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.

Now He Tells Me
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I been told when a boy kiss a girl
Take a trip around the world

Hey, hey
(Bop shuop, m'bop bop shuop)
Hey, hey
(Bop shuop, m'bop bop shuop)

Hey, hey
(Bop shuop)
Yeah, she say, ya do
(Bop shuop)

My girl says when I kiss her lips
Gets a thrill through her fingertips

Hey, hey
(Bop shuop, m'bop bop shuop)
Hey, hey
(Bop shuop, m'bop bop shuop)

Hey, hey
(Bop shuop)
Yeah, she say, ya do
(Bop shuop)

Well, I talk about boys
Don't ya know I mean, boys?
Well, I talk about boys now
Ahh, boys

Well, I talk about boys now
What a bundle of joy
(Alright, George)

My girl says when I kiss her lips
Gets a thrill through her fingertips

Hey, hey
(Bop shuop, m'bop bop shuop)
Hey, hey
(Bop shuop, m'bop bop shuop)

Hey, hey
(Bop shuop)
Yeah, she say, ya do
(Bop shuop)

Well, I talk about boys
Don't ya know I mean, boys?
Well, I talk about boys now
Ahh, boys

Well, I talk about boys now
What a bundle of joy

Overall Meaning

The Nat King Cole Trio's song "Now He Tells Me" is a playful and carefree take on young romance. The lyrics describe the excitement of young love and the joy and thrill that comes with kissing. The first verse talks about the advice given to a boy when he kisses a girl, which is to take a trip around the world. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the feeling of being transported to a different world through the power of a kiss. The repeated refrain of "hey, hey" and "bop shuop" throughout the song adds to the lighthearted and fun mood.

The second verse focuses on the singer's own relationship, with his girlfriend telling him that kissing him gives her a thrill that runs through her entire body. The final verse brings the focus back to the topic of boys, and the singer exclaims with glee about how much joy they bring. The overall theme of the song is the excitement and elation that comes with young romance and the simple pleasures of life.

Overall, "Now He Tells Me" is a playful and upbeat song that celebrates young love and happiness. With its catchy refrain and charming lyrics, it's easy to imagine dancing along and singing along with Nat King Cole and the Trio.

Now He Tells MeThe Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

Now He Tells Me
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics