Cole was exposed to the greats of jazz, soul and blues at an early age and began performing at the age of 11. Her debut album in 1975, Inseparable, won her immediate praise, with the smash single This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) (#1 R&B, #6 Pop) winning her a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female, a category that had been monopolized by Aretha Franklin, since its inception in 1967. She also was named the Grammys' Best New Artist of 1975. She attended the Northfield Mount Hermon School in Northfield, MA.
More hits followed through 1980, including her biggest Pop hit, 1977's I've Got Love On My Mind, as well as Sophisticated Lady (She's A Different Lady) (1976), Our Love (1978), and Someone That I Used To Love (1980). "I've Got Love On My Mind" and "Our Love" both earned certifications as Gold singles. But then her career hit a snag in the early 1980s due to a severe drug problem. By 1985, Natalie was clean, sober, and in fine voice, and ready to begin her comeback in earnest with the album Dangerous, released on the Modern label.
In 1987, she released Everlasting (on EMI Manhattan) which sold over 2 million copies in the U.S., and won Cole a Soul Train Award for Female Single of the Year for the #1 R&B ballad I Live for Your Love. This album was the one that put Natalie Cole firmly back in the spotlight, yielding three major hit singles: Jump Start, "I Live For Your Love" (#2 AC and #13 Pop as well as #1 R&B), and a successful remake of Bruce Springsteen's Pink Cadillac (#5 Pop, #16 AC, and #1 Dance). The album also included a taste of things to come in her career with a remake of one of her father's signature hits, "When I Fall In Love," which did moderately well on the AC chart. In 1989, the aptly-titled Good To Be Back gave her another across-the-board smash with "Miss You Like Crazy" (#1 both R&B and AC, and #7 Pop).
However, it was her 1991 album, Unforgettable... with Love, featuring her own arrangements of her father's greatest hits, that gave her the most success. Ironically, when Natalie began her career, she was determined not to capitalize on her father's name and wanted to forge her own identity by going after the soul market in earnest. For many years, she also found the prospect of recording her late father's songs too painful on a personal level. But Unforgettable... With Love certainly paid off. The set sold over 5 million copies in the United States alone, and won Cole several Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance. The album featured a duet, the title track, with her father, created by splicing a recording of his vocals into the track. As a single, it reached #14 on Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 chart, and went gold. The one sour spot in the album's success was that it strained Natalie's already-tumultuous relationship with her mother, Maria, who said in interviews at the time that she couldn't listen to the album or attend any of her daughter's concerts because she felt that the music really belonged to her late husband.
Natalie has released several more albums of pop standards in the years since; as a result of appealing to the "adult standards" audience, she has made only occasional forays onto the pop singles charts in that time (for example, "A Smile Like Yours," #8 AC and #84 Pop in 1997), although her albums still sell well. Her 1999 album Snowfall On The Sahara marked a return to the easy adult-contemporary soul that categorized her late-1980s hits, but for 2002's critically-praised Ask A Woman Who Knows, she turned more to the jazz side of the spectrum, covering songs made famous by Dinah Washington, Nina Simone, and Sarah Vaughan.
Battle With Drugs
In 2000, Cole released an autobiography, Angel on my Shoulder, which described her battle with drugs during much of her life. In the book, Cole admitted to using LSD, heroin and crack cocaine. Cole said she began experimenting with drugs while attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and was arrested in Toronto, Canada for possession of heroin in 1975. Cole continued to spiral out of control - including an incident in which her young son Robert nearly drowned in the family swimming pool while she and her first husband, the late Reverend Marvin Yancy were on a drug binge - until she entered rehab in 1983.
In concert with the release of the book, her autobiography was turned into a made-for-TV movie, The Natalie Cole Story, which aired December 10, 2000 on NBC.
Natalie has been married three times and has a son Robert Yancy (by Marvin Yancy), born in 1977. She later married former Rufus drummer Andre Fischer, who co-produced the Grammy Award-winning Unforgettable... With Love, Natalie's love offering featuring songs made famous by her father, including a faux-duet between her and her father.
The marriage to Fischer ended in divorce a few years later, amidst rumors of domestic verbal and physical abuse.
It has also been reported that Natalie has recovered from a life-threatening hepatitis illness (most likely the cause of her years of drug abuse) by having a liver transplant.
Miss Cole went on to release more albums after Unforgettable...With Love, with most of them featuring jazz-oriented standard songs or pop-song remakes. None of the albums were nearly as successful as Unforgettable...With Love.
As of 2013, Natalie Cole spent most of her professional time covering the concert circuit entertaining audiences around the world with her hits.
On December 31, 2015, Natalie Cole died from congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She was aged 65.
Don't look back
Natalie Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And to find some peace of mind is something rare
Don't you get discouraged, keep on going
And don't you mind the way that the people turn and stare
Now how long can you keep on feeling guilty
And tell me why should you feel bad about feeling good
Don't you know that the world is cold and filthy,
Aw yes it is, but if you're a special child
They know sometimes you'll be misunderstood, (you can never look back)
Yesterday is dead and gone, (don't you look back)
Your tomorrow is here today
Keep on fighting, a quitter never wins,
Hold your breath stick out your chin
Count to ten, start again,
Everybody wants to be somebody
But they can't seem to see the forest for the trees,
We just can't let our past hold back our future, oh, no, no,
When its all over but the shouting
Nothing is left but memories,
Looks like you could use a little bit of happiness
Now I know that its really hard to find,
But you owe it to yourself to have the very best
And only a fool will try to catch up to what he has left behind, (you can never look back)
No, no, 'cause yesterday is dead and gone, (don't you look back)
Your tomorrow is here today
And when you're crying, you need someone to hold on to
It's not the end of the world my friend, tip your hat, start again
And keep a positive direction, oh,
Keep your vision straight ahead
You can't lose with the stuff you use,
We've come too far just to turn around, oh, oh,
Don't you look back, yesterday is dead and gone (don't you look back)
Your tomorrow is on the way and if you're fighting people, a quitter never wins
Hold your breath, stick out your chin,
Count to ten, start again, don't you look back
No, no, uh, oh, (don't look back)
No 'cause we've come much too far
Just to turn around, uh, oh, oh, (repeat don't you look back)
Don't you look back now
Yesterday is dead and gone, don't you look back,
Your tomorrow is here today
And when you're crying, 'cause all your friends have forsaken you
Its not the end of the world my friend,
Just tip your hat start again
Keep on steppin' y'all, don't look back,
Don't turn your head around
Get up, get out on the good foot,
Keep on fightin,' yeah, hold your breath
Stick out your chin, count to ten and start again, don't try it
You got to keep on movin' y'all,
Get, get, get up on the good foot
In Natalie Cole's song Don't Look Back, the lyrics encourage listeners to keep moving forward and not let past mistakes or negative experiences hold them back. The song acknowledges the difficulties of life, such as feeling guilty or being misunderstood, but urges listeners to persevere and not give up. Cole emphasizes that yesterday is gone and the future is now, and that we must focus on positivity and keeping our vision straight ahead.
The lyrics also convey a sense of empathy towards others who may be struggling. When the song says, "And when you're crying, you need someone to hold on to," it shows the importance of having a support system during tough times. The overall message of the song is one of hope and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyday the population is growing
The world is rapidly changing and becoming more crowded every day, making it difficult to find peace of mind.
And to find some peace of mind is something rare
Peace of mind is becoming increasingly scarce and valuable in a fast-paced, busy world.
Don't you get discouraged, keep on going
Don't let the challenges and obstacles of life bring you down; keep pushing forward.
And don't you mind the way that the people turn and stare
Ignore the judgement of others and focus on your own path without being influenced by others' opinions.
Now how long can you keep on feeling guilty
Don't let past mistakes or regrets continue to weigh you down forever.
And tell me why should you feel bad about feeling good
There is no reason to feel guilty or ashamed for experiencing joy and happiness.
Don't you know that the world is cold and filthy
The world can be harsh and unforgiving, full of difficult and unpleasant situations.
Aw yes it is, but if you're a special child
However, if you possess unique talents, gifts, and strengths, you can overcome the difficulties and stand out in the crowd.
They know sometimes you'll be misunderstood
It's possible to be misjudged or misinterpreted by others who don't understand or appreciate who you are.
Yesterday is dead and gone
The past is over and done with and cannot be changed, so it's important to focus on the present and future instead of dwelling on past mistakes.
(don't you look back)
Your tomorrow is here today
Don't wait for the future to arrive; take action and make the most of today to create a better tomorrow.
Keep on fighting, a quitter never wins
Persistence, resilience, and determination are essential to success in any endeavor. Giving up is not an option.
Hold your breath stick out your chin
Be strong, brave, and confident in the face of challenges and adversity.
Count to ten, start again
Take a moment to breathe, regroup, and refocus before tackling a difficult situation or problem anew.
Everybody wants to be somebody
Everyone desires to achieve meaningful success, recognition, or fulfillment in their lives.
But they can't seem to see the forest for the trees
However, many people get so caught up in the details, distractions, or stresses of everyday life that they lose sight of their bigger goals and aspirations.
We just can't let our past hold back our future, oh, no, no
Past mistakes, regrets, or failures should not prevent us from pursuing our future goals and dreams with hope and determination.
When its all over but the shouting
At the end of the day, when all is said and done, what truly matters are the memories and experiences we've accumulated throughout our lives.
Nothing is left but memories
Material possessions and worldly achievements eventually fade away, but the memories we create with loved ones and in our own lives are what truly endure.
Looks like you could use a little bit of happiness
It seems as though you could benefit from experiencing more joy, contentment, or positivity in your life.
Now I know that its really hard to find
Finding true happiness and fulfillment can be a difficult, ongoing process that requires self-awareness, growth, and reflection.
But you owe it to yourself to have the very best
Despite the challenges, pursuing happiness, personal growth, and fulfilling one's potential is a worthwhile pursuit that deserves one's time and effort.
And only a fool will try to catch up to what he has left behind
Attempting to relive or recapture past successes, experiences, or relationships is a misguided, fruitless endeavor that distracts from the present moment and future possibilities.
(you can never look back)
No, no, 'cause yesterday is dead and gone
The past is over and cannot be changed, so it's best to let go of regrets, mistakes, or negative experiences to move on and live in the present and future.
(don't you look back)
Your tomorrow is here today
The future is not some distant, far-off dream, but is present and available to be seized and shaped through one's choices and actions in the present moment.
And when you're crying, you need someone to hold on to
During times of emotional distress, having a support system of caring friends, family, or loved ones can bring comfort and solace.
It's not the end of the world my friend, tip your hat, start again
Even when things seem bleak or overwhelming, there is always hope for a fresh start and better days ahead. Maintaining a positive attitude and persevering through tough times is important.
Keep a positive direction
Staying focused on positive goals, values, and attitudes can help one to navigate life's challenges and difficulties with resilience and grace.
Keep your vision straight ahead
Staying focused on the big picture and one's long-term goals and aspirations can provide direction and guidance during challenging or uncertain times.
You can't lose with the stuff you use
Using one's unique talents, skills, and strengths to pursue meaningful goals and relationships can lead to success and fulfillment in life.
We've come too far just to turn around, oh, oh
After working hard and making progress, it would be wasteful and pointless to give up or turn back now.
(don't you look back)
Yesterday is dead and gone, don't you look back
The past is over and should not continue to influence or define one's present or future decisions and actions.
Your tomorrow is on the way and if you're fighting people, a quitter never wins
The future is full of possibilities and opportunities, but achieving success or fulfilling one's potential requires hard work, perseverance, and a refusal to give up.
Hold your breath, stick out your chin
Maintaining self-control and perseverance in the face of adversity and challenges is essential to achieving success and fulfillment.
Count to ten, start again, don't you look back
Pausing, reflecting, and regrouping before tackling a difficult situation or problem anew can help one to move forward with confidence and renewed purpose.
No, no, uh, oh, (don't look back)
No 'cause we've come much too far
After making significant progress and enduring significant challenges, it's important not to give up or turn back now.
Just to turn around, uh, oh, oh, (repeat don't you look back)
Giving up or turning back now would be a waste of all the hard work and progress that has been made thus far.
Don't you look back now
The past is past, and it's important to focus on the present and the future instead.
When you're crying, 'cause all your friends have forsaken you
During times of emotional distress and loneliness, it can feel as though one's friends and support system have abandoned them.
Its not the end of the world my friend, just tip your hat start again
However, even during dark or difficult times, there is always hope for a fresh start and better days ahead.
Keep on steppin' y'all, don't look back
Persevering through life's challenges and difficulties requires staying focused on the path ahead and not dwelling on past regrets or mistakes.
Don't turn your head around
Stay focused on the present and future, and don't let distractions or past mistakes derail you from your path.
Get up, get out on the good foot
Taking positive, proactive steps toward achieving one's goals and aspirations is key to creating a happy, fulfilling life.
Keep on fightin,' yeah, hold your breath
Perseverance, resilience, and determination are essential to overcoming life's challenges and achieving one's goals and dreams.
Stick out your chin, count to ten and start again, don't try it
Staying focused, resilient, and positive in the face of life's challenges and difficulties requires mental toughness, grit, and determination.
You got to keep on movin' y'all
Maintaining forward momentum, even during challenging times, is essential to achieving success and fulfillment in life.
Get, get, get up on the good foot
Staying focused on positive goals and taking proactive steps toward achieving them is key to creating a happy, fulfilling life.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE ALLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind