Lyric discussion by Ser 

An amazingly spiritual, stoic, philosophical, dauntless song for a 22 year old to write. To call it a pop song would be to totally underestimate its depth and not to fully understand its purport and wisdom. Here Cat Stevens is taking a hard, fearless look at the misfortunes that can befall us, that life can bring and does bring, perhaps in the form of illnesses, impairments, disabilities etc and he is saying: "so what, I know we are mortal, somehow I will still try and enjoy life and live the moment to the full with whatever I have." He does it in such a poetic way that we hardly realise what he is in fact saying. However, when the message finally fully hits you, it is so powerful that the song should make anyone human choke up and break down in tears!

He fell ill with tuberculosis at the age of 21, one year before writing this song and this could well explain the inspiration for the words. The text is one of the strangest mixtures of downbeat and upbeat I have ever come across. But the positive power of a brave spirit comes across strongest.

@Ser Took the words out of my mouth!

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