THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

988-Nat King Cole-Walkin’ My Baby Back Home.’

1952-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 1.27. It’s the perfect tale of gentlemanly romance, until the fifth verse when things get confusing, and possibly even a little creepy.

Nat King Cole (see also best songs 327-226 and 161) was born Nathaniel Adams Coles on March 17th, 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama, United States, he died of lung cancer on February 15th, 1965, at the age of 45. Amazingly for one of the greatest vocalists of all time, he didn’t actually start singing professionally until he was 21, in 1940, as prior till then he was a Jazz pianist with the ‘King Cole Trio,’ along with Wesley Prince, (1907-1980) (bass) and Oscar Moore, (1916-1981) (guitar) taking their stage name from the nursery rhyme ‘Old King Cole was a merry old soul.’

In September 1964 Nat King Cole who had been a heavy cigarette smoker was diagnosed with lung cancer, and was given only months to live, which was not disclosed at the time to the general public. Against his doctors wishes, Cole decided to carry on working, and he made his final recordings between December 1st, to December 3rd, in San Francisco. The music was released on his 28th and final studio Album ‘L-O-V-E,’ in January 1965, shortly before his death. One of his daughters later said that he went in to the studio to record that final Album to assure that the wealth of his family would be secure.

‘Walkin’ My Baby Back Home’ was written in 1930 by Roy Turk, (1892-1934) who provided the lyrics, and Fred Ahlert, (1892-1953) who wrote the music. Roy Turk’s most famous lyrics are to ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight,’ a song he co-wrote in 1927 with Lou Handman, (1894-1956) (music.) ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ is best remembered for the 1960 recording by Elvis Presley, (1935-1977) which reached Number 1 both in America, and the UK. Aside from co-writing ‘Walkin’ My Baby Back Home,’ Fred Ahlert is probably best remembered for his co-write with Joe Young, (1889-1939) (lyrics) on the song ‘I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,’ which was first recorded by ‘Fats Waller & His Rhythm’ in 1935, and has been recorded on dozens of occasions since down the years by many other artists.

‘Walkin’ My Baby Back Home’ was an instant success, first charting in America in 1931, with no less that four competing versions by Nick Lucas, (1897-1982) (Number 8) Ted Weems, (1901-1963) (Number 8), The Charleston Chasers, (Number 15) and Lee Morse (1897-1954) (Number 18). In the UK the most successful version of the song is the 1952 recording by Johnnie Ray, (1927-1990) which reached Number 12, Johnnie Ray’s version was also issued in America shortly after it had been a hit for Nat King Cole, and on the American chart it peaked at Number 4, beating Cole’s recording, which had made Number 8 earlier on in that year.

‘Walkin’ My Baby Back Home’ was also featured in the 1953 American musical comedy ‘Walking My Baby Back Home,’ where it was performed by the actor/singer Donald O’Connor (1925-2003.) In 1962 the Swedish actress Monica Zetterlund (1937-2005) recorded the song with Swedish lyrics by Beppe Wolgers, (1928-1986) entitled ‘ Sakta vi gå genom stan’ (‘Slowly we walk through the city.’) It is a tribute to Stockholm, and has been voted the most popular song about the Swedish capital.

‘Walkin’ My Baby Back Home’ tells the story of a couple dating, and all appears quite normal until verse five, when the narrator gives us cause for concern. Should we inform the authorities?

‘She’s afraid of the dark, so I have to park outside of her door till it’s light. She says if I try to kiss her she’ll cry, I dry her tears all through the night.’