Now I've been happy lately
Thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be
Something good has begun
Oh, I've been smiling lately
Dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be
Someday it's going to come
'Cause I'm on the edge of darkness
There ride the Peace Train
Oh, Peace Train take this country
Come take me home again
Peace Train -- Cat Stevens
Do you remember Yusuf Islam? It's not likely that this name rings any sort of bell. How about Cat Stevens? You would certainly know who he is, if you're a Baby Boomer who enjoyed folk rock in the 1960's and 1970's. Stevens was a huge star around the world with his original songs and a cover of a Christian hymn, Morning Has Broken. Through the years people relatively new to the church were surprised to discover that one of their favourite pop songs was a venerable piece of church music.
Then Cat Stevens disappeared without a ripple. We discovered years later that he had converted to Islam and a fundamentalist form of the religion which convinced him that music was a frivolous and even profane expression, so he gave it up. He even changed his name as part of his conversion. Steven Demetre Georgiou, stage-named Cat Stevens, became Yusuf Islam, or just Yusuf. For twenty years or more he did not write secular music or perform or allow his songs to be used in films.While this conversion seemed sudden and mystifying to most of us he says that his exploration of spirituality was slow and steady, His interpretation of Muslim faith became so radical that he ended up on a watch list which prohibited him from entering the United States.
A few years ago Yusuf had another conversion of sorts, a realization that secular music, including his own, is a valid and meaningful form of expression. He reemerged although the name change and his Muslim faith are still with him.
We've been hearing about a re-release of one of his most successful albums called Tea for the Tillerman on its-gulp - 50th anniversary. He was supposed to go on tour to promote it but the pandemic put paid to that plan. He actually re-recorded and re-imagined all the songs. I'm intrigued to find out that he duets with himself on the song Father And Son, playing both parts, via a recording of a landmark 1970 show from L.A.'s Troubadour.
I think it's wonderful that he's doing this in his early 70's. It's an affirmation of music as a gift from God, not something which is to be treated with suspicion. It's also reminds me, once again, that religious fundamentalism in any faith too often robs life of its joy and creativity. Rather than being faithful it robs us of faith in a living God.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16NgjoYIL9c
Watch the Where Do the Children Play stop action video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBCJhNiKhFE
4 comments:
I had the Tea for the Tillerman album - oved "Moon Shadow " and Where do the "Children Play?". Believe it or not, it was the first time I knew of "Morning Has Broken", an I always remember Cat Stevens when I sing that hymn. (John Denver, and "Annie's Song" and "The Flower that Shattered the Stone" were right up there with my favourites, as well) Thanks for sharing this story - I did not realize what had happened to Yusuf.
It also reminded me that “it ain’t over till it’s over”
I have all his albums. Was listening to one yesterday.
Hey, we're all of a certain vintage and so the music resonates with our youth/young adulthood. I was a rock fan in that era but I did enjoy Cat Stevens, and until a few years ago wondered where he had gone. Musicians in their 70's...do I feel an album coming on Lynn? Good to hear from each of you!
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