Never gets old

 




You know what else never grows old for me ... the Music of Cat Stevens

See his 2023 concert at Glastonbury at https://youtu.be/PA5EgvX_8js and the original with a brief bio at https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9lBlZ0Mj5p0

Cat Stevens aka Yusuf Islam aka Yusuf / Cat Stevens


Cat Stevens (born Steven Demetre Georgiou on July 21, 1948, in London, England) is a British singer-songwriter and musician known for his introspective lyrics, gentle melodies, and distinctive voice. He rose to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s with a string of successful albums ('Tea for the Tillerman' and 'Teaser and the Firecat') and hit songs like 'Wild World', 'Father and Son', 'Moonshadow' and 'Peace Train'.

His songs often explore timeless themes—self-discovery, spiritual searching, love, loss, and father-son relationships. Tracks like "Father and Son" and "The Wind" feel intimate yet speak to nearly everyone’s life journey.

His soothing, slightly raspy voice conveys sincerity and vulnerability, making even simple melodies emotionally rich. His use of acoustic guitar, piano, and folk-inspired melodies makes his music accessible, singable, and enduring - great for sing-alongs and campfires

Then, suddenly, a near-death experience in 1977 made him give it all up for a life of spirituality. Cat Stevens gave up music in 1978, a year after officially converting to Islam and changing his name to Yusuf Islam because he felt that the music industry which encouraged ego, materialism, and vanity, were at odds with his spiritual beliefs.

He remained musically silent for nearly three decades, but eventually returned to the limelight to sign his old tunes under the name Yusuf / Cat Stevens. 

His music never seems to grow old ...


Lyrics of Wild World


[Intro]
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la, la, la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la, la, la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la, la, la-la, la

[Verse 1]
Now that I've lost everything to you
You say you wanna start something new
And it's breakin' my heart you're leavin'
Baby, I'm grievin'
But if you wanna leave, take good care
Hope you have a lot of nice things to wear
But then a lot of nice things turn bad out there

[Chorus]
Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
It's hard to get by just upon a smile
Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
I'll always remember you like a child, girl

[Verse 2]
You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do
And it's breakin' my heart in two
Because I never wanna see you sad, girl
Don't be a bad girl
But if you wanna leave, take good care
Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware
Beware
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[Chorus]
Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
And it's hard to get by just upon a smile
Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
And I'll always remember you like a child, girl

[Bridge]
...la-la-la-la-la-la-la, la, la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la la la-la, la

Baby, I love you
But if you wanna leave, take good care
Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware
Beware

[Chorus]
Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
It's hard to get by just upon a smile
Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
And I'll always remember you like a child, girl
Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
And it's hard to get by just upon a smile
Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
And I'll always remember you like a child, girl


Comments

Anonymous said…
Omigosh! I absolutely love Cat Stevens from the first time I heard him in 1971...the album was 'Tea for the Tillerman', but I love all his songs...a student even gifted me a sheet music album of them...they taught me a lot about life, values, uncomfortable truth, along with wonderful music...I never criticized him for turning to Islam in those days, in the thick of the cold war...it was quite a time of hopelessness for young people who had experienced post-war privations, seen the devastation of their parents and their cities...I remember the shock of realisation when I first heard 'Where Do The Children Play?'.... (A friend on WhatsApp)
May 3, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Kieran said…
Same here. His religious beliefs didn’t change his musicality for me. Sad though that he stepped away for 3 decades. How many more tunes would’ve could’ve should’ve been, we’ll never know. But it is what it is and we are grateful for his music. - Kieran
May 3, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Anonymous said…
I love Cat Stevens' song
' MORNING HAS BROKEN ' (A friend on WhatsApp)
May 3, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Kieran said…
They sing it in our church as a hymn. It has a heavenly feeling to it - Kieran
May 3, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Anonymous said…
Yes , I was introduced to it only since last academic year. Beautiful song played at our church, too, by Caroline Dmello neé Menezes. (Reply to the above comment on WhatsApp)
May 3, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Anonymous said…
Wild World — grew up with this as my fav song. Reminds me of being in Woodstock NY a few years ago and ran into this most excellent street performer doing a Cat Stevens rendition: https://photos.app.goo.gl/E6NX2ePRyJC8mfbQ8
May 3, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Kieran said…
Ditto. Grew up on a diet of ‘Tea for the Tillerman’ abd ‘Firecat and the Teaser’. Some things never get old.

Loved the street performance. Wow!! You can feel the angst of the dilemma between ‘Father and Son’ in his voice and guitar playing. - Kieran
May 3, 2025 at 8:42 PM
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