Nat King Cole ft Ralph Carmichael's Orchestra - Poinciana (Song of the Trees) Capitol Records 1960

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Poinciana is a song to music by Nat Simon and lyrics by Buddy Bernier written in 1936. The tune is based on a Cuban folk tune La canción del árbol ("The song of the tree"). The poinciana tree itself, delonix regia, is a tree introduced to Cuba from Madagascar. Glenn Miller performed it in the late 1930s. Benny Carter and Bing Crosby both issued versions in 1944.

It was widely popularised in the 1952 film Dreamboat and subsequently became a standard covered by artists including Johnny Mathis, Vic Damone, Keith Jarrett, Percy Faith, The Four Freshmen and Ahmad Jamal (as the first track on an eponymous album), and which featured again in the 1995 film The Bridges of Madison County. In 1978 disco duo Paradise Express recorded a version which made the top 20 on the disco charts.

Nat's accompanied by Justin Gordon, Willie Schwartz, Arthur Smith (reeds) Victor Arno, Israel Baker, Harry Bluestone, Emil Briano, James Getzoff, Henry Hill, Joe Livoti, Dan Lube, Rickey Marino, Bill Miller, Alex Murray, Erno Neufeld, Lou Raderman, Isadore Roman, Ralph Schaeffer, Paul Shure, Albert Steinberg, Jerry Vinci (violin) Alvin Dinkin, Stan Harris, Al Harshman, Ray Menhennick, Gary Nuttycombe, Milt Thomas (viola) William Van Den Burg, Justin DiTullio, Armand Kaproff, Emmett Sargeant, Joseph Saxon, Eleanor Slatkin (cello) Kathryn Thompson (harp) Bobby Hammack (piano) John Collins (guitar) Joe Comfort (bass) Mike Rubin (arco bass) Lee Young (drums), and Ralph Carmichael (arranger, conductor). Recorded in Hollywood, CA, Capitol Tower Studios, December 23, 1960. (Capitol Records)

Blow tropic wind, sing a song through the tree
Tree sigh to me, soon my love I will see

Poinciana, your branches speak to me of love
Pale moon is casting shadows from above
Poinciana, somehow I feel the jungle beat
Within me, there grows a rhythmic, savage beast

Love is everywhere, it's magic perfume fills the air
To and fro you sway, my heart's in time, I've learned to care
Poinciana, those skies may turn from blue to gray
My love will live forever and a day

Blow tropic wind, sing a song through the tree
Tree sigh to me, soon my love I will see

Poinciana