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.
Rubylove
Cat Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'll be my love
You'll be my sky above
Who'll be my light?
You'll be my light
You'll be my day and night
You'll be mine tonight
Έλα ξανά
Έλα ξανά κοντά μου
Έλα πρωί, με την αυγή
Χρυσή σαν ηλιαχτίδα
Ruby μου μικρή
Who'll be my love?
You'll be my love
You'll be my sky above
Ruby, my light
You'll be my light
You'll be my day and night
You'll be mine tonight
The song Rubylove by Cat Stevens is a love song in which the singer declares his love for his beloved, Ruby. Throughout the song, he emphasizes how important Ruby is to him, and how she fills his life with love, light and bliss. He addresses Ruby as his "sky above" and his "light" which emphasizes how her mere presence brings light to his otherwise dark and gloomy life. At the same time, Stevens underlines how Ruby is also his "day and night", connoting that it is she who helps him through the ups and downs of life.
The Greek verse, "Ruby γλυκιά/Έλα ξανά/Έλα ξανά κοντά μου/Έλα πρωί, με την αυγή/Χρυσή σαν ηλιαχτίδα/Ruby μου μικρή" translates to "Sweet Ruby/Come again/Come close to me again/Come in the morning, with the dawn/ Golden like sunlight/ My little Ruby". This verse adds to the romantic vibe of the song and emphasizes how the singer continually longs for Ruby's presence.
Overall, Rubylove is a beautiful, romantic song that emphasizes the importance of finding love and how crucial it is to hold on to that special someone who fills our lives with meaning and light.
Line by Line Meaning
Ruby, my love
Addressing Ruby as a dear and cherished person
You'll be my love
Asking Ruby to be in a romantic relationship with the singer
You'll be my sky above
Telling Ruby that she will be the person who uplifts and inspires the singer
Who'll be my light?
Asking if anyone will guide the singer through the darkness
You'll be my light
Telling Ruby that she will be the source of light and hope in the singer's life
You'll be my day and night
Stating that Ruby will be everything to the singer, all day and all night
You'll be mine tonight
Asking Ruby to spend the night with the singer
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Yusuf Islam
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind