Nature Boy was written by Eden Ahbez and is most famously performed by Nat King Cole in 1948. The song tells the story of a strange and enchanted boy who imparts the message that the greatest thing you can ever learn is to love and be loved in return. Ahbez said the song was inspired by his own nomadic lifestyle and his belief in love and kindness as the essence of life.
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[Verse 1]
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There was a boy, a very strange enchanted boy.
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They say he wandered very far, very far,
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Over land and sea;
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A little shy and sad of eye, but very wise was he. [Verse 2]
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And then one day, a magic day he passed my way;
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And while we spoke of many things, fools and kings,
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This he said to me,
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"The greatest thing you'll ever learn
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Is just to love and be loved in return." [Instrumental Interlude]