"UNFORGETTABLE" NAT KING COLE

 

This morning I remembered Nat King Cole. 

It was not the first time. For quite some time, he has been frequently in my thoughts.

I used to hear a lot of him on the radio in my school days. He was in his prime churning out hits after hits. I must admit he was not my top favourite. At that time, I considered his songs a bit mushy and preferred the powerful voice of Frankie Laine and the soft crooning of Bing Crosby. But lately, the simple and beautiful lyrics of good old Nat have been humming in my mind. Here are a few of them.

Let’s start with “Too Young” which is about young lovers. He sings, 

“They try to tell us we’re too young,

Too young to really be in love,

They say that love’s a word,

A word we only heard

But can’t begin to know the meaning of……

And yet, we’re not too young to know,

This love will last though years may go.

And then one day they may recall 

We were not too young at all.”

Touches one’s heart?

Then there is “Smile”, a song to lift your spirits:

“Smile, though your heart is aching,

Smile even though it’s breaking……

Smile, what’s the use of crying,

You’ll find that life is still worthwhile, 

If you just smile.”

Feel better already?

“Autumn Leaves” remembers a loved one while watching colourful leaves falling from trees. 

“The autumn leaves drift by my window,

The autumn leaves of red and gold…..

Since you went away the days grow long,

And soon I’ll hear old winter’s song

But I miss you most of all, my darling,

When autumn leaves start to fall.”

“You Will Never Grow Old” is about ageless love.

“You will never grow old

While there is love in your heart,

Time may silver your golden hair,

As you dream in an old rocking chair.

So keep my love in your heart, 

Remember the love tales we told,

For with my love in your heart, my darling,

You will never grow old.”

Long gone is Nat King Cole but his songs will linger forever. As one of his songs goes, he is “Unforgettable” and that is not "incredible."