On The Sunny Side Of The Street
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.

On The Sunny Side Of The Street
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Walked with no one and talked with no one
And I had nothing but shadows
Then one morning you passed
And I brightened at last
Now I greet the day and complete the day
With the sun in my heart
All my worry blew away
When you taught me how to say

Grab your coat and get your hat
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Just direct your feet
To the sunny side of the street
Can't you hear a pitter-pat?
And that happy tune is your step
Life can be so sweet
On the sunny side of the street

I used to walk in the shade
With those blues on parade
But I'm not afraid
This Rover crossed over

If I never have a cent
I'd be rich as Rockefeller
Gold dust at my feet




On the sunny side of the street
Grab your street

Overall Meaning

In "On The Sunny Side Of The Street", Nat King Cole sings about his life before he met someone special. He walked and talked with no one, had nothing, but shadows, and was constantly worried. However, one morning someone passed him by and everything changed. His whole day became brightened and he learned how to live on the sunny side of the street. He no longer walks in the shade or lets the blues parade around him, but is brave enough to cross over to the sunny side of the street. He declares that even if he never has a penny to his name, he is as rich as Rockefeller with the gold dust at his feet on the sunny side of the street.


Line by Line Meaning

Walked with no one and talked with no one
I used to feel lonely and isolated, without anyone to confide in.


And I had nothing but shadows
I lived in a world of darkness and sadness, without any light or happiness.


Then one morning you passed
But one day, you appeared in my life and everything changed.


And I brightened at last
Your presence brought me joy and light, and I felt so much happier.


Now I greet the day and complete the day
Every day starts and ends with a feeling of joy and contentment when I think of you.


With the sun in my heart
My heart is full of warmth and happiness, just like the sunshine on a beautiful day.


All my worry blew away
All my fears and anxieties disappeared when you came into my life.


When you taught me how to say
You showed me the way to happiness, and taught me how to be content and grateful.


Grab your coat and get your hat
Let's get ready to go out and enjoy life! Don't worry about anything else.


Leave your worry on the doorstep
Just leave behind all your troubles and problems, and focus on the present moment.


Just direct your feet
Let's go where our hearts take us, without worrying about the destination.


To the sunny side of the street
Let's walk on the brighter, happier side of life, where the sun is shining and the world is beautiful.


Can't you hear a pitter-pat?
Can't you feel the excitement and energy of life pulsing through your veins?


And that happy tune is your step
As we walk, let our feet dance to the beat of happiness and joy.


Life can be so sweet
Life is full of sweetness and beauty, if we choose to see it that way.


On the sunny side of the street
Life is best lived on the side of positivity and optimism.


I used to walk in the shade
I used to live in a world of darkness, without any light or hope.


With those blues on parade
I used to feel sad and melancholy, with negative thoughts always on my mind.


But I'm not afraid
But now, thanks to you, I am not afraid of anything.


This Rover crossed over
I have left behind my old life and embraced a new, happier one.


If I never have a cent
Even if I never have much money or wealth,


I'd be rich as Rockefeller
I will still feel rich and blessed, like the famous Rockefeller.


Gold dust at my feet
I am surrounded by abundance and prosperity, like precious gold dust at my feet.


On the sunny side of the street
And it's all thanks to choosing to live on the sunny side of life.




Contributed by Maya O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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