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.

Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Love makes me treat you the way that I do,
Gee baby, ain't I good to you?
There's nothing in this world too good
For a girl so good and true.
Gee baby, ain't I good to you?

Bought you a fur coat for Christmas,
A diamond ring,

A big Cadillac car, and everything.
What makes me treat you the way that I do?

Gee baby, ain't I good to you?
Bought you a fur coat for Christmas,
A diamond ring,
A big Cadillac car, and everything.
What makes me treat you the way that I do?

Gee
Baby, ain't I good, to you?

Overall Meaning

The Nat King Cole Trio's song "Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You" is a classic jazz love song that exudes charm and affection. The lyrics of the song express the singer's feelings of love and affection towards their partner. The opening lines, "Love makes me treat you the way that I do, Gee baby, ain't I good to you?" suggest that the singer's actions towards their partner are a reflection of their deep love and commitment.

The singer goes on to express that there is nothing in the world too good for their partner who is "so good and true." The chorus repeats the question, "Gee baby, ain't I good to you?" further emphasizing the singer's desire for approval and appreciation from their partner. The second verse suggests the singer's material expressions of love, including a fur coat for Christmas, a diamond ring, and a big Cadillac car. Despite these material expressions, the singer is still questioning what makes them treat their partner so well.

Overall, The song's lyrics express romantic love and affection through material expressions which ultimately boils down to the essence of the singer's love for their partner.

Line by Line Meaning

Love makes me treat you the way that I do,
My love for you inspires me to treat you with kindness and respect.

Gee baby, ain't I good to you?
I hope you appreciate how well I treat you, my dear.

There's nothing in this world too good
You deserve the very best that life has to offer.

For a girl so good and true.
You are a wonderful, honest, and trustworthy person and you deserve the best.

Bought you a fur coat for Christmas,
To show my love and appreciation, I gave you a luxurious fur coat for Christmas.

A diamond ring,
I also gifted you a beautiful diamond ring to symbolize my commitment to you.

A big Cadillac car, and everything.
In addition to these gifts, I also got you a lavish Cadillac car to make you feel special and loved.

What makes me treat you the way that I do?
I wonder what inspires me to treat you so well and make you feel special every day.

Gee
Golly

Baby, ain't I good, to you?
Do you not appreciate how well I take care of you and show you my love?

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andy Razaf, Don Redman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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@MercuryCarMan3

11y↑9

The King Cole Trio (Nat Cole, piano; Oscar Moore, guitar; and Johnny Miller, bass) performing "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You" with vocal by King Cole. This is their second master from the historic first session of November 30, 1943. A great arrangement, this is the definitive rendition of this classic by Don Redman and Andy Razaf. Simply the greatest edition of the Trio and the greatest small jazz unit of that era of 1942-1947. Mercury Man of White Plains, Westchester County, New York