Exploring Life's Meaning In Cat Stevens" Lyrics

August 14, 2025 00:01:47
Exploring Life's Meaning In Cat Stevens" Lyrics
Heart Banter by David Gittlin
Exploring Life's Meaning In Cat Stevens" Lyrics

Aug 14 2025 | 00:01:47

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Show Notes

Far from old age, Cat Stevens wrote “Oh Very Young” when he was twenty-five. The wisdom in the song surpasses Stevens’ chronology with lines like, “You’re only dancin’ on this Earth for a short while.” Stevens contracted tuberculosis when he was nineteen, and it almost killed him. After that experience, Stevens kept an eye on the Big Picture.

Always the explorer, Stevens sought the meaning and purpose of life, as illustrated in his songs like “On the Road to Find Out.” He eventually converted to Islam in 1977. Around the same time, he permanently left the world stage as a singer and songwriter. In his relatively short career, Cat Stevens left us with a body of music that is still relevant today and, to millions around the world, extremely enjoyable.

Originally, I played this song using a picking method, and then I switched to strumming. I watched a video of Stevens performing the song with a strumming method. I thought, I’ll never be able to play it that fast. To my amazement, I wound up playing the song as fast as Stevens when I strummed it. Interesting. Here’s my cover.

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Episode Transcript

[00:00:08] Oh, very young what will you leave us this time? [00:00:12] You're only dancing on this earth for a short while and though your dreams may toss and turn you now they will vanish away like your dad's best jeans denim blue faded up to the sky and though you want them to last forever you know they never will you know they never will and the patches make the goodbye harders too oh, very young what will you leave us this time? [00:00:54] There'll never be but a chance to change your mind and if you want this world to see a better day Will you carry the words of love with you? Will you ride the great white bird into heaven and know you want to live forever? You know you never will, you know you never will and the goodbye makes the journey harder still oh, very young what will you leave us this time? [00:01:34] You're only dancing on this earth for a short while oh, very young what will you leave us this time?

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2022/10/29/across-the-barrier-of-time/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

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