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.

It's kind of lonesome out tonight
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

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Wish I had a place to walk to
Wish there was a star in sight
Wish I had a friend to talk to
It's kind of lonesome out tonight

Wish it wasn't getting colder
Wish the moon would give some light
Wish my head could find a shoulder

It's kind of lonesome out tonight

I look at the passing lovers
That slowly wander by
My heart shakes his head and whispers
"How many times can I die?"

Wish I knew some lips to borrow
Wish someone would hold me tight

How I wish it was tomorrow
It's kind of lonesome out tonight

Overall Meaning

The Nat King Cole Trio's "It's kind of lonesome out tonight" is a melancholic romantic piece that speaks to the experience of loneliness and the desire for love and companionship. The song opens with the singer expressing his longing for company and his lack of direction - he wishes he had a place to go, a friend to talk to, and a star to light his way. The sense of isolation is heightened by the encroaching cold, and the moon, which fails to illuminate his path.

The second verse further emphasizes his state of loneliness - he watches the passing couples and feels acutely aware of his own lack of connection to others. His heart seems to echo his sentiments, suggesting that he has been hurt in the past and fears further heartbreak. The last verse expresses further longing for physical and emotional closeness - the desire for a lover's embrace and meaningful connection.

It's kind of lonesome out tonightThe Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

It's kind of lonesome out tonight
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics