Christmas Countdown Song: The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole Trio

You don't have to be cold to evoke Christmas.

I'm not talking about the practice of Christmas in July, either. Winter, and the Christmas season, can be used to help one cool off.

At least, that is the story of the genesis of this Nat King Cole classic song. According to a piece on Time Magazine's web site, Mel Torme, who co-wrote the song, says that the lyrics were inspired by some brief sketches his collaborator, Bob Wells, had written on a notepad. The sketches were eventually rounded out into the complete first verse, and a classic was born.

And all Mr. Wells was trying to do was to cool off during a heatwave in the summer of 1944.