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.
Year Of The Cat
Al Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 watercolor in the rain
Don't bother asking for explanations
She'll just tell you that she came
She doesn't give you time for questions
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
While she looks at you so cooly
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
Well morning comes and you're still with her
And the bus and the tourists are gone
And you've thrown away your choice you've lost your ticket
So you have to stay on
But the drum-beat strains of the night remain
In the rhythm of the newborn day
You know sometime you're bound to leave her
But for now you're going to stay
In the year of the cat
Year of the cat
The song βThe Year of the Catβ by Al Stewart begins with the singer setting the scene for the listener. He describes a morning that could be found in a Bogart movie, in a country where there are still traditions and customs of the past. The listener is then introduced to a mysterious woman who the main character sees strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre, a famous actor known for playing villains. The main character is drawn to her, but quickly realizes that she is contemplating a crime. Suddenly the woman appears out of the sun in a silk dress running like a watercolor in the rain; she is enchanting and alluring. When the main character tries to ask her questions or make sense of the situation, she responds that she came in the year of the cat, a year of mystery and intrigue.
As the song continues, the woman leads him to a hidden door near the market stalls, where she speaks of feeling like her life is just like a river running through. The main character is drawn to her, and she is alluring with her cool eyes, which shine like the moon in the sea. She comes to him with incense and patchouli, and he takes her to find what is waiting inside the year of the cat. Morning comes, and the main character is still with the woman, but the tourists and the bus are gone. The main character has lost his ticket and has thrown away his choice, so he knows he must stay with the woman for now. The drumbeat strains of the night remain in the rhythm of the newborn day, and the main character knows that he is going to have to leave her eventually, but for now, he is going to stay in the year of the cat.
Line by Line Meaning
On a morning from a Bogart movie
On a morning that evokes the romantic and mysterious world of Humphrey Bogart films
In a country where they turn back time
In a place where traditions and customs remain deeply ingrained in society, resisting modernization
You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre
You walk through the crowd with a sense of purpose and intrigue, like the famous character actor Peter Lorre
Contemplating a crime
Thinking about doing something unconventional or risky, like breaking the rules or social norms
She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running
She emerges from the bright light of the sun, wearing a flowing silk dress and running towards you
Like a watercolor in the rain
Looking like a beautiful, delicate painting that is fading away in the rain
Don't bother asking for explanations
Don't bother trying to make sense of what's happening, because she won't give you clear answers
She'll just tell you that she came
She will only reveal that she has arrived, but won't explain why or what she wants
In the year of the cat
During a time of mystery, unpredictability, and intense emotions, which is represented by the cat in many cultures
She doesn't give you time for questions
She is too captivating and overwhelming to give you space to ask questions
As she locks up your arm in hers
As she takes hold of your arm and pulls you closer, making you feel almost entranced by her energy and charm
And you follow 'till your sense of which direction
You naively follow her, losing your sense of direction and purpose, becoming lost in her world
Completely disappears
You become fully immersed in her world and completely lose your own sense of identity
By the blue tiled walls near the market stalls
By the walls with blue tiles near a busy market, which adds to the exotic and mysterious atmosphere of the place
There's a hidden door she leads you to
She takes you to a secretive place, where you will discover something hidden and unknown
These days, she says, I feel my life
Lately, she has been reflecting on the meaning of her life and the passage of time
Just like a river running through
Like a fluid stream, her life is constantly moving and changing, which both excites and scares her
The year of the cat
Reiterating the fact that this is a unique, unpredictable, and mysterious time period
While she looks at you so cooly
While she looks at you with a calm, collected demeanor, as if she knows something you don't
And her eyes shine like the moon in the sea
Her eyes are bright and sparkling, like the reflection of the moon on waves of the ocean
She comes in incense and patchouli
She exudes an alluring scent of exotic spices and herbs, which adds to her mysterious aura
So you take her, to find what's waiting inside
You are intrigued by her and want to discover the secrets and mysteries that she holds
Well morning comes and you're still with her
After spending the night with her, you wake up to a new day, but you are still under her spell
And the bus and the tourists are gone
The noise and chaos of the previous day have disappeared, leaving you alone with your thoughts and her company
And you've thrown away your choice you've lost your ticket
You have made a decision to abandon your old life and throw caution to the wind by following her, even if it means losing your sense of control and direction
So you have to stay on
You realize that you can't leave her side, because you have become addicted to her intriguing and mysterious world
But the drum-beat strains of the night remain
The echoes and memories of the mysterious adventures from the previous night still remain, haunting you like a drum-beat
In the rhythm of the newborn day
In the sounds and movements of a new day, you are reminded of the excitement and unpredictability of life
You know sometime you're bound to leave her
You are fully aware that your time with her is limited, and that you will eventually have to return to your old life
But for now you're going to stay
But for now, you have given yourself over to the unpredictable and exciting world she has shown you, and are willing to stay with her as long as possible
In the year of the cat
A final reminder of the mysterious and unpredictable nature of life itself, and the allure of the unknown
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Al Stewart, Peter Wood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bob Riedel
One of the best produced and sonically perfect albums ever recorded.
xxx xxx
If people like this, check out Steely Dan.
80s Rocker
This guy is a musical genius and this is proof. Bravo!!!!
john mcalindon
Still one of the best pieces of modern music 45 years on.
ChrisNVegas
Masterpiece. Good remaster. Just listened to this while cruising in my 71' Mustang Mach One. Has an incredible (hidden in trunk) sound system.
l c
Classic! So enjoy driving with the sunβοΈ in my face, swaying to this infectious cadence. Priceless.
Manuel Jurado Sanchez
Recuerdos inolvidables
Arturo E. Garcia Rufino
Verdaderamente una Super Rola! Una de mis favoritas de todos los tiempos.
yokev419
Love this record!!!!
MrRugbyloosehead
I can remember when I first heard this on the FM Radio late night as I got to know many of the classics now referred to as classic rock! But when i went to a stereo shop the guy brought out Year of the Cat cause he said that Alan Parson produced a great sounding album! And the guy was right cause like his production work of Pink Floyd, he did a wonderful job of Al's as well!