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.

Honey Hush
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now talkin' 'bout old Sadie Green,
She's that girl from New Orleans,
They all sigh when she passes by
With that "Honey hush!".
All the boys all over town
Love to see her comin' round,
Then they start that goin' to town
With that "Honey hush!".

Oh, how the girls are jealous of her
'Cause she looks so neat,
And all the boys are wild about her
'Cause she is so sweet!

I'm steppin' out with them high yellows,
Snubbin' all the other fellows!

Boy, that girl is really mellow
With that "Honey hush!".

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Nat King Trio's song Honey Hush revolve around Sadie Green, a girl from New Orleans who has bewitched all the men in town. Whenever Sadie walks by, everyone stops and stares, sighing and whispering, "Honey hush!" The boys in town are particularly fond of her and they can't help but go wild whenever she is around. The girls, on the other hand, are jealous of her because of her looks and charm. The singer of the song seems to be smitten with Sadie as well and is stepping out with her, snubbing other men who are vying for her attention.

The lyrics can be interpreted as a commentary on the power of female magnetism and how it can captivate men and women alike. Sadie Green can be seen as a symbol of femininity and irresistible charm, with men and women drawn to her in equal measure. The use of "Honey hush!" as a catchphrase throughout the song emphasizes this point, highlighting the effect that Sadie has on her surroundings.

Overall, the song is a celebration of Sadie Green and the captivating power that she wields through her charm and good looks.

Line by Line Meaning

Now talkin' 'bout old Sadie Green,
Let me tell you about Sadie Green, the famous girl from New Orleans.

She's that girl from New Orleans,
She's from the lively city of New Orleans.

They all sigh when she passes by With that "Honey hush!".
Everyone sighs in admiration when Sadie walks by, with a hushed tone that exclaims her beauty.

All the boys all over town Love to see her comin' round,
Every boy in the town loves to see Sadie coming their way.

Then they start that goin' to town With that "Honey hush!".
They get excited and can't contain their admiration for Sadie, with a hushed tone that shouts 'Honey Hush!'

Oh, how the girls are jealous of her 'Cause she looks so neat,
Girls envy her beauty and elegance.

And all the boys are wild about her 'Cause she is so sweet!
Boys are crazy about Sadie because of her sweet personality.

I'm steppin' out with them high yellows, Snubbin' all the other fellows!
I'm going out with and showing off my beautiful companions who are light-skinned, while ignoring all other suitors.

Boy, that girl is really mellow With that "Honey hush!".
That girl is so easy going and relaxed, with a hushed tone that shows admiration for her.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANN COLE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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