"Nature Boy" is a song by Eden Ahbez, published in 1947. The song tells the story of a "strange enchanted boy", who is said to have "wandered very far... over land and sea". At the end of the song, the narrator learns from the boy that "the greatest thing... is just to love and be loved in return". Nat King Cole's 1948 recording of the song was a major hit and "Nature Boy" has since become a pop and jazz standard, with dozens of major artists interpreting the song.
Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett covered the song for their jazz collaborative album, Cheek to Cheek.
Release
"Nature Boy" was released as the third single from Cheek To Cheek on September 16, 2014.
Performances
Lyrics
[Lady Gaga]
There was a boy
A very strange enchanted boy
They say he wondered very far
Very far over land and sea
A little shy and sad of eye
But very wise was he
[Tony Bennett]
And then one day
One magic day, he passed my way
And as we spoke of many things
Fools and kings, this he said to me
[Both]
The greatest thing you'll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return
[Lady Gaga]
And then one day
One magic day, he passed my way
[Tony Bennett]
And as we spoke of many things
Fools and kings, this he said to me
The greatest thing
[Lady Gaga]
You'll ever learn
[Both]
Is just to love and be loved in return
Credits
Writer and composer | eden ahbez |
Piano | Tom Ranier |
Flute solo | Paul Horn |
Orchestra | |
Orchestra arranged and conducted | Jorge Calandrelli |
Violins | Elena Barere, Jorge Ávila, Laura Bald, Sean Carney, Barbara Danilow, Laura Frautschi, Kristina Musser Gitterman, Sanguen Han, Karen Karlsrud, Yoon Kwon, Ann Leathers, Laura McGinnis, Nancy McAlhaney, Alex Sharpe, Catherine Sim, Sebu Sirinian, Lisa Tipton, Una Tone, Yuri Vodovoz, Xiao-Dong Wang & Nancy Wu, Eric Wyrick & Robert Zubrycki. |
Viola | Vincent Lionti, Sarah Adams, Katherine Anderson, Todd Low, Kimberly Foster Wallace, Martha Mooke & Alissa Smith |
Celli | Richard Locker, Diane Barere, Stephanie Cummins, Jeanne LeBlanc & Sæumm Þorsteinsdóttir & Ellen Westermann. |
Harp | Barbara Allen and Susan Jolles |
Flute | Pamela Sklar and Katherine Fink |
English Horn Oboe | Diane Lesser |
Clarinet | Pavel Vinnitsky |
French Horn | Mike Atkinson, Nancy Billman, Bob Carlisle, Theo Primis and Stewart Rose |
Publishing | Geraldine E. Janowiak d/b/a Golden World (ASCAP) |
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