Well, I think it's fine
Building jumbo planes
Or taking a ride on a cosmic train
Switch on summer from a slot machine
Yes, get what you want to if you want
'Cause you can get anything

I know we've come a long way
We're changing day to day
But tell me, where do the children play?

Well, you roll on roads
Over fresh green grass
For your lorry loads
Pumping petrol gas
And you make them long
And you make them tough
But they just go on and on
And it seems that you can't get off

Oh, I know we've come a long way
We're changing day to day
But tell me, where do the children play?

Well, you've cracked the sky
Scrapers fill the air
But will you keep on building higher
'Til there's no more room up there?
Will you make us laugh?
Will you make us cry?
Will you tell us when to live?
Will you tell us when to die?

I know we've come a long way
We're changing day to day
But tell me, where do the children play?


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

Where Do the Children Play? Lyrics as written by Yusuf Islam

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Where Do The Children Play? song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

25 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +3
    General Comment

    Over-development yes definetly. It's about how we're building skyscrapers, pumping gas, destroying the world, and not thinking about where the children play. Where do the children play? on the ground. If we develop and dig holes to find gas and put pollution in the air and destroy the outside world where the ground is, where WILL the children play? And do children need slot machines to enjoy their summers? We have come a long way and everyday we change more, in some ways its a good thing and in some ways its a bad thing. by the way, Cat Stevens voice is so amazing, it makes songs as serious as this so much lighter, but makes you remember them and keep thinking...

    jessyon August 04, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    When its all become an overbuilt over-populated city of skyscrapers blocking out the sun, where will the children play? There's nowhere left for them.

    ZeroOneon October 23, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Thank you ZeroOne. For a moment I thought I was the only one who gets that this song is about all of the development that is happening (and has happened for decades) that is destroying all of our green, green grass, trees, and playgrounds, taking away land that the children can play on. Yes, development and technological advances have brought some good, but they have also definitely brought some bad.

    kaleidoscopeeyes8on May 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    A simple song, speaking about how society is changing, but not neccesarily for good...

    yes we can have all these technological advancements, but what about the simple things..'Where do the children play?'

    nails_in_my_feeton December 01, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The priorities are out of control. (Tell me what's more important) We are thinking the wrong way.

    Have a look on red hot chilli pepper's californication

    bernhardon December 15, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song. One of my wierder choices of astists but i get alot of my taste in anything really off my dad so im stuck with it :P. This is one of my favourite Cat Stevens songs

    syko_braton November 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love the part that says, "Will you tell us when to live, will you tell us when to die?"

    I think it's referencing that when country's start wars, they are essentially sending their young people off to die.

    dan356on April 12, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    to me? this song reminds me of poland. random eh? i was there when i first heard it.

    i see the meaning about over-development, it does make sense.

    I must be one of the only 16 year old cat stevens fans whose parents DONT like Cat Stevens. I just randomly heard a song (father and son) and like him.

    Avatar-rockon June 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is about how technology and cities are booming and destroying the world and nature and when all is said and done, where will the children play?

    Sunset Rubdownon December 16, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this line: and you make them long and you make them tough, but they just go on and on, and it seems that you can't get off.

    The message I get from this song is that the world is getting so "built up" and we can't ever get away from that and the cities are getting bigger, as the open "green grass" etc are getting smaller.

    gocatstevenson October 18, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.