Nature Boy
Frankie Ervin Lyrics

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There was a boy
A very strange, enchanted boy
They say he wandered very far
Very far, over land and sea
A little shy so sad of eye
But very wise was he

And then one day,

One magic day he came my way
While we spoke of many things
Fools and Kings
This he said to me:

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return".

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return".

Music to fade

Overall Meaning

Frankie Ervin's Nature Boy is a haunting and melancholic song that tells the story of a boy who wanders far and wide, yet is considered very strange and enchanted. Despite being sad and shy, he is also portrayed as being very wise. The song takes a turn when the singer comes across this unusual child, and they engage in conversation, discussing many things, including fools and kings. During this conversation, the boy imparts a piece of wisdom that the singer takes to heart. He says, "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."

The lyrics of the song are incredibly moving and philosophical, as they urge us to embrace love for ourselves and for others. The song is not just a love song in the traditional sense but a poetic ode to the idea of love as a transformative and essential force in our lives. The idea that the greatest thing we can ever learn is to love and be loved back hints at the transformative power of unconditional love, which can transform us into better and more optimistic versions of ourselves.

Line by Line Meaning

There was a boy
Once upon a time, there existed a boy

A very strange, enchanted boy
This boy was peculiar and spellbinding in his own way

They say he wandered very far
As per stories, he roamed across wide distances

Very far, over land and sea
He journeyed extremely far, through both land and water

A little shy so sad of eye
This boy was slightly introverted and appeared to be sorrowful

But very wise was he
Nonetheless, he possessed impressive intelligence

And then one day,
One fine day,

One magic day he came my way
He appeared before me on a miraculous day

While we spoke of many things
During our conversation covering various topics

Fools and Kings
Like the lives of the foolish and the royal

This he said to me:
He articulated the following words to me: