Mona Lisa
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.

Mona Lisa
Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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

is a song by Nat King Cole Trio released in 1950. The lyrics of the song are a reflection on the mysterious smile of the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the same name. The song imagines her as a real person, considering the reason for her enigmatic smile, whether it is to tempt a lover or to hide a broken heart. The song also considers the nature of her being, whether she is a warm and real person or just a lonely work of art.


The song's lyrics are filled with allusions to the painting, which is widely considered one of the greatest works of art in human history. While the painting itself is shrouded in mystery and has been the subject of countless interpretations, the song adds a new layer of mystery and intrigue to the subject. The song seems to suggest that the Mona Lisa is not just a painting, but a real person, and that her smile may be an expression of her true feelings.


One possible interpretation of the song is that it is a commentary on the objectification of women. The song portrays Mona Lisa as a passive object of male desire, and questions whether she is a real person or just a work of art. The lyrics suggest that men have projected their own desires onto her, and that her true feelings and desires are unknown. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the song was written and released during a time when women's rights were not yet widely recognized or valued.


Line by Line Meaning

Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you
People have given you the name Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa


You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
Your resemblance to the lady with the enigmatic expression is striking


Is it only 'cause you're lonely they have blamed you?
Are people attributing the mysteriousness of your smile only to your loneliness?


For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile?
Is the unconventional nature of your smile the reason for your peculiar nickname?


Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa?
Is your smile designed to entice a romantic partner, Mona Lisa?


Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Are you using your smile as a facade to conceal a heartbreak?


Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
Numerous desires have been presented to you, Mona Lisa


They just lie there and they die there
But they remain unfulfilled and eventually fade away


Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa?
Are you a warm and authentic person, Mona Lisa?


Or just a cold and lonely lovely work of art?
Or are you merely a beautiful but emotionless creation?




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Maykechi77

This song is fire, worthy of being spoken of in the same breath as the painting itself.

Platitudinous

@Xia1 thank you for extracting all of the subtlety from this comment

urd247

absolutely worth...remembering 😂

Riley Mundt

I know you're referencing the movie, but Nat King Cole's voice makes this comment absolutely true.

leann lewis

His name was Miles Bron.

18 More Replies...

In Your Face, Guitar !

As a guitarist, I gotta say I was blown away by this guitarist. Nat makes playing the piano look like a walk in the park. What a talent.

Kevin Falvey

Oscar Moore

David Hayden

One of the greatest!

arrin

The guy goes to all that trouble to play a concerto behind Nat, and no one thinks to mention his name! Thank heavens (and you) that someone knows!

Michael Cap

@Kevin Falvey Sounds like Les Paul.

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