Be What You Must
Yusuf (Cat Stevens) Lyrics
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Seen many harbors,
Where I took rest awhile
On this boat called "near and far"
To be what you must,
You must give up what you are
Only on a wind of hope my heart sailed
Those who do not leave
And choose to stay,
Barely survive
Be you dust, or be you star
To be what you must
Just reach out for what you are
And though you've traveled many roads
There's but one way, and that's the one you chose
The lyrics of Yusuf (Cat Stevens)'s song Be What You Must speak about the journey of life and the process of self-discovery. The first two lines of the song depict the endless journey of life, where one comes across different stages, experiences, and people. The lines "On this boat called 'near and far'" symbolize the various choices that one has to make and the different avenues of life that exist.
The chorus of the song holds the most prominent message- "to be what you must, you must give up what you are." Yusuf's interpretation of this is that to become the person you were meant to be, you need to let go of the limiting beliefs, self-doubt, and fear that hold you back. He encourages us to embrace change and let ourselves be open to our fullest potential. Through this song, Yusuf conveys the importance of following one's intuition and trusting the path that one chooses.
The final verse talks about the duality of life— the dust and the star. Yusuf acknowledges that everyone has a different destiny and journey but encourages listeners to reach out for what they are meant to be. The repetition of "there's but one way, and that's the one you chose" signifies the power of choice and the significant impact it has on our lives.
Overall, the song Be What You Must by Yusuf (Cat Stevens) is a powerful, introspective, and uplifting tune that reminds us to stay true to ourselves, embrace change, and trust in the journey of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I have journeyed endless miles
I have traveled long distances and had various experiences.
Seen many harbors,
I have visited numerous different places.
Where I took rest awhile
I stopped to rest for a short period of time.
On this boat called "near and far"
During my travels, I have been on a journey that has taken me both close to and far from home.
To be what you must,
In order to become who you are meant to be,
You must give up what you are
You must let go of any preconceived notions of who you think you are or who others think you should be.
Only on a wind of hope my heart sailed
My desire for something better drove me to take risks and seek new opportunities.
Braving mystic oceans to arrive
I had to face unknown challenges and obstacles to get where I wanted to go.
Those who do not leave
People who do not venture out to explore new experiences and opportunities
And choose to stay,
And opt to remain in their current situation.
Barely survive
Often struggle to get by and feel unfulfilled.
Be you dust, or be you star
Regardless of who you are or where you come from,
To be what you must
To be your true self and achieve your potential,
Just reach out for what you are
You must pursue your passions and dreams wholeheartedly.
And though you've traveled many roads
Even if you have had numerous life experiences and journeys,
There's but one way, and that's the one you chose
You must remember that you ultimately decided your path in life, and that is the only way.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: YUSUF ISLAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind