Stevens' albums Tea for the Tillerman (1970) and Teaser and the Firecat (1971) were both certified triple platinum in the US by the RIAA. His 1972 album Catch Bull at Four sold half a million copies in the first two weeks of release alone and was Billboard's number-one LP for three consecutive weeks. He also earned two ASCAP songwriting awards in consecutive years for "The First Cut Is the Deepest"; the song has been a hit single for four different artists. Some of his other hit songs include, "Father and Son", "Wild World", "Peace Train", "Moonshadow" and "Morning Has Broken".
In December 1977, Stevens converted to Islam and adopted the name Yusuf Islam the following year. In 1979, he auctioned all his guitars for charity and left his music career to devote himself to educational and philanthropic causes in the Muslim community.Stevens became a convert to Islam in 1978 after a near-death experience. He adopted the name Yusuf Islam and became an outspoken advocate for the religion. Following his conversion, Yusuf abandoned his previous career as a pop star, with which he had always been uncomfortable. Song and the use of musical instruments is an area of debate in Islamic jurisprudence (law) and is the primary factor Cat Stevens retreated from the pop spotlight. At one point he wrote to the record companies asking that his music no longer be distributed, but his request was denied. Following Ayatollah Khomeini’s February 14, 1989 death fatwa against author Salman Rushdie, he made statements that were interpreted as endorsing the killing of Rushdie. On February 21, 1989, Yusuf Islam addressed students at Kingston University in London about his conversion to Islam and was asked about the controversy in the Muslim world and the fatwa calling for Salman Rushdie’s execution. He replied, “He must be killed. The Qur’an makes it clear - if someone defames the prophet, then he must die.” Despite this he has received several awards for his work in promoting peace in the world, including the 2003 World Award, the 2004 Man for Peace Award, and the 2007 Mediterranean Prize for Peace. Known professionally by the single name Yusuf, in 2006 he returned to pop music with his first album of new pop songs in 28 years, entitled An Other Cup. On 5 May 2009, he released the album Roadsinger. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
Bad Brakes
Cat Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looks like I'm heading for a breakdown.
Black smoke, engine beginning to choke.
I must be heading for a breakdown.
I pulled up for a mouth of coca-cola
Down at samuel's cafe.
Saw a little spanish lady coming over;
Bad brakes, carburetor shakes.
Looks like you're heading for a breakdown.
Black smoke, engine beginning to choke.
We must be heading for a breakdown.
We hit the road at ninety miles an hour;
Heading for 'frisco bay.
She said: "Senor, you got cop on your shoulder."
I said: "Oh, now we'd better not stay,
We got to get away with our
Bad brakes, carburetor shakes;
Looks like we're heading for a breakdown"
He was catching up, nose right inside our mirror
When the motor blowed.
We climbed out and she began to shiver.
Oh, no, sir please let us go?
He said: "Don't you know you got
Bad brakes, carburetor shakes;
Looks like you bought yourself a breakdown.
Black smoke, engine beginning to choke,
And you've got yourself a breakdown."
Bad brakes, engine beginning to shake;
Looks like we've got ourselves a breakdown.
Black smoke, engine beginning to choke;
We got ourselves a breakdown.
The song Bad Brakes by Cat Stevens is a story about a journey that goes wrong. The singer is driving his car at a high speed towards San Francisco with a Spanish lady whom he picked up at Samuel's cafe. He is approached by a cop who seems to be chasing them, and their car starts to experience issues- bad brakes, carburetor shakes, and the engine beginning to choke. As they try to escape, the motor blows, and they are left with a breakdown.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a journey that goes from an exciting adventure to a disaster. The use of "Bad brakes, whole car shakes," "Black smoke, engine beginning to choke," and "Looks like you bought yourself a breakdown" are a powerful metaphor for the relationship between the two characters. The journey starts with excitement and anticipation, but their relationship falters and breaks down along with the car.
Line by Line Meaning
Bad brakes, whole car shakes.
The car is experiencing issues with its brakes, which is causing the entire car to shake.
Looks like I'm heading for a breakdown.
The singer is concerned that the car trouble is a sign that a more significant issue is on the horizon.
Black smoke, engine beginning to choke.
The car's engine is showing signs of distress, potentially a sign of a bigger problem.
I must be heading for a breakdown.
The artist is recognizing that the car issues are likely going to result in a complete breakdown of the vehicle.
Bad brakes, carburetor shakes.
The car is experiencing issues with both the brakes and the carburetor, which are causing the car to vibrate and shake.
Looks like you're heading for a breakdown.
The singer is noting that the issues with the car seem to be progressing, and the situation is growing more dire.
We must be heading for a breakdown.
The two characters in the song are recognizing that their car troubles are only getting worse and that a complete breakdown may be inevitable.
We hit the road at ninety miles an hour;
The two characters in the song are traveling at a high rate of speed, indicating they are in a hurry for some reason.
Heading for 'frisco bay.
The pair is traveling towards San Francisco Bay, indicating they are possibly on some sort of adventure or quest.
She said: "Senor, you got cop on your shoulder."
The female traveler notes that there is a police car tailing them, indicating they may be in trouble.
We got to get away with our
The two characters are worried that they need to evade the police tailing them.
He was catching up, nose right inside our mirror
The police car is rapidly approaching the pair's car, and they can see it coming up behind them in their rearview mirror.
When the motor blowed.
The car's engine malfunctioned and broke down in a dramatic way, rendering the car inoperable.
We climbed out and she began to shiver.
The female traveler is scared and nervous as she and the singer get out of the broken-down car.
Oh, no, sir please let us go?
The characters are attempting to plead with the police officer, hoping to avoid any legal consequences they may face.
He said: "Don't you know you got
The police officer is admonishing the travelers for not taking care of their vehicle properly.
And you've got yourself a breakdown."
The police officer notes that the car is now officially broken down.
Bad brakes, engine beginning to shake;
The character's car is still suffering from its previous issues and is showing new problems with the engine.
Looks like we've got ourselves a breakdown.
The characters recognize that their car is irreparably damaged and is now broken down, leaving them stranded.
Black smoke, engine beginning to choke;
The car's engine is continuing to malfunction, and the buildup of black smoke indicates a significant problem.
We got ourselves a breakdown.
The characters are accepting their unfortunate situation and admitting that their car has completely broken down.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ALUN JAMES WILLIAM DAVIES, YUSUF ISLAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sandra Kral
This great song has helped me through some rough days, made me smile and even sing on my way to the garage for repairs 😀 🚗.. Just love that Yusuf has a song for everything in life. Thats one of the reasons why I love him so much 💖
Salah Tounsaoui
I've owned the CD when it came out I ve memorized all the songs they're just pure and awesome
James Byers
Love this amazing song! :-)
Larry Toothbrush
Wow. I just checked and I have an unplayed promo of this album. I recorded this song on a mixed tape in 1979 and put the LP away. It’s got a specialty label. It’s gorgeous
Moon Gazer
Yusuf playing electric guitar awesome
Diegović
If you play the chorus at a faster tempo, it ends up sounding a little bit like Pete Townshend’s “Rough Boys”.
(By the way, I know Pete’s record was released two years later; I’m not accusing him of plagiarism or anything, though.)
louise196
👍🌷
selahattin ceylan
I love you, cat...