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.

Part of Me
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Our love will last
Through rain and snow
All through life we'll go
Hand in hand, hand in hand

I want you to know
I love you so
And I'll never go

Far from you, far from you

The mountains, they tumble
The oceans may roar
But our love will still be there

And now you see
You're a part of me
In my heart, you'll be
Part of me, part of me

And now you see
You're a part of me

In my heart, you'll be
Part of me, part of me

Overall Meaning

The Nat King Cole Trio's song "Part of Me" is one of the timeless love songs that speaks of a love that will withstand obstacles and the test of time. The song is a beautiful dedication to the love shared between two people who have promised to stand by each other through good times and bad. The first stanza of the song expresses the vow that their love will last through rain and snow, symbolizing the trials and challenges that life may bring, but their love will remain strong. The second stanza speaks of the singer's undying love and commitment, promising to never go far from their loved one.

The chorus of the song is where the meaning of the title "Part of Me" becomes evident. The mountains may tumble and the oceans may roar, but the love between the two will still be there. As the singer states, "And now you see, you're a part of me, in my heart, you'll be, part of me, part of me." The love shared between the two is so powerful that the singer cannot imagine life without their loved one. They have become a part of each other's lives, and nothing can break that bond.

Overall, the lyrics of the song express the lasting nature of true love, and how it becomes an integral part of our being. The song's simple yet powerful lyrics, combined with Nat King Cole's signature smooth voice, make it an unforgettable love song that has touched countless hearts throughout the years.

Line by Line Meaning

Our love will last
Our relationship will endure

Through rain and snow
Despite challenging circumstances

All through life we'll go
Our commitment is long-term

Hand in hand, hand in hand
We will face everything together

I want you to know
To make you aware

I love you so
My feelings for you are intense

And I'll never go
I will never leave you

Far from you, far from you
I will not distance myself from you

The mountains, they tumble
Even if the world changes

The oceans may roar
Even if powerful forces clamor

But our love will still be there
Our connection will hold fast