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Never
Dec 10, 2007 11:15:44 GMT -5
Post by tigerlilly on Dec 10, 2007 11:15:44 GMT -5
Hi there! I´ve been listening to Never which is on the BAck to Earth album and I asked myself, who it is that Cat is talking to. I have the impression that he might adress himself by the word "you". maybe it´s the fans... anyway, is there anybody who can help me?
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Never
Dec 10, 2007 17:07:54 GMT -5
Post by Vivian on Dec 10, 2007 17:07:54 GMT -5
Since Cat had pretty much become Yusuf by this time, I think he is referring to God. I may be wrong, but that's my hunch.
Peace,Vivian
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Never
Dec 10, 2007 23:38:18 GMT -5
Post by suncatcher on Dec 10, 2007 23:38:18 GMT -5
Hi there! I´ve been listening to Never which is on the BAck to Earth album and I asked myself, who it is that Cat is talking to. I have the impression that he might adress himself by the word "you". maybe it´s the fans... anyway, is there anybody who can help me? Hi, Tigerlily! Welcome to Majicat. Great question! Of course, only Yusuf can really help you. But I always thought he was talking both to himself and to someone else - this could be a "friend" (such as a woman who loves him, but he cannot return her love because of his new faith) or his fans, as you suggest. It's like what he describes in his introduction to "Sad Lisa" during his 1976 Earth Tour: This next song is written - was written - about an original - it's a - it's a real - a real friend I had - but, I dunno, sometimes when I write songs I think I'm talking about myself sometimes - quite a lot, I should think. Everything you read into other people's faces, it may be what you may - it may be what you are yourself, you know. And so, maybe this song has more to do with me than it has to do with 'Lisa.'
I think "Never" is also about his conversion to Islam: "And it'll always be spring" and "There's going to be another kingdom" refer to the next life. So, it's a wistful song of goodbye as he travels on, on his personal journey. He is sad to know he'll be leaving this world and his "friend": "There'll never be another you." And it's lonely here on earth , and with his conversion, he's leaving behind his casual relationships with women. So, I think "love" refers both to his "friend" and to the idea of physical love, which he's leaving behind. But he can't totally let go, so he declares: "I will be there when you need me Darling, you just have to say But you know I'll be there anyway" In spite of all this, this world will go on: "I know there'll be another spring," and "There's so much left for you to do." Yusuf also does this intermixing of physical love and the spiritual in "Heaven/Where True Love Goes." In a recent article, Back In The Spotlight, Yusuf is asked about "Heaven/Where True Love Goes." He answers: . . . that song was written for a musical I am working on called "Moon Shadow." It's a complex sort of story but it's about someone who is looking for a perfect world and he's going through all these trials in order to reach his ultimate goal. And of course at some point there's a relationship with his childhood love and that's the story in the background. So that song in a way is fulfillment of his love, as well as his finding his spiritual heart. The difference with "Never" is that he leaves his love unfulfilled when he finds his spiritual heart. That's why it's so sad and wistful - and bittersweet. That's my personal interpretation. I think a good song is open to interpretation, and "Never" is a great song, and could therefore mean something totally different to someone else, and that would be just as valid as what it means to me . . . Does anyone have any other ideas? Never
I know there'll be another time There's going to be another moment There'll never be another you
There's going to be another story There's so much left for you to do
Love
There'll never be another you
There's going to be another spring And it won't always be winter And it'll always be spring
There's going to be another kingdom There's so much left for you to know
Love
There'll never be another you
I will be there when you need me Darling, you just have to say But you know I'll be there anyway
You've got to have faith in me, darling Got to have faith in yourself Faith in your wealth
I know there'll be another spring And it won't always be winter And it'll always be spring
There's going to be another story There's so much left for you to know
Love
There'll never be another you There'll never be another you There'll never be another you
Love~Sun~
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Never
Dec 11, 2007 10:43:01 GMT -5
Post by tigerlilly on Dec 11, 2007 10:43:01 GMT -5
Thank you very much! wow I´m really surprised to get such quick and detailled answers - especially from you suncatcher! You´ve helped me a lot. the words he says before Sad Lisa match in a way, you´re right and you showed an interesting connection between Never and Heaven/where true love goes. I guess it´s a good way of interpreting by using these two dimensions of a friend/love and the spiritual heart. - and as a third himself. ... is it possible that with the words "there´ll never be another you" he refers to his own person as Cat Stevens? tigerlilly
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Never
Dec 12, 2007 12:08:36 GMT -5
Post by suncatcher on Dec 12, 2007 12:08:36 GMT -5
Yes, tigerlilly - absolutely - a kind of farewell to the old Cat Stevens, who didn't die, but became someone new. I think the song can generally be interpreted as Cat/Yusuf speaking to himself and looking inward. In this case, I imagine the lines I will be there when you need me Darling, you just have to say But you know I'll be there anyway
You've got to have faith in me, darling Got to have faith in yourself Faith in your wealthas a point where he suddenly, in the midst of his self-reflection, somewhat guiltily remembers his "darling" and reassures her and himself that he's not totally deserting her. So, the song still feels like a "goodbye" to me, as Yusuf continues on his journey. It reminds me of a high school graduation - a sad farewell to our younger selves, our friends, our high school sweetheart - but also a commencement of the next part of our life's journey. Also, "There'll never be another you" strikes me as a double entendre - (1) the old you has gone, but also, (2) you are unique, you have only one you, one life, so carry on and make the most of this one life that you have to live. So it's about how we have to let go of the past to gain both today and tomorrow. This article is interesting: “In Order To Be, You Must Give Up What You Are.” In it, Yusuf says, "The metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly is one of the greatest mysteries of life. When I think about the various phases of my life, I see everything as a metamorphosis, as a constant evolution, an unending search for happiness." He also mentions a ". . . wise saying, that I picked up from a philosopher, he was called, I believe, Eckhart . . . He said, 'In order to be, you must give up what you are.' I believe that to be very profound. Very profound. That’s roughly what I did." I really love your questions, tigerlilly! What are your thoughts? ~Sun~
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Never
Dec 14, 2007 11:33:01 GMT -5
Post by m@kansascity on Dec 14, 2007 11:33:01 GMT -5
I always thought about this beautiful song as a farewell song to Cat Stevens and his fans, but now sound like a prophetic song as well
I know there'll be another spring And it won't always be winter And it'll always be spring
back in those days, we never thought that one day there would have been really "another spring" for him, a new musical spring and
There's going to be another story There's so much left for you to know
we never thought that would have been a new musical story as well
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Never
Dec 15, 2007 13:20:03 GMT -5
Post by suncatcher on Dec 15, 2007 13:20:03 GMT -5
I always thought about this beautiful song as a farewell song to Cat Stevens and his fans, but now sound like a prophetic song as well I know there'll be another spring And it won't always be winter And it'll always be spring back in those days, we never thought that one day there would have been really "another spring" for him, a new musical spring and There's going to be another story There's so much left for you to know we never thought that would have been a new musical story as well Yes, "a new musical spring" and "a new musical story". So nicely said, Max. Also, I know there'll be another time There's going to be another moment. . . so I think we can add "a new musical time" and "a new musical moment". I recall Yusuf saying that many of his songs have been prophetic. It takes your breath away. . . ~Sun~
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Never
Dec 16, 2007 8:55:22 GMT -5
Post by flemmishfangent on Dec 16, 2007 8:55:22 GMT -5
Thanks Suncatcher you are saying it like i tought it Regine
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Never
Dec 16, 2007 12:45:04 GMT -5
Post by kareema113 on Dec 16, 2007 12:45:04 GMT -5
I think that the never ending spring and Kingdom he is referring to is in Jannah... Paradise. Here on Earth we exist in our winter of discontent.
I also think the "you" being referred to is every individual. It is up to the individual to choose his/her path in this life and the one to come.
"There'll never be another you" means that I won't get a second chance to choose my path... it all depends on my actions in this life.
And as far as "I will be there when you need me"... Well he was... on Jan 13 2001. The day my Road to Find Out became the Straight Path of Islam.
May God bless him.
Kareema
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Never
Dec 20, 2007 12:41:14 GMT -5
Post by suncatcher on Dec 20, 2007 12:41:14 GMT -5
Nice interpretation, Kareema. I love how "Never" can mean so many things to so many people. It's universal, without even trying to be, and that's the truth and beauty of its appeal, in my humble opinion.
~Sun~
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