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Nature Boy
Moulin Rouge 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
And sad of eye
Was he
And then one day
The 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 Moulin Rouge.
A nightclub.
A dancehall and a bardello.
Kingdom of night time pleasures.
Where the rich and powerful
Came to play with the young
And beautiful creatures of the underworld.
The most beautiful of all these was the woman I loved.
Satine.
A courtesan.
She sold her love to men.
They called her the sparkling diamond
And she was the star
Of the Moulin Rouge
The lyrics of Nature Boy from Moulin Rouge tell a story of a strange and enchanted boy who wandered far and wide over land and sea. He was a bit shy and sad but very wise. One day, he crossed paths with the songwriter, and they spoke of many things, including fools and kings, and then the boy said the most important thing he'd ever learn was just to love and be loved in return. The rest of the song alludes to the Moulin Rouge, which was a nightclub, dance hall, and bordello. The singer reminisces about a courtesan named Satine, who was the most beautiful of all the young and beautiful creatures who frequented the Moulin Rouge. She was called the sparkling diamond and was the star of the place, selling her love to men.
The song is essentially about the power of love and the importance of being open to it, even if society views it as unconventional or strange. The strange enchanted boy in the song symbolizes a sort of free spirit who is open to love and life and all its mysteries. The storyteller sees the beauty in that and is reminiscing about the love that he once had for Satine, a courtesan, who wasn't motivated by the same pure love but still managed to teach him the valuable lesson of just loving for the sake of it.
Line by Line Meaning
This story is about Love, the woman I Loved is dead
The story is centered around a man who has lost the woman he loved, and his longing for her is what motivates him.
There was a boy
The story begins with the introduction of a boy, who represents a mystical and magical presence in the world.
A very strange, enchanted boy
The boy is described as strange and enchanted, suggesting that he possesses otherworldly abilities and qualities that are beyond human comprehension.
They say he wandered very far, very far / Over land and sea
The boy is said to have traveled far and wide, suggesting that he has been on a journey of self-discovery and exploration.
A little shy / And sad of eye / But very wise / Was he
Despite his mystical qualities, the boy is also characterized as shy and sad, which suggests that he has experienced pain and suffering in his life, but has gained great wisdom from those experiences.
And then one day / The magic day he passed my way / And while we spoke of many things / Fools and kings / This he said to me
The singer encounters the boy, and they engage in a conversation about life, including topics such as the nature of power and the follies of humanity.
"The greatest thing / You'll ever learn / Is just to love / And be loved / In return."
The boy imparts his wisdom to the singer, emphasizing that the most important thing in life is to give and receive love.
The Moulin Rouge.
The Moulin Rouge is introduced as the setting for the story, symbolizing the allure and danger of the underworld.
A nightclub. / A dancehall and a bardello. / Kingdom of night time pleasures.
The Moulin Rouge is described as a place of decadent entertainment, where people indulge in all sorts of sensual pleasures.
Where the rich and powerful / Came to play with the young / And beautiful creatures of the underworld.
The Moulin Rouge is suggested to be a place where the wealthy and influential go to seek out liaisons with the beautiful and exotic courtesans who work there.
The most beautiful of all these was the woman I loved. / Satine. / A courtesan. / She sold her love to men. / They called her the sparkling diamond / And she was the star / Of the Moulin Rouge
The singer reveals that the woman he loved, Satine, was a beautiful courtesan who worked at the Moulin Rouge, and who was highly sought after by the wealthy clientele. Despite her profession, the singer saw her as a star, and cherished her deeply.
Contributed by Miles Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.