Cat Stevens is the former stage name of Steven Demetre Georgiou (born in Lo… Read Full Bio ↴Cat Stevens is the former stage name of Steven Demetre Georgiou (born in London on 21 July 1948). He is a British singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, humanitarian and education philanthropist. In December 1977, Stevens converted to Islam and adopted the name Yusuf Islam the following year. He began releasing music as Yusuf in 2006.

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.

Ghost Town
Cat Stevens Lyrics

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Come on lets go down
Everybody's waiting for us
Down at the ghost town
Bill Bailey said he'd be around
If Mrs. G. Robinson would just put
That bad Havana down

Lovely Queen Anne Boleyn

Learning new tricks from the Great Houdini.
Now that's the way she's gonna make it
Come on
Come on lets go down
Everybody's waiting for us
Down at the boom town
O. Redding and Washington
Chico and Harpo and Karl are
In the Kitchen with mum

Buster Keaton and King Tut
Are waiting for Disney to wake up

Now that's the way
No that ain't the way he's gonna make it

Overall Meaning

In Cat Stevens's song Ghost Town, the lyrics depict a vibrant and bustling environment. The phrase "ghost town" itself would usually connote a place that is abandoned or forgotten, but in this song, it refers to a lively spot where people are congregating. The opening lines "Come on lets go down, Everybody's waiting for us, Down at the ghost town," sets the tone for the rest of the song - one of excitement and anticipation.

The lyrics are peppered with references to famous figures, such as Bill Bailey, Mrs. G. Robinson, Queen Anne Boleyn, the Great Houdini, O. Redding, Washington, Chico and Harpo, Karl and Buster Keaton, King Tut, and Disney. The allusions to these celebrities suggest that the ghost town is buzzing with activity and that anyone who is anybody is present.

However, things take a darker turn towards the end of the song, with the lines "Now that's the way, No that ain't the way he's gonna make it." This ominous statement hints at the harsh realities of life, where not everyone achieves their dreams, and not every story has a happy ending. The song's upbeat undercurrent is contrasted by this sobering note, and it adds a layer of complexity and depth to the lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

Come on lets go down
Let's head to a certain place

Everybody's waiting for us
A lot of people are expecting our arrival

Down at the ghost town
The place where we are going is deserted and run-down

Bill Bailey said he'd be around
Bill Bailey promised to be present there

If Mrs. G. Robinson would just put That bad Havana down
But Mrs. G. Robinson needs to put down her cigar

Lovely Queen Anne Boleyn
Here is a reference to Queen Anne Boleyn, a historical figure

Learning new tricks from the Great Houdini
She is expanding her knowledge through someone known for his great work

Now that's the way she's gonna make it
This is how she will succeed

Come on
Let's go

Come on lets go down
Once again, let's go to the same location

Everybody's waiting for us
The people there are expecting us