Mona Lisa
Nat King Cole feat. Les Baxter Orchestra Lyrics
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Nate King Cole AND Les Baxter & His Orchestra
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?
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
is a hauntingly beautiful and enigmatic song about a woman who has been adored and admired for generations. As the song suggests, men have named her Mona Lisa and there is something mysterious and captivating about her smile. The lyrics are packed with questions about her character - is she lonely? Is she happy? Is she tempting a lover? Or is she hiding a broken heart? All of these questions and more are asked, but there are no answers given. The song leaves the listener to ponder the enigma that is the Mona Lisa.
The song is melancholic and is beautifully orchestrated by the Les Baxter Orchestra, which provides a lush and sweeping instrumental backing for Nat King Cole's smooth and soothing voice. The lyrics are poignant and effectively convey the theme of unrequited love that is at the heart of the song. The lyrics ask if Mona Lisa is warm, real, or just a cold and lonely work of art. It is left up to the listener to decide if Mona Lisa is a woman who has suffered great sorrow or if the song is merely a tribute to one of the greatest paintings of all time.
Overall, Mona Lisa is a timeless classic that has been loved by people for many generations. Its haunting melody and heartbreaking lyrics make it a masterpiece that will continue to be enjoyed for many more generations to come.
Line by Line Meaning
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you
People have given you the name Mona Lisa
You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
You resemble the lady with a mysterious smile
Is it only 'cause you're lonely they have blamed you?
Have people only accused you of something because you're lonely?
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile?
Is the unique quality of your smile the reason for this blame?
Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa?
Are you intentionally smiling to entice a lover, Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Or are you hiding a broken heart behind that smile?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
Many people have come to you with their dreams
They just lie there and they die there
But those dreams never come to fruition and just fade away
Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa?
Are you a warm, real person, Mona Lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely lovely work of art?
Or are you just a beautiful but lonely piece of art?
Writer(s): Ray Evans, Jay Livingston
Contributed by London L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.
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.