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.

Confess
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

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Confess
Confess, confess
Why don't you confess
Say yes, say yes
I wish you'd reveal to me
Reveal to me
The way that you feel
Why don't you tell me the way that you feel

Confess
Confess, confess
Confess, it isn't a crime
Oh no, no crime
To open your heart to me
Confide in me
And say that you're mine
Why don't ya tell me you're gonna be mine

How long can I keep waiting
For a tender word from you
The sweetest rose starts fading
When the sunshine won't come through
Confess

Confess, confess
Please don't make me guess
Don't make me guess
If you really care for me
If you could care
Then darling confess

Confess
Confess, confess
Why don't you confess
Say yes, say yes
I wish you'd reveal to me
Reveal to me
The way that you feel
You know the way that I feel

Confess
Confess, confess
It isn't a crime
Oh no, no crime
To open your heart to me
Confide in me
Then say that you're mine
Why don't you tell me you're gonna be mine

How long can I keep waiting
For a tender word from you
The sweetest rose starts fading
When the sunshine won't come through

Confess
I'm ready now to confess
Pleas don't make me guess
Uh, us won't make you guess
If you really care for me
I really do

Then darling confess
So now, let's both confess.

Overall Meaning

The Nat King Cole Trio's song "Confess" is a plea for honesty and vulnerability in a relationship. The lyrics urge the unnamed subject to confess their feelings to the singer and to "open your heart" to them. The repetition of the word "confess" emphasizes the importance of communication and the frustration of waiting for the subject to reveal their emotions.

The opening lines of the song, "Why don't you confess / Say yes, say yes," suggest that the singer has already expressed their own interest in the subject and is waiting for a response. The following verse, "How long can I keep waiting / For a tender word from you," reinforces the idea that the singer is growing impatient and desires a deeper connection with the subject.

The chorus repeats the same message of honesty and vulnerability, asking the subject to "confide in me / And say that you're mine." The final verse, "I'm ready now to confess / Please don't make me guess," implies that the singer is willing to be vulnerable as well and hopes that this will lead to a stronger relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

Confess, confess
Admit your feelings to me, don't hold back

Why don't you confess
I'm asking you to reveal your true feelings to me

Say yes, say yes
Agree with me and tell me the truth

I wish you'd reveal to me
I want you to share with me how you feel about me

Reveal to me
Tell me honestly what's in your heart

The way that you feel
Your emotions and thoughts towards me

Confess, it isn't a crime
It's not wrong or illegal to express your feelings

No crime
It's not an offense to love someone and show it

To open your heart to me
Let your guard down and let me in

Confide in me
Trust me with your innermost thoughts and feelings

And say that you're mine
Claiming each other and committing to a relationship

How long can I keep waiting
I can't wait forever for you to admit your feelings

For a tender word from you
For a sweet, loving expression from you

The sweetest rose starts fading
Even the most beautiful thing can wither away without nourishment

When the sunshine won't come through
When there's no warmth, love, or affection in the relationship

Please don't make me guess
Don't keep me in the dark or make me uncertain

If you really care for me
If you truly have feelings of love or affection towards me

Then darling confess
Tell me what I need to know so we can move forward

I'm ready now to confess
I'm willing to reveal my own feelings now

Us won't make you guess
I won't leave you in doubt or confusion

You know the way that I feel
I've already expressed my love and affection towards you

So now, let's both confess
Let's both reveal our true emotions and build a stronger relationship

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: BENNIE BENJAMIN, GEORGE DAVID WEISS, GEORGE WEISS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

ConfessThe Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

Confess
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics