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.

Those Things Money Can't Buy
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

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Now if I was a millionaire I'd be poor and I'll tell you why
Your eyes your lips and your hair those things money can't buy
I could own a ship on the sea or a plane that flies through the sky
But the kisses you once gave to me those things money can't buy

When my journey on earth is through and I stand at the gate in the sky
Thinking of those days we once knew those things money can't buy
Those things money can't buy are treasures I'll cherish till I die

Your arms your smile and your sigh those things money can't buy

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Nat King Cole Trio's song, Those Things Money Can't Buy, are focused on the idea that despite the worth of money, it cannot buy the most important things in life, such as love and intimacy. The song addresses the idea that some people may believe money can buy anything, but there are certain aspects of life that it cannot touch. The lyrics explain that the singer could have all the wealth in the world, but without the love of the person they cherish, they would still feel poor. The line "those things money can't buy" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of these priceless aspects of life.

The first verse talks about how the singer would still feel poor even if they were a millionaire. They explain that the love they share with the person they cherish is worth more than any amount of money. In the second verse, the singer talks about how memories of those precious moments would be worth more than anything else when they pass away. They emphasize that the things that cannot be purchased with money are the experiences, emotions, and affection that makes life worth living.

The song is a poignant reminder that no matter how much material wealth one attains, life's most precious experiences and emotions are what truly make it meaningful. It tells us to value and cherish those aspects of life that cannot be bought with money, like genuine love, warm hugs, quiet talks, deep laughter, and shared memories.

Line by Line Meaning

Now if I was a millionaire I'd be poor and I'll tell you why
Having all the money in the world wouldn't make me rich because the things that truly matter, such as love, cannot be bought with money.

Your eyes your lips and your hair those things money can't buy
The physical features of the person I love are priceless and no amount of money can compare to their beauty and value to me.

I could own a ship on the sea or a plane that flies through the sky
Material possessions like boats and planes can be impressive, but the feelings and memories associated with the person I love are far more important to me than any material object.

But the kisses you once gave to me those things money can't buy
The moments of intimacy and affection shared with the person I love are irreplaceable and cannot be bought with any amount of money.

When my journey on earth is through and I stand at the gate in the sky
At the end of my life, when I reflect on what truly mattered, the memories and experiences with the person I loved will be what I cherish the most.

Thinking of those days we once knew those things money can't buy
The time spent with the person I love is priceless and cannot be replicated or bought with any amount of money.

Those things money can't buy are treasures I'll cherish till I die
The intangible things like love, companionship, and memories are more valuable to me than any material object and are something I will treasure forever.

Your arms your smile and your sigh those things money can't buy
The physical and emotional comfort and joy I receive from being with the person I love are things that money could never provide or replace.

Contributed by Elliot F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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