Brown began his career as a gospel singer in Toccoa, Georgia. He first came to national public attention in the mid-1950s as the lead singer of the Famous Flames, a rhythm and blues vocal group founded by Bobby Byrd. With the hit ballads "Please, Please, Please" and "Try Me", Brown built a reputation as a dynamic live performer with the Famous Flames and his backing band, sometimes known as the James Brown Band or the James Brown Orchestra. His success peaked in the 1960s with the live album Live at the Apollo and hit singles such as "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World".
During the late 1960s, Brown moved from a continuum of blues and gospel-based forms and styles to a profoundly "Africanized" approach to music-making, emphasizing stripped-down interlocking rhythms that influenced the development of funk music. By the early 1970s, Brown had fully established the funk sound after the formation of the J.B.s with records such as "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and "The Payback". He also became noted for songs of social commentary, including the 1968 hit "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud". Brown continued to perform and record until his death from pneumonia in 2006.
Brown recorded 17 singles that reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts. He also holds the record for the most singles listed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that did not reach No. 1. Brown was posthumously inducted into the first class of the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013 as an artist and then in 2017 as a songwriter. He also received honors from several other institutions, including inductions into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In Joel Whitburn's analysis of the Billboard R&B charts from 1942 to 2010, Brown is ranked No. 1 in The Top 500 Artists. He is ranked seventh on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown
Studio albums
Please Please Please (1958)
Try Me! (1959)
Think! (1960)
The Amazing James Brown (1961)
James Brown and His Famous Flames Tour the U.S.A. (1962)
Prisoner of Love (1963)
Grits & Soul (1964)
Showtime (1964)
Out of Sight (1964)
James Brown Plays James Brown Today & Yesterday (1965)
Mighty Instrumentals (1966)
James Brown Plays New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo) (1966)
James Brown Sings Christmas Songs (1966)
Handful of Soul (1966)
James Brown Sings Raw Soul (1967)
James Brown Plays the Real Thing (1967)
Cold Sweat (1967)
I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me (1968)
I Got the Feelin' (1968)
James Brown Plays Nothing But Soul (1968)
Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things (1968)
A Soulful Christmas (1968)
Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud (1969)
Gettin' Down to It (1969)
The Popcorn (1969)
It's a Mother (1969)
Ain't It Funky (1970)
Soul on Top (1970)
It's a New Day - Let a Man Come In (1970)
Hey America (1970)
Sho Is Funky Down Here (1971)
Hot Pants (1971)
There It Is (1972)
Get on the Good Foot (1972)
Black Caesar (1973)
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off (1973)
The Payback (1973)
Hell (1974)
Reality (1974)
Sex Machine Today (1975)
Everybody's Doin' the Hustle & Dead on the Double Bump (1975)
Hot (1976)
Get Up Offa That Thing (1976)
Bodyheat (1976)
Mutha's Nature (1977)
Jam 1980's (1978)
Take a Look at Those Cakes (1978)
The Original Disco Man (1979)
People (1980)
Soul Syndrome (1980)
Nonstop! (1981)
Bring It On! (1983)
Gravity (1986)
I'm Real (1988)
Love Over-Due (1991)
Universal James (1993)
I'm Back (1998)
The Merry Christmas Album (1999)
The Next Step (2002)
Nature Boy
James Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And sometimes I get a little blue
There was a boy
A very strange enchanted boy
They say he wandered very far, very far
Over land and sea
A little shy and sad of eye
And then one day
A magic day he passed my way
And 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
Sometimes I get a little, a little, a little lonely
And sometimes, sometimes I get a little blue
The greatest thing is just to love and be loved in return
The lyrics of James Brown's Nature Boy talk about a boy who was labeled as strange but wise. He wandered to different places over land and sea and was sad and shy. But one day, something magical happened when he met the singer, James Brown. They had a conversation and the boy said something profound, "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." These words stuck with Brown and he acknowledged that he sometimes gets lonely and blue. In essence, Brown is saying that the boy taught him that the key to life is to love and be loved in return.
The song is emphasizing the importance of love in one's life. It's a lesson that the strange boy has learned throughout his travels, and he imparts this knowledge to Brown. The simplicity and power of the phrase "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return" is what makes this song iconic. The message is timeless and resonates with people from all walks of life. It's a reminder that love is not only important but brings happiness and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I get a little lonely
At times, I feel isolated and crave for company
And sometimes I get a little blue
Occasionally, I feel down and melancholic
There was a boy
The song is about a particular boy, and his story is about to unfold
A very strange enchanted boy
This boy had something unique and charming about him that was unnatural
They say he wandered very far, very far
It's rumored that he went on incredible adventures and travels to unknown places
Over land and sea
The boy's journey was not bound by any physical boundaries
A little shy and sad of eye
The boy was often hesitant and reserved, and his eyes betrayed a hint of sadness
But very wise was he
Despite his young age, the boy had an abundance of knowledge and sagacity
And then one day
On a specific day, something extraordinary happened
A magic day he passed my way
The boy appeared before the artist in a mystical and enchanting manner
And while we spoke of many things
The two conversed about numerous topics
Fools and kings
They discussed the foolish and the powerful people of the world
This he said to me
The boy imparted some precious knowledge to the singer
The greatest thing you'll ever learn
The upcoming advice is the most important thing a person can learn
Is just to love and be loved in return
The critical life lesson is merely to cherish and receive affection
The greatest thing is just to love and be loved in return
Reiterating that the most valuable thing is to appreciate and reciprocate love
Sometimes I get a little, a little, a little lonely
The singer reiterates that he does get lonely at times
And sometimes, sometimes I get a little blue
Similarly, there are periods when the singer feels sad and depressed
Contributed by Tyler I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
yoshimoura
There was a boy
A very strange enchanted boy
They say he wandered very far, very far
Over land and sea
A little shy and sad of eye
But very wise was heAnd then one day
A magic day he passed my way
And 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 returnThe greatest thing you'll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return
Read more: Nat King Cole - Nature Boy Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Larry Ressler
This is a very spooky musical arrangement. Yet, the song is soft and easy to listen to. This is a side to James Brown that I have never heard before. This recording is amazing and beautiful. Thanks, BadFaith Production, for sharing this rare James Brown song here on YouTube. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
JB
Que surpresa agradavel,ao ver postado uma joia rara como essa NATURE BOY,gravada por James Braw!!! Incrivel!! Acredito que muita gente nao saiba disto!!SHOW!!...Poise!...E ainda temos gravaçoes deste sucesso estrondoso,com DAVID BOWIE e tantos outros mais,que estou vendo agora,na internet!!...INCRIVEL!!...
Ms.Spainishlady
Simply beautiful and brilliant!❤❤❤👍👍👍😊 RIP
justcallme...
I had no idea James Brown covered this! Thanks for posting :-)
rene harcourt
James was so talented. I just loved all of his music. Jackie Wilson also sings this song . It is great.
Rabbi Ingber
best version is by nat (king) cole. my fave bobby darin also did this, what became a standard) Be Blessed
Leviathanarg
Great interpration. One of my favorites together with Nat Cole, Auroa and Bowie.
rene harcourt
I love this song sooo much.
Isabella S.C. Scanderbeg
Great interpretation ✨
Eugene
Great rendition by James Brown! Jon Hassell has also a great trumpet, instrumental version!