Al Stewart (born in Glasgow, Scotland on 5 September 1945) is a British son… Read Full Bio ↴Al Stewart (born in Glasgow, Scotland on 5 September 1945) is a British songwriter and musician. He is best known for his 1976 single Year of the Cat and its 1978 follow-up Time Passages (both produced by Alan Parsons). Stewart's inspiration for his songs primarily comes from the past; indeed, he is credited with creating his own genre, "historical folk rock". At one time in his life, Stewart took guitar lessons from King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp.

Stewart grew up in the coastal resort town of Bournemouth, Dorset. According to Songfacts, in days of youthful folly Stewart played in a beat group with later BBC DJ Tony Blackburn before moving to the capital to seek fortune and fame.

Having bought his first guitar from future Police guitarist Andy Summers, Stewart traded in his electric guitar for an acoustic guitar when he was offered a weekly slot at Bunjies Coffee House in London's Soho in 1965. From there, he went on to compete at the Les Cousins folk club on Greek Street, where he played alongside Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, Van Morrison, Roy Harper and Ralph McTell

Although he had his share of the breaks, including a tenure at Bunjees coffee house and a record deal with CBS, life wasn't always easy for the young troubadour; his first serious love affair ended in disaster, and he experienced all the usual insecurities of the stranger in the big city trying to find his way.

In January 1970, Melody Maker named his second release Love Chronicles its Folk Album Of The Year, but in spite of his obviously carving out quite a name for himself, it was not until Year Of The Cat - the single and even more so the monster album - that he really shot to fame.

He emigrated to the United States as his career took off in the mid 1970s, and still lives in California. While studio albums are now few and far between, he still tours extensively in the United States, and, most years, in Europe. Recordings of concerts are often made available through his fan clubs.

The World According To Garp
Al Stewart Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It’s a restless world and the hands take hold as your eyes watch out for a fall
Then you end up flat on the landing mat as you try to fathom it all
Any sudden move could outmanoeuvre the plans you made at the start
The hopes and schemes of ghosts and dreams in the world according to Garp

I was born one day under skies of gray and called New England my home
And the single name that my mother gave was all I had of my own
I was taught the rules of steering school though they all fell short of the mark

But these things never meant too much in the world according to Garp

Bunky grows older, the nights they get colder
The lights burn low and the nurse is home
And the days won’t wait, you can’t make them slow
See how they go, see how they go
See how they go, see how they go

It’s a restless world and the lips are curled as the hands come reaching your way
But the writer’s pen simply moves again and puts it down on the page
On any stretch of road the undertow could be waiting there in the dark
But all these things are what life brings in the world according to Garp
All these things are how it seems in the world according to Garp

In the world according to Garp
In the world according to Garp

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Al Stewart's song "The World According to Garp" seem to speak to the unpredictability and fragility of life. The "restless world" and "sudden move" describe how life can change in an instant, and the lines "the hopes and schemes of ghosts and dreams" suggest that our plans and aspirations may never come to fruition. The singer reflects on his own life, from his birth in New England to his experience in "steering school," which he suggests did not prepare him for the reality of the world around him. The repeated refrain of "See how they go" seems to emphasize the transitory nature of life, and the line "all these things are what life brings" suggests that we must learn to accept the world as it is.

Line by Line Meaning

It’s a restless world and the hands take hold as your eyes watch out for a fall
The world is in constant motion and anything can happen unexpectedly. You are always on guard for something bad to happen.

Then you end up flat on the landing mat as you try to fathom it all
Despite your best efforts to understand and control everything, you may still end up feeling confused and defeated.

Any sudden move could outmanoeuvre the plans you made at the start
Even the slightest change or unexpected event can disrupt your carefully laid out plans.

The hopes and schemes of ghosts and dreams in the world according to Garp
The world can often be complex and unpredictable, and the best laid plans and aspirations may still be unachievable or unrealistic.

I was born one day under skies of gray and called New England my home
The singer is from New England, but his environment is not always bright and cheerful.

And the single name that my mother gave was all I had of my own
The only distinction the singer has is his name, which sets him apart from others.

I was taught the rules of steering school though they all fell short of the mark
The singer has been educated, but his upbringing and teachings have not prepared him for the unpredictability of life.

But these things never meant too much in the world according to Garp
Despite his education, the singer realizes that life is full of unexpected events that cannot be fully prepared for.

Bunky grows older, the nights they get colder
As time progresses, life becomes more difficult, and the future becomes uncertain.

The lights burn low and the nurse is home
As life slows down and becomes more difficult, there is less hope for help or support from others.

And the days won’t wait, you can’t make them slow
Time moves forward relentlessly and waits for no one, no matter how much you may hope to slow it down.

See how they go, see how they go, see how they go, see how they go
The repetition of these lines emphasizes the relentless passage of time, and how everything can change in an instant.

It’s a restless world and the lips are curled as the hands come reaching your way
In a world that is always changing, people are often suspicious and guarded against others who may take advantage of them.

But the writer’s pen simply moves again and puts it down on the page
Despite the chaos and unpredictability of life, the act of writing is a constant and reliable method of creating order and meaning.

On any stretch of road the undertow could be waiting there in the dark
Even when things seem calm and predictable, there is always the potential for danger or difficulty lurking in the shadows.

But all these things are what life brings in the world according to Garp
Despite the hardships and unpredictability of life, the artist accepts that these are the things that make life what it is.

All these things are how it seems in the world according to Garp
The repetition of this line reinforces that the unpredictability and difficulties of life are accepted and embraced as part of the human experience.

In the world according to Garp
The title line emphasizes the focus on the singer's personal outlook on life, rather than attempting to make grand statements about the nature of the world.

Contributed by Charlie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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