho ho
With a hee and a ho and a hah hah
With a ho and a hah and a hey hey
Oh, I'm the happiest Christmas tree
Ho ho ho, hee hee hee
Someone came and they found me
And took me home with them
Oh, I'm the happiest Christmas tree
Ho ho ho, hee hee hee
Look how pretty they dressed me
Oh, lucky, lucky me
I got shiny bells that jingle
And tiny little lights that tingle
Whenever anyone passes by
I blink my lights and I wink my eye
Oh, I'm the happiest Christmas tree
Christmas day, wait and see
I'll be laughing happily
With a ho ho ho hee hee
With a hey and a hee and a ho ho
With a hee and a ho and a hah hah
With a hey and a hee and a ho ho
@MrMusicFlood
I play this song every year now! I didn't know about it until a few years ago, I'm glad there's a YouTube video to go along with it now.
@taylorroring3669
Oop k I care we
@user-qk3bh4me1b
Love this . Brings back happy memories of Christmas spent with you guys. Hugs from me and Miyagi❤
@talentedancer
This song is really masterpiece !!! 🌞 So cute, kind and touching it is 😇 Heard it the very first time ocasionally today, when was in the mall, and at once I felt in love with it !!!!!!! :)))))))))) Started to find it on youtube, - and here it is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🌞 YE-E-E-EYY !!!!!!!! :))))))))))) It's so great !!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy New Year !!!! 🌈 🌞 Who else is listening it in the 2021-st year? ;)
@GrowingForever
Beautiful song, thank you for posting.
@kevindanel7439
How could I have made it to be vintage and never heard this song? I couldn’t stop smiling. The video was wonderful. Wishing everyone the joy of Christmas in your heart.
@JAZZMASTER7764
After years and years of searching someone FINALLY posted this song! You just brought me back my childhood. Thank you so much and Merry Christmas!🎄🎁😎
@Jen-Xyz
🎉
@daeunkim8690
I love this song!
@abby5802
🎄☃️El mes de diciembre uno de los mejores años festivos que pueda a ver y que la mayoría ama 🎄☃️
Y la canción es pegadiza 🎶🎅