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.

Any Old Time
The 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 Nat King Cole Trio's song "Any Old Time" is a track that expresses a longed-for return of a lover who had previously left. The song talks about how the lover had the chance to be faithful to the singer, but eventually left leaving a "load of care" behind. It is a song of reconciliation, where the singer promises to stick by the lover and take care of them in their time of need. The lyrics mention how the singer is still hurt from the previous departure of the lover, but is willing to forgive and move forward if the lover is willing to stay.

The lyrics of "Any Old Time" reveal a lot about the emotions and inner workings of the singer. The sentiment behind the lyrics is one of hope and second chances. The singer is willing to forgive and be there for the lover if they are willing to make a commitment. The song, in essence, is a plea to the lover to come back home and to start anew. The lyrics, coupled with Cole's smooth and gentle voice, create an emotional and heartfelt ballad.

Line by Line Meaning

Any old time, you want to come back home
Whenever you desire to return back to our home, feel free to do so.

Drop me a line, and say no more you'll roam
Let me know via a message that you will no longer wander around aimlessly.

You had your chance to play the game fair
You were given an opportunity to be honest and transparent with your actions.

When you left me, sweetheart
My dear, when you departed from my side.

You only left a load of care
The only thing you left me with is an immense burden of worry and anxiety.

Now that you're down
Since you are now facing hardship.

I'm going to stick by you
I will remain committed to supporting you.

If you will only say
If only you would express your decision to me.

Your roamin' days are through
If you declare that you will no longer wander around anymore.

Well, now, you'll find me here
At present, you will locate me right where you left me all alone.

Like the day you left me alone
Identical to the time you abandoned me, I am here.

Any old time
At any point in time.

You want to come back home
If you choose to return to our residence.

Contributed by Kayla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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