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.

Honeysuckle Rose
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do I want you?
Oh my, do I?
Honey, 'deed I do?

Do I need you?
Oh my, do I?
Honey, 'deed I do?

I'm glad that I'm the one who found you
That's why I'm always hangin' around you

Do I love you?
Oh my, do I?
Honey, 'deed I do?

Honey, 'deed I do

Hmm, honey, deed I do
I'm glad that I'm the one who found you
That's why I'm always hangin' around you

Oh, do I love you?
Oh my, do I?
Honey, 'deed I do?

Ah, 'deed I do

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Nat King Cole Trio's song Honeysuckle Rose express the singer's profound love and affection for a certain someone. It's a song about a person who is head-over-heels in love with someone and is completely smitten by their presence. The lyrics reflect a playful and charming nature in the way the singer expresses their feelings by asking rhetorical questions. The lyrics imply that the singer is so deeply in love with the person that they cannot resist being around them. The phrase "Honey, 'deed I do" signifies a southern dialectic version of "Indeed I do" and intentionally brings about a sense of quirkiness and charm to the lyrics.

The playful nature of the lyrics highlights the theme of joy in being in love, which is further enhanced by the upbeat tune of the song. The use of the word "honey" as an endearing term reflects a sense of comfort and ease in the relationship. Overall, the lyrics signify a strong bond between two individuals who are hopelessly in love.

Line by Line Meaning

Do I want you?
Am I attracted to you?

Oh my, do I?
Certainly, I am.

Honey, 'deed I do?
My darling, I do indeed!

Do I need you?
Is it essential for me to have you?

Oh my, do I?
It certainly is!

Honey, 'deed I do?
My darling, I absolutely do!

I'm glad that I'm the one who found you
I'm pleased that our paths have crossed and that I met you.

That's why I'm always hangin' around you
It's why I always want to spend time with you.

Do I love you?
Do I have affection for you?

Oh my, do I?
Without a doubt, I love you!

Honey, 'deed I do?
Yes, my sweet, I certainly do!

Hmm, honey, deed I do
Yes, definitely, darling!

I'm glad that I'm the one who found you
Once again, I'm pleased that I met you.

That's why I'm always hangin' around you
And that's why I want to be near you all the time.

Oh, do I love you?
Oh, how I adore you!

Oh my, do I?
I certainly do, my love!

Honey, 'deed I do?
My darling, I truly do love you!

Ah, 'deed I do
Yes, indeed I do!

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andy Razaf, Thomas Waller

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

Honeysuckle RoseThe Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

Honeysuckle Rose
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics