Born in Brooklyn, Nilsson moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to escape his family's poor financial situation. While working as a computer programmer at a bank, he grew interested in musical composition and close-harmony singing and was successful in having some of his songs recorded by various artists, such as the Monkees. In 1967, he debuted on RCA Victor with the LP Pandemonium Shadow Show, followed by a variety of releases that included a collaboration with Randy Newman (Nilsson Sings Newman, 1970) and the original children's story The Point! (1971).
He created the first remix album, Aerial Pandemonium Ballet, in 1971, and recorded the first mashup song ("You Can't Do That") in 1967. His most commercially successful album, Nilsson Schmilsson (1971), produced the international top 10 singles "Without You" and "Coconut". His other top 10 hit, "Everybody's Talkin'" (1968), was featured prominently in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy. A version of Nilsson's "One," released by Three Dog Night in 1969, also reached the U.S. top 10.
During a 1968 press conference, The Beatles were asked what their favorite American group was and answered "Nilsson." Sometimes called "the American Beatle," he soon formed close friendships with John Lennon and Ringo Starr, joining them in the Hollywood Vampires drinking club. He and Lennon produced one collaborative album, Pussy Cats (1974). After 1977, Nilsson left RCA, and his record output diminished. In response to Lennon's 1980 murder, he took a hiatus from the music industry to campaign for gun control. For the rest of his life, he recorded only sporadically. In 1994, Nilsson died of a heart attack while in the midst of recording what became his last album, Losst and Founnd (2019).
The craft of Nilsson's songs and the defiant attitude he projected remain touchstones for later generations of indie rock musicians. Nilsson was voted No. 62 in Rolling Stone's 2015 list of the "100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time," where he was described as "a pioneer of the Los Angeles studio sound" and "a crucial bridge" between 1960s psychedelia and the 1970s singer-songwriter era. The RIAA certified Nilsson Schmilsson and Son of Schmilsson (1972) as gold records, indicating over 500,000 units sold each. He earned two Grammy Awards (for "Everybody's Talkin'" and "Without You").
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Nilsson
Discography
Spotlight on Nilsson (1966)
Pandemonium Shadow Show (1967)
Aerial Ballet (1968)
Skidoo (1968) (soundtrack)
Harry (1969)
Nilsson Sings Newman (1970)
The Point! (1970) (studio album and soundtrack)
Nilsson Schmilsson (1971)
Son of Schmilsson (1972)
A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night (1973)
Son of Dracula (1974) (soundtrack)
Pussy Cats (1974)
Duit on Mon Dei (1975)
Sandman (1976)
...That's the Way It Is (1976)
Knnillssonn (1977)
Flash Harry (1980)
Popeye (1980) (soundtrack)
Losst and Founnd (2019)
Mother Nature’s Son
Harry Nilsson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All day long I'm sitting singing songs for everyone.
Sit beside a mountain stream, see her waters rise
Listen to the pretty sound of music as she flies.
Find me in my field of grass, Mother Nature's son
Swaying daises sing a lazy song beneath the sun.
Mother Nature's son.
The opening lyrics of Harry Nilsson's "Mother Nature's Son" reveal a sense of simplicity and contentment. The singer describes himself as a poor young country boy, suggesting that he has little material wealth but is satisfied with his life. He spends his days sitting and singing songs for everyone, implying that his music is a gift he freely shares with the world. The reference to Mother Nature suggests a connection to the natural world, and this idea is further developed in the next two lines. The singer invites us to sit beside a mountain stream and listen to the pretty sound of music as the water flows. This is an example of how the natural world is a source of inspiration and beauty for the singer.
The final verse describes the singer in a field of grass, swaying daises singing a lazy song beneath the sun. This image is one of tranquility and harmony with nature. The simple pleasures of nature are celebrated in this song, and the message is one of humility and gratitude.
Overall, "Mother Nature's Son" is a celebration of the simplicity and beauty of the natural world. The singer finds happiness not in material wealth but in the sounds and sights of the world around him. It is a reminder that sometimes the things that bring us the most joy are the simplest.
Line by Line Meaning
Born a poor young country boy, Mother Nature's son
I was born with humble beginnings in the countryside, and I feel a strong connection to the natural world.
All day long I'm sitting singing songs for everyone.
I spend my days happily composing and sharing music with anyone who will listen.
Sit beside a mountain stream, see her waters rise
I enjoy spending peaceful moments by a stream, observing the water flow and change with the movement of the earth.
Listen to the pretty sound of music as she flies.
I appreciate the beautiful sounds of nature, such as the melody of a bird soaring through the sky.
Find me in my field of grass, Mother Nature's son
You can often find me lounging in a meadow of grass, feeling at peace and in harmony with nature.
Swaying daisies sing a lazy song beneath the sun.
I enjoy the tranquility and relaxed atmosphere of a sunny field filled with swaying daisies.
Mother Nature's son.
I feel a deep connection to the earth and its natural beauty, always striving to live in harmony with it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, JOHN WINSTON LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind