26 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Moonshadow Lyrics
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moon shadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land
Oh if I ever lose my hands, Oh if I won't have to work no more
And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry
Yes if I ever lose my eyes, Oh if I won't have to cry no more
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moon shadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my legs, I won't moan, and I won't beg
Yes if I ever lose my legs, Oh if I won't have to walk no more
And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south
Yes if I ever lose my mouth, Oh if I won't have to talk
Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light
Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night
Moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Oh if I ever lose my hands, Oh if I won't have to work no more
Yes if I ever lose my eyes, Oh if I won't have to cry no more
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Yes if I ever lose my legs, Oh if I won't have to walk no more
Yes if I ever lose my mouth, Oh if I won't have to talk
Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I think this song is about how we are all stalked by the dark possibility of tragedy (followed by a moon shadow) but he has decided that he won't let it it oppress him. In fact he plays with it (leaping and hoping on a moon shadow) by finding something freeing in any tragedy (the rest of the song).
@gnosis Pretty much what I came here to type almost a decade later. I whole-hearted agree he is "playing" [respectfully] with tragedy/fate when he addresses it directly:
@gnosis Pretty much what I came here to type almost a decade later. I whole-hearted agree he is "playing" [respectfully] with tragedy/fate when he addresses it directly:
"Did it take long to find me? (I asked the faithful light.) Did it take long to find me ...And are you gonna stay the night?"
"Did it take long to find me? (I asked the faithful light.) Did it take long to find me ...And are you gonna stay the night?"
He doesn't complain "Oh why me?" he stops short of apologizing to the dark event for being hard to find and seems ready to prepare it a bed if needed as any gracious host would.
He doesn't complain "Oh why me?" he stops short of apologizing to the dark event for being hard to find and seems ready to prepare it a bed if needed as any gracious host would.
What an ULTIMATE way to...
What an ULTIMATE way to achieve some semblance of peace in the clutches of despair.
It's to me about knowing someone has faith in you. That faith follows you through life and gets you through the tough times when you don't think you'll make it.
This is my favorite song ever. It's gorgeous and everything I want to know. It's sort of my theme song.
Yeah, and btw, the 'moon shadow' part means that the moon is giving off enough light to create a shadow, just not as bright as on those sunny days. sort of a metaphore.
An amazingly spiritual, stoic, philosophical, dauntless song for a 22 year old to write. To call it a pop song would be to totally underestimate its depth and not to fully understand its purport and wisdom. Here Cat Stevens is taking a hard, fearless look at the misfortunes that can befall us, that life can bring and does bring, perhaps in the form of illnesses, impairments, disabilities etc and he is saying: "so what, I know we are mortal, somehow I will still try and enjoy life and live the moment to the full with whatever I have." He does it in such a poetic way that we hardly realise what he is in fact saying. However, when the message finally fully hits you, it is so powerful that the song should make anyone human choke up and break down in tears!
He fell ill with tuberculosis at the age of 21, one year before writing this song and this could well explain the inspiration for the words. The text is one of the strangest mixtures of downbeat and upbeat I have ever come across. But the positive power of a brave spirit comes across strongest.
@Ser Took the words out of my mouth!
@Ser Took the words out of my mouth!
this song means a lot to me cuz my dad sang it to me when i was little, and supposidly it was the first song i ever sang. i was about 2 and outta nowhere i started singing with him. my favorite line is "if i ever lose my eyes/ if my colors all run dry" i think das so cool beans...
my daddy sang this to me too! it makes me cry every time I hear now, because I think of him
my daddy sang this to me too! it makes me cry every time I hear now, because I think of him
This song to me is saying that there is always some good in everything you just have to find it. The moonshadow is the light of the moon in the darkness of the night.
i dont think these lyrics are quite correct....but this song is so so wonderful. Cat Stevens amazes me! His voice is so comforting. I believe he referred to this song as his 'positive mantra.' It's a positive outlook on life, to make the best of everything and see the beauty in the world, and about having that faith to guide you along and support you, keeping you optimistic. Cat is GOD
renataa is correct. The lyrics are quite botched.
As far as song meaning...it's about turning lemons into lemonade and whatnot.
Ah, i remember when i bought "Tease and the Firecat", I got through it, heard some songs i really loved (rubylove, morning has broken) but when i heard this one, with all the things going on in the world, i think this was the best song on that record. I remember how i thought of it then. I though it was about you know, resilience, and positive thinking. Good song, really good song.