Nature Boy
"Nature Boy" is a song by eden ahbez, published in 1947.
Song origin
Ahbez composed the song about friend and fellow freegan Tribesman Robert Gypsy Boots Bootzin, which told a fantasy of a "strange enchanted boy" "who wandered very far" only to learn that "the greatest gift" "was just to love and be loved in return." The song's melody is based on a Yiddish tune, Schweig Mein Hertz (Be Still My Heart).
Film usage
"Nature Boy" was a primary theme of the film score for the 1948 film The Boy with Green Hair. The original version of the song was used for the film.
It was also the introductory song for the film Moulin Rouge!. See Below
Published versions
All versions:
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Popular versions
The most successful version was recorded by Nat King Cole. Cole's recording was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 15054. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on April 16, 1948 and lasted 15 weeks on the chart, notably peaking at #1.
The Dick Haymes recording was released by Decca Records as catalog number 24439. The flip side was "You Can't Be True, Dear." The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on June 4, 1948 and lasted 4 weeks on the chart, peaking at #16.
The Frank Sinatra recording was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 38210. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on May 28, 1948 and lasted 4 weeks on the chart, peaking at #18.
Cher recorded a very moving version of "Nature Boy" as a tribute to her late former husband, Sonny Bono.
Other versions
A parody named Serutan Yob was recorded by Red Ingle and the Natural Seven. It was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 15210. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on October 1, 1948 and lasted 4 weeks on the chart, peaking at #24.
Moulin Rouge! versions
A version by David Bowie was a major theme in the 2001 musical film Moulin Rouge!. The version contained within the film was, however, sung by cast member and actor John Leguizamo as the non-fictional character of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec during the introductory scenes to the film. Some of the premise for the film was based on the lyrics found within the song, in particular the lines "There was a boy... A very strange, enchanted boy". The lyric "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is (just) to love and be loved in return" is used regularly throughout the film, as a general reminder of the importance of love (being one of the film's central themes).