'Tis Autumn
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. Image courtesy of the Dave Dexter, Jr. Collection.producing a handful of recordings that became benchmarks in their individual careers. Signing with Capitol Records in 1943, The Trio consisted of Cole, Moore, and Johnny Miller, who had settled in as the permanent bassist. Moore left the fold in 1947 and Irving Ashby replaced him. Capitol Records featured The Trio less and less after that, while Cole was singled out as a vocalist often backed by lush string orchestras. By the 1950's, Cole's reputation as a singer had reached a wide pop audience and, upon his death in 1965, his place in music history was forever cemented. His fellow jazz peers, however, never forgot his equally unique touch on the piano and the influence his early trio work had on later performers such as Oscar Peterson, Red Garland, and Tommy Flanagan.

'Tis Autumn
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics


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Old Father Time checked, so there'd be no doubt
Called on the north wind to come on out
Then cupped his hands so proudly to shout
La-di-da, di-da-di-dum, 'tis Autumn

The trees say they're tired, they've born too much fruit
Charmed all the wayside, there's no dispute
Now shedding leaves, they don't give a hoot
La-di-da, di-da-di-dum, 'tis Autumn

Then the birds got together
To chirp about the weather, mmm
After makin' their decision
In birdie-like precision
Turned about and made a bee-line to the south

My holding you close really is no crime
Ask the birds, the trees, and Old Father Time
It's just to help the mercury climb
La-di-da, di-da-di-dum, 'tis Autumn





It's just to help the mercury climb
La-di-da, di-la-di-dum, 'tis Autumn

Overall Meaning

The Nat King Cole Trio's song 'Tis Autumn is a subtle ode to the changing season. The song starts with Old Father Time checking the weather and calling on the north wind to announce the arrival of autumn. The lyrics invoke a sense of whimsy in the listener, thanks to the use of the nonsensical phrase "La-di-da, di-da-di-dum." The trees, which have worked hard producing fruit during the spring and summer, are now tired and shedding their leaves. They don't care much about the changing weather, hence, the line "Now shedding leaves, they don't give a hoot." The birds then come together to discuss the weather and, true to their migratory nature, make a "bee-line to the south."


Line by Line Meaning

Old Father Time checked, so there'd be no doubt
Old Father Time made sure of the season change


Called on the north wind to come on out
He signaled the wind to signify fall


Then cupped his hands so proudly to shout
He announced the new season with joy


La-di-da, di-da-di-dum, 'tis Autumn
The arrival of fall is celebrated


The trees say they're tired, they've born too much fruit
The trees are exhausted from bearing abundance


Charmed all the wayside, there's no dispute
Their beauty was undisputed and well-liked by all


Now shedding leaves, they don't give a hoot
The leaves are falling carelessly and without concern


La-di-da, di-da-di-dum, 'tis Autumn
The arrival of fall is celebrated


Then the birds got together
Birds congregated


To chirp about the weather, mmm
They discussed weather patterns


After makin' their decision
Once they reached a conclusion


In birdie-like precision
In an organized and methodical manner


Turned about and made a bee-line to the south
They set off on a direct path towards the south


My holding you close really is no crime
There's nothing wrong with holding you tight


Ask the birds, the trees, and Old Father Time
Even nature agrees that it's alright


It's just to help the mercury climb
It's just to keep warm as the temperature drops


La-di-da, di-da-di-dum, 'tis Autumn
The arrival of fall is celebrated


It's just to help the mercury climb
It's just to keep warm as the temperature drops


La-di-da, di-la-di-dum, 'tis Autumn
The arrival of fall is celebrated




Lyrics © INDANO MUSIC COMPANY, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Henry Nemo

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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