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.
How many times
Cat Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look out and see the same old view
How many times must I wear the same old things
And hear the same old things that I do, I do
How many times must I clean this face my face
And how many times must I shine my shoes, oh lord
How many times must I drink the same old drink
And dream the same old dreams that I do
Because I, I know one thing
There ain't nothing that could ever ease the pain
But for your line and mine
I want that loving again
How many times must I pass your place. your place
And how many times must I follow you, you
How many times must I see the same old things
When all I should be seeing is you
Because I, I know one thing
There ain't nothing that could ever ease the pain
But for your line and mine
I want that loving again, again
The lyrics to Cat Stevens's song "How Many Times" are a melancholic reflection on the repetition and monotony of everyday life. The song starts with the singer questioning how many times they have to wake up to the same old view, wear the same old clothes, and hear the same old things. The singer seems tired of the routine and feels trapped in their current life.
The chorus of the song reveals that the singer is longing for love as a way to escape the pain of their repetitive life. They admit that nothing else can relieve their discomfort, but the connection they had with someone else. This person, who remains unnamed throughout the song, seems to be the main focus of the singer's thoughts, as they wonder how many times they have to pass this person's place and how many times they have to follow them.
The overall mood of the song is one of yearning, as the singer longs for something different, something more fulfilling than their current reality. The repetition in the lyrics emphasizes the monotony of everyday life, while the use of the phrase "oh lord" suggests that the singer is searching for something greater than their own experience.
Line by Line Meaning
How many times must I get up
How often do I have to wake up and start my day
Look out and see the same old view
Only to encounter the same dull view outside my window
How many times must I wear the same old things
How many occasions do I have to put on clothes I have already worn
And hear the same old things that I do, I do
And listen to the same monotonous sounds that i have to hear every single day
How many times must I clean this face my face
How often must I wash my face to keep it clean
And how many times must I shine my shoes, oh lord
And how often should I polish my shoes as an act of respect to the almighty
How many times must I drink the same old drink
How many times should I consume the same beverage over and over again
And dream the same old dreams that I do
And have the same thoughts and visions every night when I'm sleeping
How many times must I pass your place. your place
How frequently should I pass by your home
And how many times must I follow you, you
And how often should I follow you around
How many times must I see the same old things
How many times should I look at the same repetitive sights
When all I should be seeing is you
When all I truly want to see is you and nothing else
I, I know one thing
I know for sure
There ain't nothing that could ever ease the pain
Nothing can help me forget how much it hurts
But for your line and mine
But if my path crosses yours again
I want that loving again
I long to be with you and experience your love all over again
Again
One more time
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group
Written by: STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind