Nat King Cole born 1919

These are all the songs in the Nat King Cole Trio recordings that were composed by black writers. 

Easy Listening Blues
composed by Nadine Robinson [ nat king cole's first wife; they met on tour with the play "Shuffle Along"  [[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuffle_Along ]] ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws1igAr1pY4

 

This way out 
composed by Nat King Cole [ the first song he recorded that he composed]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_l3oDI3e7E

 

Honeysuckle Rose
written + composed by Fats Waller + Andy Razaf (Andriamanantena Paul Razafinkarefo) [for the off broadway play [["Load of Coal"]] at Connie's Inn]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6Xcyvd5hpU

 

Lyrics

Every honey bee fills with jealousy,<br> when they see you out with me.<br> Goodness knows<br> You're my Honeysuckle Rose<br> When you're passin' by flowers droop and sigh,<br> and I know the reason why.<br> Goodness knows<br> You're my Honeysuckle Rose<br> Don't buy sugar,<br> You just have to touch my cup.<br> You're my sugar.<br> It's sweeter when you stir it up.<br> When I'm taking sips from your tasty lips<br> seems the honey fairly drips.<br> Goodness knows<br> You're my Honeysuckle Rose<br> Guitar solo<br> Goodness knows<br> You're my Honeysuckle Rose<br> Don't buy sugar,<br> You just have to touch my cup.<br> You're my sugar.<br> It's sweeter when you stir it up.<br> When I'm taking sips from your tasty lips<br> seems the honey fairly drips.<br> Goodness knows<br> You're my Honeysuckle Rose

Waller + Razaff also did 

Aint Misbehavin lyrics + composition from Razaf + waller
for a musical revue "Hot Chocolates" ... financed by dutch schultz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ8fWP6a3Q4

 

<p> AINT MISBEHAVIN<br> No one to talk with<br> All by myself<br> No one to walk with<br> But I'm happy<br> On the shelf<br> Ain't misbehavin'<br> I'm savin' my love for you </p> <p> I know for certain<br> The one I love<br> I'm through with flirtin'<br> It's you that I'm thinkin' of<br> Ain't misbehavin'<br> I'm savin' my love for you </p> <p> Like Jack Horner<br> In the corner<br> Don't go nowhere<br> What do I care?<br> Your kisses<br> Are worth waitin' for<br> Believe me </p> <p> I don't stay out late<br> Don't care to go<br> I'm home about eight<br> Just me and my radio<br> Ain't misbehavin'<br> I'm savin' my love for you<br> Ain't misbehavin'<br> I'm savin' my love for you </p>

 

 

Razaf wrote this classic, originally for the musical revue "Hot chocolates" with music by fats waller
"(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHCPM7K0evc

 

LYRICS

Cold empty bed, springs hurt my head<br> Feels like ole ned, wished I was dead<br> What did I do to be so black and blue<br> Even the mouse ran from my house<br> They laugh at you and all that you do<br> What did I do to be so black and blue<br> I'm white inside but, that don't help my case<br> ThIs life can't hide what is in my face<br> How would it end ain't got a friend<br> My only sin is in my skin<br> What did I do to be so black and blue<br> How would it end I ain't got a friend<br> My only sin is in my skin<br> What did I do to be so black and blue

 

NOTES to black and blue
He demanded a comedy song for a lady who says how tough it is to be black...He literally put a gun to Andy's head and told him that if he didn't write it he would never write again. The opening-night response to the song was silence -people were stunned. Then they went crazy. Andy hadn't written the comedy song Schultz wanted, but because it was a hit, Schultz left him alone.
— Barry Singer, author of "Black and Blue: The Life and Lyrics of Andy Razaf 
[Holden, Stephen (8 February 1989). "A Lot of Hit Songs from an Unsung Lyricist". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 May 2024. ; https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/08/arts/a-lot-of-hit-songs-from-an-unsung-lyricist.html ]

 

And Edgar Sampson wrote Stompin at the Savoy 

 

Straighten up and fly right
written by Nat King Cole + Irving Mills
Composed by Nat King Cole 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-4VTlQlros

 

LYRICS

A buzzard took a monkey for a ride in the air<br> The monkey thought that everything was on the square<br> The buzzard tried to throw the monkey off his back<br> But the monkey grabbed his neck and said, "Now listen, Jack"<br> Straighten up and fly right<br> Straighten up and stay right<br> Straighten up and fly right<br> Cool down, papa, don't you blow your top<br> Ain't no use in divin'<br> What's the use in jivin'?<br> Straighten up and fly right<br> Cool down, papa, don't you blow your top<br> The buzzard told the monkey<br> You are chokin' me<br> Release your hold and I'll set you free<br> The monkey looked the buzzard right<br> Dead in the eye and said<br> "Your story's so touching, but it sounds<br> Just like a lie"<br> Straighten up and fly right<br> Straighten up and stay right<br> Straighten up and fly right<br> Cool down, papa, don't you blow your top<br> Straighten up and fly right<br> Straighten up and stay right<br> Straighten up and fly right<br> Cool down, papa, don't you blow your top<br> Fly right

 

I Love You ( For sentimental reasons )
written by Ivory "Deek" Watson of the Ink Spots  + William "Pat" Best of the Four Tunes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUnguqPxzNU

 

LYRICS

I love you<br> For sentimental reasons<br> I hope you do believe me<br> I'll give you my heart<br> I love you<br> And you alone were meant for me<br> Please give your loving heart to me<br> And say we'll never part<br> I think of you every morning<br> Dream of you every night<br> Darling I'm never lonely<br> Whenever you are in sight<br> I love you for sentimental reasons<br> I hope you do believe me<br> I've given you my heart<br> I love you for sentimental reasons<br> I hope you do believe me<br> I've given you my heart

YOu know the Ink Spots

"Memories of You" written by Razaf and Eubie blake [ The song was introduced by singer Minto Cato in the Broadway show Lew Leslie's Blackbirds of 1930. ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg5Dv_QYwJI

 

Memories of You from Andy Razaf<br> VERSE 1 <br><br> <p> Why can't I forget like I should?<br> Heaven knows I would if I could<br> But I just can't keep you off my mind.<br> Though you're gone and love was in vain,<br> All around me you still remain.<br> Wonder why fate should be so unkind. </p> <p> REFRAIN </p> <p> Waking skies<br> At sunrise,<br> Ev'ry sunset, too,<br> Seems to be<br> Bringing me<br> Memories of you.<br> Here and there,<br> Ev'rywhere,<br> Scenes that we once knew,<br> And they all<br> Just recall<br> Memories of you.<br> How I wish I could forget those<br> Happy yesteryears<br> That have left a rosary of tears.<br> Your face beams<br> In my dreams,<br> 'Spite of all I do,<br> Ev'rything<br> Seems to bring<br> Memories of you. </p> <p> VERSE 2 </p> <p> Though for years we've been apart,<br> Time heals ev'rything but my heart<br> That still aches for you the same old way.<br> Seems I can't escape from the past,<br> And your spell keeps holding me fast,<br> Each tomorrow is like yesterday. </p> <p> REPEAT REFRAIN </p>

 

Memories of YOu  from Thelonius Monk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhxIIhA_JVk

 

From Eubie Blake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw9KzKJJjPs

 

You know the Four Tunes
"I Understand (Just How You Feel)" written by Pat Best
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=achpJtgdDNk

 

LYRICS

I understand just how you feel<br> Your love for me, why not be mine?<br> It's over now but it was grand<br> I understand, I understand<br> If you ever change your mind<br> Come back to me and you will find<br> Me waiting there, at your command<br> I understand, I understand<br> I miss you so, please believe me when I tell you<br> I just can't stand to see you go<br> You know<br> If you ever change your mind<br> Come back to me and you will find<br> Me waiting there at your command<br> I understand, I understand<br> Please understand just how I feel<br> Your love for me why not reveal<br> And we will know this time it's real<br> We'll understand

 

You Are My Love (1955 song) written by Jimmie Nabbie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTqBYz5Rouo

 

LYRICS
<p> You are my love, (you are my love)<br> My one and only!<br> When you're not near, (when you're not near)<br> I'm oh, so lonely! </p> <p> You are my love, (you are my love)<br> And please believe me,<br> There's not another,<br> There'll be no other one for me!# </p> <p> I sigh and cry<br> And long for you, (and long for you)<br> Oh my darling, my dear one,<br> Oooh-ooh-ooh-ooh! </p> <p> You are my love, (you are my love)<br> And please believe me,<br> There's not another,<br> There'll be no other one for me! </p> <p> I sigh and cry<br> And long for you,<br> Oh my darling, my dear one,<br> Oooh-ooh-ooh-ooh! </p> <p> You are my love, (you are my love)<br> And please believe me,<br> There's not another,<br> There'll be no other one for me!<br> (you are my love) are my love! </p>

 

Those who know me know I love Nat King Cole , and I can place all the music he made, remember, the song is a collaborative project, you can write a song, but can you sing it? 

 

The Portrait of Jenny
lyrics J. Russel Robinson, Gordon Burdge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLTPhJMddxc

 

LYRICS so  lovely i can't resist<br> A Portrait of Jennie<br> More precious to me<br> Than a masterpiece<br> How ever famous it be<br> The portrait of Jennie<br> Is etched on my heart<br> Where her features have been<br> Sketched from the start<br> Ah, the color and beauty of life<br> And the glow of her spirit divine<br> All cast in heaven's own design<br> With a portrait of Jennie<br> I never will part<br> For there isn't any portrait of Jennie<br> Except in my heart<br> For there isn't any portrait of Jennie<br> Except in my heart

 

Fly Me To The Moon ( In Other Words ) 
lyrics+composition from George Shearing, Nat King Cole
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rABO0_pvims

 

LYRICS<br> Poets often use many words to say a simple thing<br> It takes thought and time and rhyme<br> To make a poem sing<br> With music and words I've been playing<br> For you, I have written a song<br> To be sure that you'll know what I'm saying<br> I'll translate as I go along<br> Fly me to the moon<br> And let me play among the stars<br> Let me see what spring is like<br> On Jupiter and Mars<br> In other words, hold my hand<br> In other words, darling kiss me<br> Fill my heart with song<br> And let me sing forever more<br> You are all I long for<br> All I worship and adore<br> In other words, please be true<br> In other words, I love you<br> Fill my heart with song<br> And let me sing forever more<br> You are all I long for<br> All I worship and adore<br> In other words, please be true<br> In other words, I love you