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.

Don't Let It Go To Your Head
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

So what if I came clean
And told you all you mean to me
So what if I meant every word I said
Baby don't let it go to your head
So what if I write your name
Cause you're always on my brain
In a heart, I paint it crimson red
Baby don't let it go to your head

Don't be getting any big ideas
Let me make it clear

Just cause I can't go on
Just cause I die when you're gone
Just cause I think of you in bed
Don't let it go to your head
If I looked in your eyes
One, two, too many times
And memorized every word you said
Don't let it go to your head

So what if I want to kiss
From your toes up to your lips
It don't mean that you've had me yet
You're gonna be good, I bet

I'm the one whose in control here
Let me make it clear

Just cause I can't go on
Just cause I die when you're gone
Just cause I think of you in bed
Don't let it go to your head
If I looked in your eyes
One, two, too many times
And memorized every word you said
Don't let it go to your head

Oh
Don't let it go to your head
Oh

I had a porcelain doll
I held on to it so tightly
But when it broke, I swore
I'd never hold on to something that tightly again
Don't let it go to your head
Oh, no (oh, no)

Just cause I can't go on
Just cause I die when you're gone
Just cause I think of you in bed
Don't let it go to your head
Don't let it go to your head

Just cause I can't go on
Just cause I die when you're gone
Just cause I think of you in bed
Don't let it go to your head
If I looked in your eyes (oh)
One, two, too many times
And memorized every word you said
Don't let it go to your head (oh)
Don't let it go to your head (oh)

Don't let it go to your head (don't let it, don't let it)
Don't let it go to your head (oh)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Nat King Cole Trio's song Don't Let It Go To Your Head convey a message of caution and restraint to a romantic partner. The singer expresses their deep emotions and affection for their beloved, confessing that they would do anything for them, even painting their heart crimson red. However, the singer also emphasizes that these feelings should not be misconstrued as a guarantee of their love or commitment. The repetition of the refrain "Don't let it go to your head" emphasizes the importance of tempering one's expectations and not letting their emotions get the best of them.

The second verse of the song continues with the theme of control and restraint, with the singer vowing to remain in control of the situation despite their intense feelings for their partner. They reassure their beloved that while they may yearn for physical intimacy, they are not giving themselves away so easily. The bridge of the song introduces a metaphor of a porcelain doll, which the singer held onto tightly until it broke. This serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of becoming too attached or dependent on someone, echoing the earlier refrain of not letting the feelings "go to your head."

Overall, the lyrics of Don't Let It Go To Your Head convey a complex message of passion and caution in matters of the heart, urging listeners to be mindful of their own emotions and those of their partners.

Line by Line Meaning

So what if I came clean
It doesn't matter if I'm honest with you

And told you all you mean to me
And expressed how much you matter to me

So what if I meant every word I said
It's true that I meant every word I said

Baby don't let it go to your head
But don't get a big head about it

So what if I write your name
It's no big deal if I write your name

Cause you're always on my brain
Because you're always on my mind

In a heart, I paint it crimson red
I've even drawn a heart with your name in it

Baby don't let it go to your head
But don't let it get to your ego

Don't be getting any big ideas
Don't start thinking you're all that

Let me make it clear
I want to be sure you understand

Just cause I can't go on
Just because I can't handle it

Just cause I die when you're gone
Just because I feel terrible when you're not around

Just cause I think of you in bed
Just because you're on my mind even when I'm in bed

Don't let it go to your head
Doesn't mean you should let it get to your head

If I looked in your eyes
Even if I stare into your eyes

One, two, too many times
And get lost in them for hours

And memorized every word you said
And remember every word that comes out of your mouth

Don't let it go to your head
Still, don't start thinking too highly of yourself

So what if I want to kiss
It's not a big deal if I want to kiss you

From your toes up to your lips
Every inch of you is beautiful to me

It don't mean that you've had me yet
But that doesn't mean you've won me over completely

You're gonna be good, I bet
I have faith that you'll be amazing

I'm the one whose in control here
But remember, I'm the one in charge

Don't let it go to your head
So don't get too full of yourself

Oh
Oh

I had a porcelain doll
I used to have a fragile, treasured doll

I held on to it so tightly
I held it close and protected it

But when it broke, I swore
But when it broke, I made a promise

I'd never hold on to something that tightly again
That I wouldn't hold onto something too tightly again

Oh, no (oh, no)
Oh, no

Don't let it go to your head
Don't start getting a big ego

Don't let it go to your head
Don't let it get to your head

Don't let it go to your head
Don't start thinking you're all that

Don't let it go to your head (oh)
Don't let it get to your ego

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB NAST, FRANK LAVERE, HENRY HADAMIK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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