The prompt from Jim:
This week the theme is Heavenly Bodies, Planets, Moon, Sun, Stars suggested by King Ben’s Grandma.
When I read the prompt for this week, I knew exactly what song I would choose. I was immediately thrust back to 1974 when I listened to Cat Stevens daily. I had every one of his albums and I think it was his music that made me fall in love with the sound of a solitary acoustic guitar.
“Boy with a Moon and Star on His Head” is one of my favorite Cat Stevens songs. I am always all about the story a song tells and this is a perfect example of a great story. But first, a little about the man behind the music.
In London in 1948, Cat Stevens was born Steven Demetre Georgiou to a Greek Father and Swedish mother. He released his debut album in 1967 and recorded music until he converted to Islam in 1977. He changed his name to Yusuf Islam and sold all his guitars for charity, married, and began a family. He returned to secular music when his son Yoriyos handed him a guitar he had been hiding (Yoriyos happens to be a spitting image of a young Cat Stevens) in 2006.
Many of his songs reflected strong uplifting meanings, but not all. Some people love to try to assign a hidden meaning to a song that just wasn’t there. Taken from an Entertainment Weekly interview with Chris Willman, he says it himself:
“He pauses and scratches his salt-and-pepper head. “I’m not saying all my songs are like that. There’s a song called ‘Boy With the Moon & Star on His Head’, about a guy who’s just about to get married, has an affair on the way, and then finds a baby left on his doorstep.” A rueful laugh. “I can’t whitewash them all!”
Of course, after his conversion to Islam, he was embroiled in many controversies related to Salman Rushdie, and also about him being banned from entry in the US. You can find all that information if you want to look for it, but for me, this post is about the music and just the music.
“Boy with a Moon and Star on His Head” appeared on the album “Catch Bull at Four” released in 1972. The album reached #1 in the US and #2 in the UK.
”Boy with a Moon and Star on His Head”
Lyrics from Genius.com
[Verse 1]
A gardener’s daughter stopped me on my way
On the day I was to wed
It is you who I wish to share
My body with she said
[Verse 2]
We’ll find a dry place under the sky
With a flower for a bed
And for my joy I will give you a boy
With a moon and star on his head.
[Verse 3]
Her silver hair flowed in the air
Laying waves across the sun
Her hands were like the white sands
And her eyes had diamonds on
[Verse 4]
We left the road and headed up
To the top of the whisper wood
And we walked till we came to where
The holy magnolia stood
[Verse 5]
And there we laid cool in the shade
Singing songs and making love
With the naked earth beneath us
And the universe above
[Verse 6]
The time was late my wedding wouldn’t wait
I was sad but I had to go
So while she was asleep
I kissed her cheek for cheerio
[Verse 7]
The wedding took place and people came
From many miles around
There was plenty merriment
Cider and wine abound
[Verse 8]
But out of all that I recall
I remembered the girl I met
‘Cause she had given me something
That my heart could not forget
[Bridge]
La la la la la la
La-la-la la la la
La-la-la-la-laa la-laa
La-laa la-laaa
[Verse 9]
A year had passed and everything was just
As it was a year before, as if was a year before
Until the gift that someone left
A basket by my door
Song Lyric Sunday is hosted every Sunday by Jim Adams. If you would like to join in the fun, check out his blog for the rules and to take in all the other music posted by other blogger
I never heard this Cat Stevens song before Maggie, thanks for sharing it. What kind of girl gives up her child like that?
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I try not to think too deeply about the whys of the lyrics. I always felt like this child was a gift to the world and never hers (or his really) to keep. I know there are a hundred other interpretations of the lyrics, but that’s what is so great about music, isn’t it?
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It is a very spiritual song, perfect for Cat Stevens.
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A good choice for today, and a nice song if you don’t think about it too hard…
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Thanks, John. I agree. Sometimes music is like reading a short concise novel – it might not be true but you enjoy reading it anyway.
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I had so many choices pop into my head, but I ended up going with a well known song from a British Band.
Stars
Simply Red
Anyone who ever held you
Would tell you the way I’m feeling
Anyone who ever wanted you
Would try to tell you what I feel inside
The only thing I ever wanted
Was the feeling that you ain’t faking
The only one you ever thought about
Wait a minute, can’t you see that I
Wanna fall from the stars
Straight into your arms, I
I feel you, I hope you comprehend
For the man who tried to hurt you
He’s explaining the way I’m feeling
For all the jealousy I caused you
States the reason why I’m trying to hide
As for all the things you taught me
It sends my future into clearer dimensions
You’ll never know how much you hurt me
Stay a minute, can’t you see that I
Wanna fall from the stars
Straight into your arms, I
I feel you, I hope you comprehend
Too many hearts are broken
A lover’s promise never came with a maybe
So many words are left unspoken
The silent voices are driving me crazy
After all the pain you caused me
Making up could never be your intention
You’ll never know how much you hurt me
Stay, can’t you see that I
Wanna fall from the stars
Straight into your arms, I
I feel you, I hope you comprehend, I
Wanna fall from the stars
Straight into your arms, I
I feel you, I hope you comprehend
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Michael James Hucknall
Stars lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, I really like this song, but it is completely new to me. The lyrics are lovely. Thank you for sharing.
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It is from a really nice album. The band was huge here at one time. 🙂
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stars_(Simply_Red_album)
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Thanks for the link, Pete. I always enjoy discovering new music.
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Probably free on Spotify, or anything similar to that. 🙂
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A great choice Maggie. I love everything Cat Stevens and there’s quite often a subliminal lesson in his songs!
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Thanks, Peter. Nice to know he has fans besides me.
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Always liked Cat Steven’s songs. I had never heard this one before so thank you.
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John, it is not one of his better known songs and I do not ever recall it getting any airplay. It is still a favorite of mine.
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I like Forever Young too.
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I love that one, too. It’s funny how those songs change in meaning as we grow older and hopefully wiser.
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That is true for sure. 😊
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Beautiful song, I have always loved Cat Stephens 💜
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Me, too, Willow. He represents (in song) an important part of my life
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He is not only a talented person he is also a good person 💜
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Yes, he is. His charity work is impressive.
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Yes a very good soul 💜
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