The name Mirabilis is Latin for something that is wonderful, miraculous, or unusual. The two women see their musical union as an amazing and unique experience and the name embodies those sentiments. Dru and Summer are the core members of Mirabilis, but they use the project as an avenue to bring in other like-minded artists as guest performers to create something that is extraordinary and unique.
In 2001, Mirabilis made their debut on Projekt Records' holiday compilation, Excelsis, Volume 3 with their rendition of the Spanish carol, "Riu Riu Chiu." In December of 2003, the band's first release, a limited edition 7-inch self-titled EP was released on Fossil Dungeon. They quickly followed up with a full-length debut CD, Pleiades, in 2004 on the Middle Pillar Presents label. Pleiades blends together the beautiful voices of Summer and Dru as well as guest vocalists Regeana Morris (of The Changelings), Katy Belle (of Matson Belle), and Rebecca Colleen Miller.
In 2008, Mirabilis returns with the second full length album, Sub Rosa. Released in partnership between Middle Pillar Presents and Projekt, the release has a unique intensity and style, showcasing a broader range of instruments and styles while still exploring familiar classical and ethereal ground. Vocals continue to shine as the dominant instrumentation but Dru and Summer also explore a variety of new lush instruments and still remain true to their own unique genre.
Summer Bowman is half of acclaimed gothic/darkwave duo the Machine in the Garden. Summer has performed roles as both a singer and songwriter and has also become involved in the recording studio engineering, mixing, and producing. In addition to these projects, Summer performs with the Austin Civic Chorus, the featured chorus of the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
Dru Allen has also put her stamp on the ethereal world, having co-founded the band This Ascension. The group blends standard indie rock with tribal elements and a number of vocal styles including opera, medieval, and traditional folk. In addition, Dru performed in the University of California Santa Barbara Women's Ensemble every quarter for four years while working towards her degree in Classical Latin and Greek.
Discography:
2003 - Mirabilis (EP)
2004 - Pleiades
2008 - Sub Rosa
Nature Boy
Mirabilis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 he
And then one day
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 lyrics to Mirabilis's song Nature Boy are both enchanting and profound. The first verse describes a boy who is strange and enchanted, having wandered far across both land and sea, and though he is shy and sad of eye, he is also very wise. The second verse speaks to a magical encounter between the singer and the boy, during which they spoke of many things, including fools and kings. The boy then imparts a universal truth to the singer, proclaiming that the greatest thing one can ever learn is to love and be loved in return.
The lyrics of "Nature Boy" offer a compelling message about the importance of love, but they are also notable for their origins. The song was written by Eden Ahbez, a musician, poet, and philosopher who lived a bohemian lifestyle in 1940s Los Angeles. Ahbez was inspired to write "Nature Boy" after meeting a young man in Griffith Park who had been living in a cave and surviving on a diet of nuts and fruits. Ahbez saw the young man as a kind of prophet of nature, and his encounter with him inspired the lyrics of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a boy
This song tells the story of a boy who was unlike any other.
A very strange enchanted boy
The boy was strange, but also seemed to possess some kind of magical quality.
They say he wandered very far, very far
The boy was known to have traveled great distances across both land and sea.
Over land and sea
The boy's travels were not confined to just one place, but instead took him far and wide.
A little shy and sad of eye
Despite his magical qualities and travels, the boy was still shy and had a touch of sadness in his eyes.
But very wise was he
Despite his youth and shyness, the boy possessed great wisdom.
And then one day
One fateful day, the boy met the singer of the song.
A magic day he passed my way
The day the boy and speaker met was a magical one.
And while we spoke of many things
During their meeting, the boy and speaker had a conversation covering many topics.
Fools and kings
The conversation between the boy and speaker covered the topics of both foolishness and royalty.
This he said to me:
At some point during their conversation, the boy shared a powerful piece of wisdom with the singer.
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn
The most important lesson you'll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return"
Is to love others and be loved by them in return.
Contributed by Sarah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.