It's Only Natural Lyrics

Lyric discussion by jackopizzo 

Cover art for It's Only Natural lyrics by Crowded House

Wow I can't believe how many whacked people are out there. This song is about death and dying. Does anyone read anymore? "Shake off this mortal coil"? Does that ring a bell? Hello? "Under the rocks again?" Hello?

I don't think this is about death, per se. "Le petit mort", or the little death, is a French metaphor for the orgasm. That goes well with "you read me like a book that's fallen down between your knees, please let me have my way with you."

When he says, "you and I can shake of this mortal coil", I think he is suggesting that they could enjoy a "little death" together.

Basically, he's begging her for sex, and telling her that there's nothing wrong or dirty about it. "It's only...

I took "under the rocks" to be a play on "on the rocks". So under would therefore be good times

Each of the comments shines a light on different elements of the song. I believe its primarily about relationships and their capacity to allay our existential angst. The song reminds us that we have free will but also that we are part of nature and are drawn toward the natural order of things. One day we will die. When we go with our instincts rather than struggle with them and accept that we have our good and bad sides and we have a start and end of life then relationships can blossom and sustain us through life.