A Story In Song

July 15, 2024 00:06:03
A Story In Song
Heart Banter by David Gittlin
A Story In Song

Jul 15 2024 | 00:06:03

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Show Notes

Cat Stevens’ song “The Boy With A Moon And Star On His Head” is a poetic and mystical tale that expresses themes of love, destiny, and the unknown and unexpected. 

The song’s lyrics are replete with metaphors and symbolism, for example, the “holy magnolia” and “naked earth,” which elicit a sense of purity and connection to the universe. Cat Stevens, known for his introspective and spiritual songwriting, uses this narrative to convey a deeper message about the power of love and the unpredictable ways in which destiny unfolds. It is a beautiful story in song, rendered in Stevens’ unique style. 

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Episode Transcript

[00:00:08] Speaker A: Gardener's daughter stopped me on my way. [00:00:12] Speaker B: On the day I was duet. It is you who I wish to share my body with, she said. [00:00:28] Speaker A: We'll find a dry place, the sky. [00:00:33] Speaker B: With a flower for a bed. For my joy I will give you a boy with a moon and star on his head. [00:00:59] Speaker A: Her silver hair flowed through the air. [00:01:04] Speaker B: Lay in waves across the sun. Her hands were like the white sands. [00:01:18] Speaker C: Then her eyes had diamonds on. [00:01:23] Speaker A: We left the road and headed up. [00:01:28] Speaker B: To the top of the wisp of. [00:01:31] Speaker A: Wood. [00:01:34] Speaker B: And we walked till we came to where the holy magnolia stood. [00:01:50] Speaker A: There he lay cool in the shade. [00:01:55] Speaker B: Singing songs and making love with the. [00:02:03] Speaker C: Naked earth beneath us and the universe above. [00:02:17] Speaker A: O la la la. [00:02:29] Speaker C: Ladae. [00:02:39] Speaker A: The time was late, my wedding wouldn't wait. [00:02:43] Speaker B: I was sad but I had to. [00:02:46] Speaker A: Go. [00:02:49] Speaker B: So while she was asleep I kissed her chica. Cheerio. [00:02:59] Speaker A: The wedding took place people came from. [00:03:04] Speaker B: Many miles round there was plenty merriment. [00:03:16] Speaker C: Cider and wine about. [00:03:21] Speaker A: But out of all did I recall I remember the girl I methadore she had given me. [00:03:34] Speaker C: Something that my heart could not forget. [00:03:42] Speaker A: O la la la la. [00:03:53] Speaker C: Ladae. [00:04:03] Speaker A: A year had passed and everything was. [00:04:07] Speaker B: Just as it was the year before until the gift that someone left a basket by my door. [00:04:23] Speaker A: And in La the fairy's little baby. [00:04:28] Speaker B: Crying to be fair, I got down on my knees and kissed the moon and star. [00:04:41] Speaker C: Oh, oh on his head. [00:04:53] Speaker A: The years went by, the boy grew high and the village looked on. You know, they'd never seen anything like. [00:05:06] Speaker B: A boy with a moon and star before. [00:05:12] Speaker A: And the people would write from far and wide just to seek the word he spread. [00:05:23] Speaker B: I'll tell you everything I've learned and love is all he said. [00:05:34] Speaker A: O la.

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