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Just relax, take it easy
You're still young, that's your fault
There's so much you have to know
Find a girl, settle down
If you want, you can marry
Look at me
I am old, but I'm happy
I was once like you are now
And I know that it's not easy
To be calm when you've found
Something going on
But take your time, think a lot
Why, think of everything you've got
For you will still be here tomorrow
But your dreams may not
How can I try to explain?
'Cause when I do, he turns away again
It's always been the same
Same old story
From the moment I could talk
I was ordered to listen
Now there's a way, and I know
That I have to go away
I know I have to go
It's not time to make a change
Just sit down, take it slowly
You're still young, that's your fault
There's so much you have to go through
Find a girl, settle down
If you want, you can marry
Look at me
I am old, but I'm happy
All the times that I've cried
Keeping all the things I knew inside
It's hard
But it's harder to ignore it
If they were right, I'd agree
But it's them they know, not me
Now there's a way, and I know
That I have to go away
I know I have to go
"You're still young, that's your fault."
Argh!! -- have always disliked that line. Do we get to choose when we're born?
Birthdate irrelevant! Choosing to take adult responsibility can happen at any and every age!!!
Fathers, are you crying?
Thank god, i have no kids.
No, some of us fathers are not crying. I'll bet my two sons, now fathers themselves, aren't crying, either.
I thought this song was sentimental crap when it came out. Fifty years later... and I still think it's sentimental crap.
However, this HAS happened: I am old, but I'm happy.
Argh!! -- have always disliked that line. Do we get to choose when we're born?
Sentimental clap trap. If you want to listen to music from that time try John Martyn. He's such an opinionated sob
You sound angry. I recommend a high colonic.
Thank god, i have no kids.
This album is on my top 10 of all time list. Right along side Exile on Main Street.
One HUNDRED percent!
Amazing insight as a songwriter given that he wouldn't be a father himself for another ten years.
An incredible album that is seemingly timeless.
I am old, but I'm happy.
This song makes me happy.
What he said.
September 1, 1939
I sit in one of the dives
On Fifty-second Street
Uncertain and afraid
As the clever hopes expire
Of a low dishonest decade:
Waves of anger and fear
Circulate over the bright
And darkened lands of the earth,
Obsessing our private lives;
The unmentionable odour of death
Offends the September night.
Accurate scholarship can
Unearth the whole offence
From Luther until now
That has driven a culture mad,
Find what occurred at Linz,
What huge imago made
A psychopathic god:
I and the public know
What all schoolchildren learn,
Those to whom evil is done
Do evil in return.
Exiled Thucydides knew
All that a speech can say
About Democracy,
And what dictators do,
The elderly rubbish they talk
To an apathetic grave;
Analysed all in his book,
The enlightenment driven away,
The habit-forming pain,
Mismanagement and grief:
We must suffer them all again.
Into this neutral air
Where blind skyscrapers use
Their full height to proclaim
The strength of Collective Man,
Each language pours its vain
Competitive excuse:
But who can live for long
In an euphoric dream;
Out of the mirror they stare,
Imperialism's face
And the international wrong.
Faces along the bar
Cling to their average day:
The lights must never go out,
The music must always play,
All the conventions conspire
To make this fort assume
The furniture of home;
Lest we should see where we are,
Lost in a haunted wood,
Children afraid of the night
Who have never been happy or good.
The windiest militant trash
Important Persons shout
Is not so crude as our wish:
What mad Nijinsky wrote
About Diaghilev
Is true of the normal heart;
For the error bred in the bone
Of each woman and each man
Craves what it cannot have,
Not universal love
But to be loved alone.
From the conservative dark
Into the ethical life
The dense commuters come,
Repeating their morning vow;
"I will be true to the wife,
I'll concentrate more on my work,"
And helpless governors wake
To resume their compulsory game:
Who can release them now,
Who can reach the deaf,
Who can speak for the dumb?
All I have is a voice
To undo the folded lie,
The romantic lie in the brain
Of the sensual man-in-the-street
And the lie of Authority
Whose buildings grope the sky:
There is no such thing as the State
And no one exists alone;
Hunger allows no choice
To the citizen or the police;
We must love one another or die.
Defenceless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame.
You are correct Nepture Jeff, if we are to all survive this world, we must all learn to accept each other, with just a little bit of love.
What he said.
You are correct Nepture Jeff, if we are to all survive this world, we must all learn to accept each other, with just a little bit of love.
Soooo jealous.
Sadly he became less wise and more ignorant with age.
Great song.
And then I revel in my humanness. Or maybe it's relief.
With you in spirit, my friend.
Stop listening as you like but Cat/Yusuf has repeatedly denied calling for Rushdie's head. He said his comments were simply an interpretation of Islamic Law (or as a bad joke gone awry). Sort of like some would tell you that the Bible says homosexuals are an abomination. All open to interpretation but.... doesn't sound like a great reason to stop listening to such a great musician.
Now i have 2 boys.
This now pulls on my heartstrings from both directions.
Love, love, love this song.
Beautiful song and lyrics, sorry it was difficult for you with your dad, but glad you are happy now :-)
Never heard this song on RP before. Stopped me in my tracks.
Thank you for sharing your experience. Peace.
I agree with you. My young kids are learning the words now too. Its very special music to me.
- Nice Self-Actualized line from a more experienced POV....
But, I think Yusuf identified with the younger, more naive POV.
After all "I know that it's not easy, To be calm when you've found something going on."
Lots "Going on" in this life therefore:
It's not time to make a change,
Just sit down, take it slowly.
You're still young, that's your fault,
There's so much you have to go through.
Find a girl, settle down,
If you want you can marry.
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy.
Timeless song......
PS: Don't let the "Goings On" of life steal your happiness + Peace to Cat Stevens - thanks for the music
unclehud wrote:
That line was like a lightning bolt then, just as it was fifteen minutes ago: the highest goal of a human life.
I remember how bummed my dad was when Cat stopped making music. I'm glad he's since concluded that his music is not in conflict with his spirituality.
The entire album is a true masterpiece, start to finish.
Never heard this song on RP before. Stopped me in my tracks.
Blessings to you.
Never heard this song on RP before. Stopped me in my tracks.
Wonderful story.
Never heard this song on RP before. Stopped me in my tracks.
That line was like a lightning bolt then, just as it was fifteen minutes ago: the highest goal of a human life.
...guitar class in high school, can't remember teachers name, but I can see him jumping all over the room
making sure we got these chords right!!
Telling us how the son is singing back to his father.....
...I'm getting old....
"Lost his way"? I expect he'd say he'd found his way. Still, I also wish he'd kept making music like this.
Makes me want to go and get my 12 year old son out of school and take him to the beach where he can enjoy his youth and I can enjoy him.
Do it man. You won't regret it.
Makes me want to go and get my 12 year old son out of school and take him to the beach where he can enjoy his youth and I can enjoy him.
Great sentiment. I hear you all the way.
WOW! Hoping I wasn't the only one who thought Cat was ripping off the FLips...
Yeah... no, it's the other way around. :(
Find an old fashioned girl . . ."
Lol I was just about to write how I wore a hole in this album when I was a kid... I never got into much else he did, but who cares - great, great record.
WOW! Hoping I wasn't the only one who thought Cat was ripping off the FLips...
It is worth recalling here that after the lapse of more than 45 years after the entry of Singer-songwriter Cat Stevens on the music scene, then 18 y old, and despite all the hardships and hiatus that across Stevens life , it remains one of the most listened artists, most wanted, and most popular of Planet Earth. His charisma, attitude, humility, aesthetic sense, super-magnificent melodies, their lyrics expressing deep feelings, his unique voice, finds an echo in people. Is a inspiration for new generations of musicians. It's not that there are so many human beings who pass through a lifetime and be worthy to continue to deserve the admiration and support of audiences around the world. Their songs persist.
Notable instruments: Baldwin Piano, Epiphone Casino, Epiphone EJ-200, Fender Rhodes, Fender Telecaster, Gibson Everly Brothers, Flattop, Gibson ES-335, Gibson J-200, Hagstrom BJ12, Ovation electro-acoustic Guitar.
Beyond that... enjoy your lives people!
Cat/Yusuf, peaceful travels and thanks for some great music!
Seriously? I'll address this one item at a time.
1) Name a single religion that does not rely on obedience to authority? They all (with a VERY few exceptions) speak of the ultimate authority of a God.
2) Monks renounce worldly possessions, as well as nuns and many priests. Also, missionaries generally have little by the way of worldly possessions. Does this mean that they have sunk "into the netherworld of worldly renunciation and religious fervor"? Many artists were influenced by their religions ideals, and for that they are not known for being a follower of that religion unless they want to be known as such.
3) Isn't that generally an indication of a good song/artist? The Beatles had many songs that had a different feel than what was popular at the time. Were they good in in spite of that? I always felt that they were great because of that.
It really sounds like you are saying that you like this song in spite of the fact that Cat Stevens became a Muslim. Am I completely off the mark here?
Addressing: #1 The SOTIL of the Hannu religion do not recognize any absolute authority. The Grand Imperial Omnipotent Hannu, while being the only recognized deity, is also recognized as being flawed. i.e. Absolute power does NOT equal perfection. #2 The SOTIL (followers of Hannu) do not renounce worldly possessions but neither do they revel in them. #3 "Variety is the spice of life." Diversity in music keeps things interresting. Just like some musicians or artists burn-out on drugs or the trappings of wealth, it seems like Cat/Yusuf burned out on religion.
And I'm sure all 3 followers are better for it.. Sorry, just a little (very little) religion humor.
I just find making assumptions based on a person's religion leads to things like profiling, jihad, extermination attempts, and general ignorance.
Seriously? I'll address this one item at a time.
1) Name a single religion that does not rely on obedience to authority? They all (with a VERY few exceptions) speak of the ultimate authority of a God.
2) Monks renounce worldly possessions, as well as nuns and many priests. Also, missionaries generally have little by the way of worldly possessions. Does this mean that they have sunk "into the netherworld of worldly renunciation and religious fervor"? Many artists were influenced by their religions ideals, and for that they are not known for being a follower of that religion unless they want to be known as such.
3) Isn't that generally an indication of a good song/artist? The Beatles had many songs that had a different feel than what was popular at the time. Were they good in in spite of that? I always felt that they were great because of that.
It really sounds like you are saying that you like this song in spite of the fact that Cat Stevens became a Muslim. Am I completely off the mark here?
Addressing: #1 The SOTIL of the Hannu religion do not recognize any absolute authority. The Grand Imperial Omnipotent Hannu, while being the only recognized deity, is also recognized as being flawed. i.e. Absolute power does NOT equal perfection. #2 The SOTIL (followers of Hannu) do not renounce worldly possessions but neither do they revel in them. #3 "Variety is the spice of life." Diversity in music keeps things interresting. Just like some musicians or artists burn-out on drugs or the trappings of wealth, it seems like Cat/Yusuf burned out on religion.
Seriously? I'll address this one item at a time.
1) Name a single religion that does not rely on obedience to authority? They all (with a VERY few exceptions) speak of the ultimate authority of a God.
2) Monks renounce worldly possessions, as well as nuns and many priests. Also, missionaries generally have little by the way of worldly possessions. Does this mean that they have sunk "into the netherworld of worldly renunciation and religious fervor"? Many artists were influenced by their religions ideals, and for that they are not known for being a follower of that religion unless they want to be known as such.
3) Isn't that generally an indication of a good song/artist? The Beatles had many songs that had a different feel than what was popular at the time. Were they good in in spite of that? I always felt that they were great because of that.
It really sounds like you are saying that you like this song in spite of the fact that Cat Stevens became a Muslim. Am I completely off the mark here?
One of my all time favorites also.