Year Of The Cat Lyrics
In a country where they turn back time
You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre
Contemplating a crime
She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running
Like a watercolour in the rain
Don't bother asking for explanations
She'll just tell you that she came
In the year of the cat.
As she locks up your arm in hers
And you follow 'till your sense of which direction
Completely disappears
By the blue tiled walls near the market stalls
There's a hidden door she leads you to
These days, she says, I feel my life
Just like a river running through
The year of the cat
And her eyes shine like the moon in the sea
She comes in incense and patchouli
So you take her, to find what's waiting inside
The year of the cat.
And the bus and the tourists are gone
And you've thrown away the choice and lost your ticket
So you have to stay on
But the drum-beat strains of the night remain
In the rhythm of the new-born day
You know sometime you're bound to leave her
But for now you're going to stay
In the year of the cat.
One Saturday evening in 1978 whilst studying at Leeds University Al Stewart was due to play in the refectory. It was the Year of the Cat tour. I had never previously heard of Al Stewart. This was to be one of the most memorable concerts I ever attended. During which AL Stewart explained the meaning of the Year of the Cat and indeed many of his other songs. Most importantly the song is about our failure to make decisions. It about a business man/ company executive who is extremely busy and is flying to a destination in the far east ( on business) when his plane has an unscheduled stop. He leaves the plane along with other passengers. He succumbs to this beautiful woman. By the time he wakes up he realizes the plane has gone and will not be back for some considerable time. His life has changed. That time coinciding with the astrological year of the cat. The significant lyric being “you have thrown away your choice and lost your ticket”. It’s not a decision he would have planned but it’s a good turn in his life events. It’s something he would never otherwise have done. Sometimes decisions have to be made for us. It’s therefore also about fate and coincidences .It evokes the fantasy of the perfect person (for that particular moment in your life) just coming up to you (she doesn’t give you time for questions as she locks up your arms in hers and you follow till your sense of which direction completely disappears) and taking control of your life and taking you to a place which your decision making would never take you to.
@lekdee444 What's really fascinating about this song is that it tells the story of meeting the perfect woman and having one perfect night of love, and it happens in "The Year of the Cat"
@lekdee444 What's really fascinating about this song is that it tells the story of meeting the perfect woman and having one perfect night of love, and it happens in "The Year of the Cat"
... the Chinese Zodiac famously does not have a Year of the Cat. Mr. Stewart is singing about a dream of impossible perfection.
... the Chinese Zodiac famously does not have a Year of the Cat. Mr. Stewart is singing about a dream of impossible perfection.
(And there is no way that's accidental)
(And there is no way that's accidental)
I'm not challenging you - rather this is meant to add to what you've related about choices and decisions.
I'm not challenging you - rather this is meant to add to what you've related about choices and decisions.
@lekdee444 good explanation, thanks!!
@lekdee444 good explanation, thanks!!
@lekdee444 thanks for taking the time to write this here, what a chance find: someone who got the actual explanation from the musician who wrote it. That's rare. You're an exceptional writer too, thanks again
@lekdee444 thanks for taking the time to write this here, what a chance find: someone who got the actual explanation from the musician who wrote it. That's rare. You're an exceptional writer too, thanks again
Many wonderful interpretations of the song posted here, each valid to the individual who feels it.
I subscribe to the sexual adventure/fate taking an unplanned turn idea. The sexual references are so free and natural in the poetic lyrics. But I am surprised that no one has mentioned the instrumental section as an obvious metaphor for lovemaking. The strings start softly like a gentle embrace and exploratory kiss. The Guitar builds on the theme with steadily increasing fervor. A change in modality signals a sharp rise in tension and cellos emphasize a more pulsing beat as passions rise in physicality. As the crescendo reaches it's climax, the saxophone blares out the lovers' cry of release, falling into whimpers of satisfaction. The composition is beautifully erotic as it tells this part of the story without the need for words. Play that section again and note the rise in your pulse and respiration rates.
The song is a wonderful work of art given for us all to enjoy.
I think this might be the best comment on SongMeanings. Once I read it I can never go back to hearing the song the same way. And I am grateful :)
I think this might be the best comment on SongMeanings. Once I read it I can never go back to hearing the song the same way. And I am grateful :)
Beautiful, gentle song. I love the imagery of "running like a watercolor in the rain."
A tourist decides to stay in Casablanca after giving into the temptations of a beautiful seductress. He knows that he won't be with her forever but will stay until the end of the 'Year of the Cat' (from Vietnamese astrology)
This song is about how only a man could fall in love. Like struck by lightning, at the sheer sight of her, without knowing her up front.
That moment when the woman in question realizes she holds all the cards. She can take him anywhere she desires.
He knows he's being a fool but he does it anyway. Willingly loses himself in her mystique. Intuition over reason. Which shows us that falling in love is the oldest and most fundamental part of all of human behavior, superseding everything else if need be.
Especially tourist buses.
YOTC, innocent darling, I believe this entire song has sexual significance behind it
This is one of the most gorgeous melodies ever created. it wows me every time
This person, this man, has escaped from his real life. He has gone somewhere and he has fallen in love....maybe not love but he is totally head over heels for this woman and i think the way they describe this love affair....it almost makes me cry! hah.
she's wild. she shows him things. bottom line- fabulous song.
But the drum-beat strains of the night remain In the rhythm of the new-born day.....cant get much better than that
I was on the radio when this first came out, doing an overnight show. Often you need to hear a song a few times before it sinks in, but I knew halfway through that this was my new favorite. And it has been for over 30 years now. A friend who works in the business listened to it with me a few years later and we were just marvelling at Al's enunciation, the clearest I've ever heard to be sure. My favorite is when he sings "caaaaaaa...t"; gets me every time.
Such a beautiful song. Is it any wonder I chose it as my username? Though, I once heard the bit 'you're still with her' has sexual significance behind it. I sure hope someone proves me wrong.
Please see my comment on the next page
Please see my comment on the next page
Amazing song and it's a shme you don't get to hear it more often.