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.

If You Can't Smile and Say Yes
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Knock me a kiss, you'll never miss
When I'm ready to go.
But if you can't smile and say yes,
Please don't cry and say no!
Squeeze me a squoze in these fine clothes,
Mmmm...I love you so.
But if you can't smile and say yes,
Please don't cry and say no!

When I ask for a date, the answer is no.
You don't know what you're saying.
Don't you know the war's on,

Everything is rationed,
How 'bout that jive, keep me alive?
Baby, let bygones be bygones,
'Cause men are scarce as nylons.
And if you can't smile and say yes,
Please don't cry and say no!
Baby, let bygones be bygones,
'Cause men are scarce as nylons.
And if you can't smile and say yes,

Please don't cry and say no, no, no, baby
Please don't cry and say no

Overall Meaning

The Nat King Cole Trio's song "If You Can't Smile And Say Yes" is a playful and romantic song with a doo-wop feel. The song revolves around the idea of a man trying to convince a woman to go out with him despite the challenges of wartime rationing and the scarcity of men.

The lyrics start with a request for a kiss, stating that the woman will never miss the opportunity to give him one when he's ready to go. However, the man emphasizes that the woman should only say yes if she can do it with a smile, otherwise she should refrain from saying no in tears. The man then goes on to express his love for the woman and asks for a date, to which she replies with a no, citing the challenges of the war and rationing. However, the man is persistent and tries to convince the woman to give him a chance, telling her to let bygones be bygones and that men are scarce as nylons. He again emphasizes that the woman should only agree to the date if she can do it with a smile.

Overall, "If You Can't Smile And Say Yes" is a cheerful and fun song that showcases Nat King Cole's smooth vocals and the Trio's upbeat instrumentals. The lyrics highlight the struggles of wartime and the scarcity of resources, but also convey a sense of optimism and hope for the future.

Line by Line Meaning

Knock me a kiss, you'll never miss When I'm ready to go.
Kiss me tenderly before we part ways. It will linger forever in my memory as a sweet moment.

But if you can't smile and say yes, Please don't cry and say no!
If you're not sure about my proposition, don't reject me outright with tears in your eyes; rather, try to maintain a cheerful disposition and communicate your concerns with me.

Squeeze me a squoze in these fine clothes, Mmmm...I love you so.
Hold me tightly while I'm dressed in my best attire. I have feelings for you that I cannot put into words.

When I ask for a date, the answer is no. You don't know what you're saying.
If you decline my offer to go out, think it over first. Don't reply impulsively and mistakenly.

Don't you know the war's on, Everything is rationed, How 'bout that jive, keep me alive?
Amidst the rationing and restrictions of a time of war, let's find ways to keep up our morale.

Baby, let bygones be bygones, 'Cause men are scarce as nylons.
Put aside past disagreements and forgive one another. Men are in short supply, just like nylon stockings.

And if you can't smile and say yes, Please don't cry and say no!
Once again, if you're hesitant or unsure, don't reject me with tears; express your doubts respectfully and kindly.

Please don't cry and say no
Repeating the last line to drive home the point: don't refuse me outright and make me sad.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LOUIS JORDAN, TIMMIE ROGERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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