Before his international acclaim as a pop vocalist, Nathaniel Adams Coles b… Read Full Bio ↴Before his international acclaim as a pop vocalist, Nathaniel Adams Coles built an indelible reputation as a jazz pianist in the groundbreaking combo, The King Cole Trio. Born into a musical family, young Nat Coles (later changed to Cole) recorded with his older brother, Edward, in 1936 for the Decca label. The four sides cut by Eddie Cole’s Solid Swingers gave the general public its first glimpse of Nat’s gentle yet lively piano riffs. After touring with a revival show of Eubie Blake’s revue Shuffle Along, Cole settled in Los Angeles, playing various nightclubs as a soloist. In 1937, club owner Bob Lewis suggested that Cole assemble a small band to work at his Swanee Inn on North La Brea. The group’s unorthodox instrumentation and size - they had no drummer and, at the time, big bands were the rage - featured Wesley Prince on bass and the innovative phrasings of electric guitarist Oscar Moore. The Trio’s blend of jump blues and jazzy instrumentals with bouncy vocal stylings was a collective effort, while Cole occasionally took the lead on standard ballads. After an uneventful 1939 session for the Davis & Schwegler recording company in Hollywood, The Trio accompanied Lionel Hampton on two recording dates the following summer. Their association with Hampton helped, and that winter The Trio signed with Decca. Their 1940-41 sessions for the label yielded sixteen songs and captured the attention of fellow musicians, fans and a handful of critics. Later that fall, The Trio sounded right at home with drummer Lee Young on a four-song session for the Ammor label. In 1942, Cole recorded with Red Callender and saxophonist Lester Young for the Philo/Aladdin label, Oscar Moore with Cole at the piano.

Any Old Time
Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Any old time, you want to come back home
Drop me a line, and say no more you'll roam
You had your chance to play the game fair
When you left me, sweetheart
You only left a load of care

Now that you're down
I'm going to stick by you

If you will only say
Your roamin' days are through

Well, now, you'll find me here
Like the day you left me alone

Any old time
You want to come back home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Nat King Cole Trio's song Any Old Time describe a person willing to welcome their ex-lover back into their life should they choose to return. The opening line of the song tells the ex that they can reach out to the singer of the song anytime they want to return home. The singer of the song is still hurting from the ex leaving before, stating that they only left a load of care behind when they left. However, the singer is willing to forgive the ex if they're willing to stay and not leave again. The chorus of the song reinforces this idea, stating that the singer will be there whenever the ex wants to come back home.

The lyrics of the song are powerful in their simplicity. The singer wants their ex-lover back, and this theme is reiterated throughout the song. The lyrics are particularly powerful when coupled with the incredibly smooth and soulful voice of Nat King Cole. The lyrics and the music of the song work together effortlessly, making it a timeless classic.

Line by Line Meaning

Any old time, you want to come back home
You can return to me anytime if you want to come back home.

Drop me a line, and say no more you'll roam
Send me a message to confirm you are done roaming and won't be traveling anymore.

You had your chance to play the game fair
You had an opportunity to be honest and truthful.

When you left me, sweetheart
When you deserted me, my love.

You only left a load of care
You only left me with the burden of worry and concern.

Now that you're down
Now that you're in trouble or distress,

I'm going to stick by you
I am willing to support you and stay with you.

If you will only say
If you can promise that

Your roamin' days are through
You will no longer travel or wander aimlessly.

Well, now, you'll find me here
I will be right here waiting for you, just as I was when you left me.

Like the day you left me alone
Just as I was the day you walked out on me.