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.

I Like To Riff
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I like to riff
Doo-doo-doo-dat-da,
I like to riff
Ba-da-da-do-da-da,
Riffing is the thing for me

I like to riff
'Cause it puts me solid in the groove

I like to riff
Oh, it's a sold killer
Da-da-da-dod-doo-da-da,
Riffing is the thing for me

If you want to be a sender
Knock your friends on the juice or bender
Grab the major scale and run

I like to riff
'Cause it makes you feel so fine
I like to riff
It takes your troubles off your mind
Bob-a-bob-a-da-da-razz-a-doo-doo-da
Riffing is the thing for me

You can riff like this
Riff like this

I like to riff
'Cause it makes you feel so fine
I like to riff
Takes your troubles off your mind
Bob-a-bob-a-da-da-razz-a-doo-doo-da
Razz-a-doo-doo-da-razz-a-doo-da-da

Razz-a-doo-doo-da-razz-a-doo-da-da
Riffing, riffing is the thing for me

Overall Meaning

The Nat King Cole Trio's song "I Like To Riff" is an upbeat tune that celebrates the art of riffing, which is a type of improvisation in music. The lyrics begin with the refrain "I like to riff, doo-doo-doo-dat-da, I like to riff, ba-da-da-do-da-da, riffing is the thing for me." The singer proclaims their love for riffing and how it puts them "solid in the groove." The use of repetition in the lyrics, such as "doo-doo-doo-dat-da" and "ba-da-da-do-da-da," mimics the improvisational nature of riffing in music.

Throughout the song, the lyrics encourage listeners to try riffing themselves. They suggest grabbing the major scale and running with it, encouraging listeners to release their troubles and get lost in the joy of music. The lyrics also suggest that riffing can be a social activity, with the line "If you want to be a sender/knock your friends on the juice or bender." Overall, "I Like To Riff" celebrates the freedom and creativity of jazz music in a fun and catchy way.

Line by Line Meaning

I like to riff
I love to improvise music

Doo-doo-doo-dat-da,
Humming and scatting tunelessly

I like to riff
I genuinely love to improvise music

Ba-da-da-do-da-da,
An upbeat rhythm to follow

Riffing is the thing for me
I prioritize improvisation while playing music

I like to riff
I enjoy improvising music

'Cause it puts me solid in the groove
Improvising music makes me feel confident and rhythmically connected

I like to riff
I love improvising music

Oh, it's a sold killer
It consistently gets everyone moving and grooving

Da-da-da-dod-doo-da-da,
Adding more nonsensical syllables to the melody

Riffing is the thing for me
Improvisation is my preferred musical method

If you want to be a sender
To be cool and influential as a musician

Knock your friends on the juice or bender
Impress your friends with your musical ability

Grab the major scale and run
Use the major scale as a foundation for improvisation

I like to riff
I enjoy improvisation

'Cause it makes you feel so fine
It feels great to be in a musical groove

I like to riff
I love improvising music

It takes your troubles off your mind
Improvisation can be a stress reliever

Bob-a-bob-a-da-da-razz-a-doo-doo-da
Silly and fun syllables to sing while improvising

Riffing is the thing for me
Improvisation is my preferred method of playing music

You can riff like this
Everyone can learn to improvise

Riff like this
Improvise music with this rhythm and attitude

I like to riff
I enjoy improvising music

'Cause it makes you feel so fine
Improvising music can be a joyful experience

I like to riff
I love improvising music

Takes your troubles off your mind
Improvising can be a temporary escape from life's problems

Bob-a-bob-a-da-da-razz-a-doo-doo-da
Adding some nonsensical musicality

Razz-a-doo-doo-da-razz-a-doo-da-da
More syllables to emphasize the upbeat rhythm

Riffing, riffing is the thing for me
I love to improvise music and it's an essential part of my musical style

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NAT KING COLE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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