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.

Tea for Two
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

All I want for Christmas
Is my two front teeth
My two front teeth
My two front teeth

Gee, if I could only have
My two front teeth
Then I could wish you Merry Christmas

It seems so long
Since I could say
"Sister Susie sitting on a thistle"
Gosh, oh gee
How happy I'd be if I could only whistle

All I want for Christmas
Is my two front teeth
My two front teeth
My two front teeth

Gee, if I could only have
My two front teeth
Then I could wish you Merry Christmas

All I want for Christmas
Is my two front teeth
Two front teeth
Two front teeth

Gee, if I could only have
My two front teeth
Then I could wish you Merry Christmas

It seems so long
Since I could say
"Sister Susie sitting on a thistle"
Gosh, oh gee
How happy I'd be if I could only whistle

All I want for Christmas
Is my two front teeth
Two front teeth
Two front teeth

Gee, if I could only have
My two front teeth
Then I could wish you Merry Christmas

It seems so long
Since I could say
"Sister Susie sitting on a thistle"
Gosh, oh gee
How happy I'd be if I could only whistle

So all I want for Christmas
Is my two front teeth
Two front teeth
My two front teeth

Gee, if I could only have

My two front teeth
Then I could wish you Merry Christmas (Christmas)

Overall Meaning

The Nat King Cole Trio's "Tea for Two" is a cheerful and festive song that captures the spirit of the holiday season. The introduction of the song begins with an upbeat piano riff accompanied by a steady bass line and percussion, creating a lively and joyful tone. The lyrics of the song, particularly in the chorus, featured the desire of the artist to have his two front teeth for Christmas. The repetition of "My two front teeth" emphasizes the importance of the missing teeth for the artist.

The artist further elaborates on the significance of his two front teeth through the second and third verse. He longs for his childhood days when he could whistle and sing Sister Susie sitting on a thistle without any problem. The lyricist manages to evoke happy memories of carefree times in the song to demonstrate the value of simple things like having one's two front teeth.

Overall, the lyrics of the song, "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth," convey a deeper meaning that is beyond acquiring new teeth. The song speaks of the longing for being able to express oneself freely and the importance of having a complete set of teeth to enjoy simple childhood pleasures like singing and playing with friends.

Line by Line Meaning

All I want for Christmas
The singer is about to express their only desire this holiday season.

Is my two front teeth
The singer is specifically looking to have their two front teeth back.

My two front teeth
The singer is repeating the importance of these two teeth and their desire to regain them.

Gee, if I could only have
The artist expresses a longing for their two front teeth, wishing for a miracle.

My two front teeth
The artist repeats the importance of their teeth, emphasizing their desperation.

Then I could wish you Merry Christmas
The singer suggests that if they were to get their teeth back, they could show their appreciation by wishing someone a happy holiday season.

It seems so long
The singer recognizes the long period of time it has been since they lost their teeth.

Since I could say
The artist remembers a specific phrase they used to be able to say before losing their front teeth.

"Sister Susie sitting on a thistle"
The remembered phrase the artist is referring to.

Gosh, oh gee
An expression of excitement and optimism.

How happy I'd be if I could only whistle
The singer longs for the ability to whistle again, which would bring them great joy.

Two front teeth
The artist once again emphasizes their desire for their two front teeth.

So all I want for Christmas
The singer repeats their main point, emphasizing their sole wish for the holiday season.

Then I could wish you Merry Christmas (Christmas)
The singer reminds the listener that if they were to get their teeth back, they could show their appreciation by wishing them a Merry Christmas.

Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Donald Yetter Gardner

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Comments from YouTube:

@allanohare7934

11y↑110

Most people don't realize that Nat Cole was extremely important in the development of jazz piano. Back during WWII he came out with a new style that mostly freed the left hand from time keeping (as it had been used going back to ragtime) and used it primarily for accents or doubling the right hand. Check out some of the videos here by the King Cole Trio of that era and you'll see it pretty clearly. Soon thereafter came Bud Powell, and the bebop piano style that leads to what we hear today.

@BullgoesforGold355

17w↑1

Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t he close friends with Art Tatum? Or maybe I’m thinking of Oscar Peterson/Ray Charles.

@kennethhodges3187

5y↑49

It's tragic that most people either didn't know or care about Nat's ability as a pianist! He was a great influence on Oscar Peterson, and the world of jazz lost a great musician when the singing took over! Oh and by the way at the time of writing this Nat would have been 100 this week had he lived! His memory though will never die!

@mrjimmienoone2130

7y↑100

Complete bewilderment, disbelief,... How on earth can anybody play such wild, but incredibly tasteful, sophisticated, delicate, inimitable phrases on a piano??? He turns the piano into a totally different kind of instrument.

@rodrickmiller6376

5y↑3

Yes he does. Genius

@vova47

5y↑5

No, he plays it like the piano should be played. It's some other people who are not doing it right.

@harryandruschak2843

7y↑76

Showing why my entertainment nowadays is mostly YOU TUBE. Rare archive footage like this should be listened to, not gathering dust is some vault.

@richardbrudzynski4793

5y↑35

Brilliant! Cole was born on March 17, 1919. We've been blessed with 100 years of Nat King Cole.

@JeanPaul-Godtier

8y↑185

I'm blown away, i thought he was "just" a Singer ! Oh my god how could i have missed this, THIS is pure gold, so much ideas and great improvisation arround the melody !!!

@comradeplatinumacd829

7y↑25

He was first and foremost, a top-tier piano player. Same story as George Benson, as in people heard hm sing and said, oh you've got to do this -- you'll make a mint . . . And his voice was wonderful, too. But he's right up there with Tatum, and Earl Fatha Hines, only a more laid-back West Coast sound . . .

@brucescott4261

6y↑8

lo gi ...NAT "KING" COLE was one of the best jazz pianists of his time. Listen enthusiastically to THE KING COLE TRIO.

@georgeb.wolffsohn30

4y↑1

He only became a singer because a drunk patron at a bar he played demanded he sing some song (sorry I don't remember the name) . That was the beginning of his singing career. Up until then he was a pianist.

@edalgra1714

4y↑2

The song was ‘Sweet Loraine’. (Leslie Gourse: ‘Unforgettable Nat King Cole, 1991, page 33)

@andrewp7002

3y↑1

@@georgeb.wolffsohn30 I was amazed - when Oscar Peterson sang (he didn't much) his voice sounds just like Nat's. He does a few bars on the piano lesson video. Both fantastic pianists.

2 More Replies...

@F0nkyNinja

6y↑39

Nat King Cole was one of Oscar Peterson's biggest influences. You can see why, what a touch!

@RockSpoon123

4y↑2

And Art Tatum!

@clarkelaidlaw1678

5y↑4

Nat was a great jazz singer,great ballad singer,and a pure genius on the piano....voted top jazz pianist in USA during the 1940.Sadly,his world wide success as a vocalist,meant that he rarely was heard on piano after that...But we have the marvelous Nat Cole Trio recordings as testimony of his keyboard brilliance..Nathaniel Adams Coles..An American hero of the first degree.

@brucescott4261

Clarke Laidlaw ...It was called THE KING COLE TRIO.

@TwelfthRoot2

6y↑4

Two words: creative and honest. True creativity is always honest. None of that extraneous fluff.

@jiminihenn

4y↑6

It' first time that I realize Nat King Cole is superb pianinist.

@ronaldciccone260

3y↑4

The Great Nat King Cole Outstanding

@bsykesbeats4013

5y↑16

1:42 when he stands up and starts to walk away as he plays the last few notes...smh...so dope

@marcoevans2155

3y↑3

and 1:50 when he pecks a few notes before he sits back down and starts shredding

@lamontlewis

11y↑113

No other single artist was as proficient at both singing and playing, as was Nat. Simply, he was a freak of music nature. His hands were as enormous as Rachmaninoff's hands. He was capable of euro-classic executions. Like Liberace, he was so talented, he toyed with the keys, turned his back on them and looked at the crowd while executing difficult passages as if he needed only one finger. He was the best pianist of his time. Everyone styled themselves after him.

@carlosjorgemartinez2742

4y↑1

Un placer escucharlo. Como persona todo un caballero.

@KalmAM

Fred Astaire could play his ass off in multiple instruments and was a great singer, these guys are just so talented.

@KalmAM

3y↑1

Oscar also has a whole album just playing and singing nat king cole songs, just shows how influential nat was.

@docmalthus

3y↑5

@@KalmAM The story I heard was that when Oscar was having trouble with phrasing no less than Art Tatum told him to listen to Nat King Cole. That's how highly regarded he was.

@evehrlich6657

3y↑1

Only Armstrong. It's like Babe Ruth, the greatest hitter and pitcher.

7 More Replies...

@telephilia

6y↑3

Thanks! Most folks think NKC was only a crooner.

@cerval41

9y↑59

Even the great Bill Evans was an admirer of Nat King Cole

@petehammer4676

6y↑11

Quite a few jazz pianists of that generation were highly influenced by Nat.

@XplusX12345678

4y↑7

Before Nat king cole, Art Tatum and Teddy Wilson were the most influential. Jazz pianist played with pulsating tenths in the left hand (mandatory) and screaming vast runs in the right hand. Nat king cole pioneered the left hand comp style (even in a solo piece) that eventually took hold in the bebop scene. Art Tatum and the other old timers did not like this new style (at the time) because to quote Tatum, “it doesn’t give the left enough to do as it should”.

@michaelchapman4955

4y↑5

As was Oscar Peterson who was heavily influenced by Nat & Art Tatum

@struttingbird2014

5y↑12

This guy! I would say one of the most musically talented individuals of all time. Absolute genius.

@violoentvictor

9y↑30

The list of jazz piano players he's influnced is a mile long. My favorite piano player of all time. Not people also know that cole is also a hell of an arranger, and arranged songs to make ends meet before his big break. True musician!

@deanrobertnoble138

10y↑3

How can you not like this. Nat had it all!
Such melodic improvisation.....great piano player!

@dnettles

13y↑2

He was a first rate artist! The Great One! God bless you Nat.

@bsykesbeats4013

5y↑3

Jesus dude. He was a beast on the keys.

@greg55666

10y↑2

Jesus he was amazing!

@baldinifan

6y↑13

On his trio recordings you get both his singing and piano genius.

@sohooded

5y↑4

Nat King Cole fantastic singer and amazing pianist!!

@3rdsamdan

9y↑83

As with George Benson, Nat King Cole is best known as a singer. Too bad the public doesn't get more exposure to George on guitar and Nat on piano.

@rickcowles6086

9y↑4

I agree!

@panman1224

@@rickcowles6086 Funny, I was thinking the sam thing

@mrvlhs

10y↑1

What a king he be!

@vova47

5y↑10

It's a little known fact that Nat Cole was probably THE most influential jazz pianist ever, Pianists like Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, Hank Jones, Bill Evans, Red Garland, Wynton Kelly and Phineas Newborn are just a few examples of Nat Cole school of playing.

@claudiom1383

4y↑2

One of the best piano players ever!

@Astoriaguy23

12y

The man with the velvet voice and golden fingers...Nat, you are genius...and you are so loved.

@plafkinfarms

12y↑1

Wonderful piano playing by Nat King Cole-a true inspiration to all of the young musicians of today. Roger Plafkin, Plafkin Farms, Ada, Michigan

@funkygh

4y↑1

Holy christ Nat was a stone cold badass.

@brianrallen

9y↑34

American Icon!

God rest his soul.

@carlcurtis

4y↑1

Andre Previn and Oscar Peterson spoke of "Nat Cole" the pianist in the highest terms. Good to see this video.

@henrimatisse4768

4y↑1

Mind-blowing...

@andersonlontsi299

26w↑1

❤❤😪😪😭😭 Would have paid so so much to see this live. This is a masterpiece! musicians today no longer compose things like this.. they rather copy or just modify some non copyrighted pieces they found. Hope Around the World there are still guys like this to keep the Jazz flame burning🔥, much love and greeting to the 19s!

@lauramkhitaryan1514

5y↑1

Oh gosh, look at that inspiration !! And ease!! And love to what he does!!

@cocovinzmcmurphy7947

7y↑3

That is the definition of class right here !

@jmrodas9

10y↑15

I had never Heard him playing piano but he was really good. The way he moves his fingers on the keyboard to get the sounds of the instrument is fantastic.

@GatorGirl04

13y↑11

AMAZING footage of a musical GENIUS. While I adore absolutely everything about "King" Cole is piano playing is probably the best demonstration of sheer brilliance. He's like a weaver at a loom crafting a masterpiece like's he's making breakfast. Effortless. I LOVE this man. Thanks so much for posting.

@yuriichernenko794

8y↑2

i'm amazed not about his playing, but because I understand how natural and easy it is for him... it's from inside.. it's not just "I've learned the notes"..

@SilasHaslam

4y↑2

So effortless, the way he played. No wonder that, the great Bill Evans himself was also a fan of Nat

@dnettles

11y↑1

One of the giants! WOW!

@Charlikke

11y↑1

One of the best jazz piano players !

@louisemiller2774

10y↑14

I love Nat King Cole.

@donaldsmith379

Hello Louise

@flowerbirds2961

7y↑13

THE BEST AND THE ESSENCE OF ELEGANCE

@sumarya72

8y↑7

Love love love this

@elleondejuda4681

6y↑12

El maestro King Cole...very good singer and pianist....really good playing with a beautiful technique...un maestro bravo.

@KarthusDreams

19w

Old but gold !

@andrewbarrett1537

6y↑7

The part that most gets me is the full-chorded riff like a horn section at 2:48... he somehow manages to weigh each voice so that it sounds like four (or so) different instruments, rather than just a chorded piano solo. Unbelievable!

@ThePianoguy89

10y↑8

He's a great singer and pianist! He was a treasure!

@sqzbxkd

5y↑4

Thank you for posting this! I have always heard what a great jazz pianist Nat King Cole was. It is priceless to be able to see him actually playing!

@jppontat2995

NAT was a true artist of music... Lovely

@krystalharris1259

5y↑2

Oh how I love both versions!

@taxiwardance7242

10y↑9

his work with lester young is some of the best most creative music out there. those guys were something else

@murielcoppage5122

My Mom & Dad were great fans of Mr. Nat King Cole. I don't know the year, but Mr. Cole made an appearance in the Washington, DC/MD/VA area & Mom & Dad went to see the inimitable Mr. Nat King Cole's early performances. Mom also had several records of Mr. Coles & sheet music of "Beautiful Brown Eyes", Mr. Cole had apparently recorded at some time. I vaguely remember watching Mr. Nat King Cole's early TV show when i was just a little girl. He was super!!

@sooshidono

11y↑1

beautiful piano playings. so beautiful and overwhelming piano touch flowing out from his fingers that kicks everyone into love with his jazzy passions!

@Mrphilharmonic

10y↑8

LOVE those quotes that Nat sneaks in to his outstanding version. They're both quite similar though. I guess most jazzers have their 'stock' versions. I do.

@danielroehampton

4y↑1

Having said that, what a musical genius--- and what a voice also... great taste

@ronancowan

10y↑1

WHAT A BADASS!!!

@ACowan001

10y↑1

You can hear how he influenced Oscar.

@alexandergallant7569

Pure Genius of the great Nat King Cole

@christophersavund1727

8y↑10

Nat, though know one has given you full colours as a Jazz piano player, you had a maestro's style of your own - and a damn good musician. Blessings,

@joseluizpagliaro4022

1y↑1

Fabuloso!!!!!

@liberte5847

46w

First Class rendering version rendez-vous, and an incredible pianist to! Bravo 😂. Merci beaucoup from Paris France 👍.

@davidd6218

6y↑1

pure class.

@SedanChair

5y↑4

That powerful attack, there's nothing like it

@janeporter818

5y↑1

Nat King Cole was an incredible pianist and singer.

@twanachatman5039

6y↑1

Remarkably...SUPERB!!!!!

@charleshoppner4111

4y↑2

Wow, only knew him from a few songs he sung (beautiful voice), but heard he was a piano player and got curious. HOLY is he ever great, so much emotion and feel and energy but with a virtuosic command of the instrument. Sounds like raw emotion and yet sounds perfect at once - something that seems impossible till you hear a great jazz player.

@mauricecarter5831

what a classy and gifted man !! RIP Nat

@miguelsouza4228

9y↑24

As a singer... the best. On the piano... a virtuose!

@pavlezvekic

Miguel Gustavo Morais de Souza Too bad people don't know

@SaxonC

My all time favorite male singer and entertainer

@barringtonsmith9147

32w

Raw talent, period

@Leclubinfo

10y↑12

oh yes. Nobody forget Nat was an incredible pianist. I think he came to sing because people asked for it in gigs and love it so much. And you know, no vocals, no real big success, even during this period of jazz in the world.

@tylerhenderson12

This is what life is all about. Thank you 🙏🏻

@barrywatson5038

Great stuff Nat! RIP sir.

@choward5430

3y↑1

Ladies and gentlemen! Behold, A MASTER!

@jcarc5701

6y↑25

His timing is impeccable. Many can play technically better but very few with such rhythmic precision.

@TwelfthRoot2

Closing Statement well said. His sense of time is unbelievable.

@ev.mccord6095

2y↑2

“Technically better”?? Not so sure about that. Not so sure at all.

@jcarc5701

@@ev.mccord6095 Well, Peterson, Tatum and the like.

@tatianawoods7000

5y↑5

Such a great pianist!!!❤️ (previously, I've been knowing Nat as a great singer☺️)

@donaldsmith379

3y↑1

Hello tatiana

@neilh177

A beautiful man and a talent the likes of which we'll never see again

@ViolentFury1

+Neil Harrison if less people were negative like you, possibly more talented musicians would have appeared by now.

@Coowallsky

Blaming an internet poster because there aren't more people of Cole's caliber performing? smh.

@terrypursell4332

I am glad the technology exists to make this kind of material available. I had no idea he had these jazz chops!

@govbop

1y↑1

Love his piano playing ! He's so original in so many ways His piano was so strong he originated the patented trio as well, and unbelievably fantastic sound. I like his singing and I often feel like we only got a taste of what he was capable of playing bc he focused more on singing, which is what people wanted to hear. But his playing is astounding. I love also his doing the Chico Marx style "tirgger finger"

@paulbariohay3213

UNIQUE NAT KING COLE inimitable !!!!!!!!!!

@WaldemarLewinBerlin

Unglaublich! So schön!!!

@caposasso

35w

unerreichbar toll, einzigartig die Leichtigkeit

@hamishmcdog48

4y↑1

That dude was amazing. I mean, he was really good.

@gesarisa1151

7y↑4

Forgive my expresion but I didn't know Nat was such a wonderfull pianist: he is such a f... good pianista that I am impressed.

@HerveGaspardsing

10y↑3

Yes! That is the answer to all of the questions he is asking with the piano.

@orlandooliveira1784

2y↑2

Resumindo em uma do palavra: MAGNÍFICO! Grande NAT!

@antonfarquar8799

superb !!!! Thank You !!!!!

@sonijam

20w

Wonderful!

@2msvalkyrie529

5y↑3

Stunning ! Magnifique !......any other words you like !
He really was one of America 's greatest gifts to the World .

@furassicpark7642

5y↑3

His singing was probably a lot more lucrative than his strictly jazz piano playing, I'm guessing. But I love his singing just as much.♥️ We're so lucky to be able to hear how brilliant he was at both.

@chuchu7831

44w

He is the KING 🤴🎶🎶🎶❤🙋‍♀️

@rickmaverick1984

Oh wow wonderful amazing the best

@wetzelbernard8703

Fantastic musicien absolutely awesome thanks Mister Cole !

@pepperwilliams4428

7y↑14

What a great pianist! He gave a nod to to Chico Marx also.

@crowdmaker

8y↑1

I like them both, but damn, that second version was red-hot fire. I never knew Nat "King" Cole was such a dynamite pianist.

@andrewmorton3344

10y↑31

Nat is a bit like Dudley Moore, the fact that these two great pianists were so good at other things means people don't truly realise the genius of their jazz piano skills.

@Mike8981

6y↑4

No! Dudley Moore is a bit like Nat!

@RoundMidnight111

11y↑1

he was an incredible pianist

@elchet

Love the little bit of the A Foggy Day bridge he drops in.

@mgconlan

2y↑1

Amazing playing! Nat "King" Cole's subsequent career as a superstar pop singer has made people forget that before he settled on a vocal career, he was a first-rate jazz pianist eagerly called on for radio and record dates. I've astonished many people over the years by playing them Cole's piano records. Check out his trio album with Lester Young on tenor sax and Buddy Rich on drums; producer Norman Granz didn't hire a bass player, but Cole's left hand was so strong he didn't need one.