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.

What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't know why, I made you cry
I'm sorry sweetheart and yet
Though you shouldn't be lenient with me
I hope you'll forgive and forget

What can I say, dear, after I say I'm sorry?
What can I do to prove it to you, I'm sorry?
I didn't mean to ever be mean to you

If I didn't care I wouldn't feel like I do
I was all wrong but right or wrong I don't blame you
Why should I take somebody like you and shame you
I know that I made you cry, and I'm so sorry dear
So what can I say, dear, after I say I'm sorry?

You made me glad, I made you sad
I made you lonesome and blue
And who ever knew
Who'd ever think that I would be crying to you

What can I say, dear, after I say I'm sorry?
What can I do to prove it to you, I'm sorry?
I didn't mean to ever be mean to you
If I didn't care I wouldn't feel like I do
I was all wrong but right or wrong I don't blame you
Why should I take somebody like you and shame you

I know that I made you cry, and I'm so sorry dear
So what can I say, dear, after I say I'm sorry?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Nat King Cole Trio's song "After I Say I'm Sorry" express regret and a desire for forgiveness after causing pain to a loved one. The singer admits fault and acknowledges the hurt they caused, suggesting that they didn't mean to be cruel but perhaps acted impulsively. The repeating question of "What can I say, dear, after I say I'm sorry?" highlights a sense of helplessness, as the singer understands that their words alone may not be enough to repair the damage done.

The lyrics also suggest that the relationship between the singer and their partner was unbalanced, with the singer causing pain while the partner brought joy. The lines "You made me glad, I made you sad / I made you lonesome and blue" imply that the partner was a positive force in the singer's life, while the singer's behavior was detrimental to the relationship. Despite this dynamic, the singer still begs for forgiveness, indicating a deep love and desire for reconciliation.

Overall, "After I Say I'm Sorry" is a poignant and relatable portrayal of the often difficult process of apologizing and seeking forgiveness in a relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't know why, I made you cry
I am unsure of the reason that caused me to bring you pain and tears

I'm sorry sweetheart and yet
Even though I apologize, I know it might not be enough

Though you shouldn't be lenient with me
I do not expect you to overlook my mistakes and faults too easily

I hope you'll forgive and forget
I wish for your mercy to forget and forgive me

What can I say, dear, after I say I'm sorry?
I am uncertain of what words to say to fix what I have done wrong

What can I do to prove it to you, I'm sorry?
What actions can I take to demonstrate that I am truly repentant?

I didn't mean to ever be mean to you
I did not intend to act cruelly or harshly towards you

If I didn't care I wouldn't feel like I do
The fact that I feel remorseful shows that I do care about you deeply

I was all wrong but right or wrong I don't blame you
I understand that I was entirely in the wrong, and I hold no grudge against you for my misdeeds

Why should I take somebody like you and shame you
It was unfair and unjustified for me to cause humiliation or disgrace to someone as kind and wonderful as you

What Can I Say After I Say I'm SorryThe Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics

What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics