Heart Banter by David Gittlin

In this song, I believe (Yusuf) Cat Stevens is singing to a woman he yearns for in a Human form. On another level, he may be singing, aware or unaware, to the Divine Feminine. In either case, the object of Stevens’ love is unattainable in the present. Yet, I further believe, that the admirer (Stevens) continues to yearn for his beloved in the hope that he will, one day, meet her. In this...

Many of Yusuf/Cat Stevens’ songs convey underlying messages about childhood and the relationships between children and adults, such as ‘Father & Son’ and ‘Oh Very Young,’ to name a few. “Where Do the Children Play?” is no exception. It becomes increasingly timely with each passing day, given the environmental crisis we are facing.

The song refers to the destruction of natural spaces ...

"Father and Son" is a song about the age-old story where the father’s vision for his son does not align with his son’s dreams for the future. Cat Stevens refurbishes the story with his unique and beautiful phrasing in the lyrics and melody.

It has taken me some time to warm up to this song due to the violent rift I had with my father regarding my future. My Dad passed away in 2006, and n...

Far from old age, Cat Stevens wrote “Oh Very Young” when he was twenty-five. The wisdom in the song surpasses Stevens’ chronology with lines like, “You’re only dancin’ on this Earth for a short while.” Stevens contracted tuberculosis when he was nineteen, and it almost killed him. After that experience, Stevens kept an eye on the Big Picture.

Always the explorer, Stevens sought the meani...

Willie Nelson made “Always On My Mind” one of his signature songs. Upon hearing the song for the first time, Nelson knew that he wanted to add “Always On My Mind” to his repertoire. Several recording artists, including Elvis Presley, released the song unsuccessfully. When Nelson recorded it in 1982, the song became a smash hit. Nelson’s sensitive rendition made the song a top 5 hit and a...

This song is about a man who gives up his dreams to live a life of routine monotony due to the crushing necessity of earning a living.

In a 1997 interview with Mojo magazine, Browne said of this song: “I’m a big fan of ambiguity and its bountiful rewards, and ‘The Pretender’ is two things at once. It’s that person in all of us that has a higher ideal, and the part that has settled for co...

Jackson Browne wrote “For A Dancer” in memory of a modern dancer friend who died tragically in a fire. When Jackson’s wife, the model Phyllis Major, died suddenly in 1976, “For A Dancer” mysteriously took on a new meaning. “That’s how songs work,” Brown said in an interview. “They migrate into other parts of your life and other experiences.”

Browne eventually played the song at the funer...

Jackson Browne's guitar techniques, lyrics, and melodies stand apart from the crowd. What he says through his music is sometimes searing, sad, and occasionally, happy. However, all of Browne's songs have something in common: an incredible sensitivity and beauty.

Browne wrote "These Days" when he was only sixteen years old. Despite his youth, Browne demonstrated a keen sense of heartbr...

I first heard "Cornflower Blue" as the opening song on Kate Wolf's 1983 double album "Give Yourself to Love." As I listened to the album many times over, "Cornflower Blue" grew on me (no pun intended). I began to appreciate the exquisite beauty in the lyrics and in Kate's lovely singing voice.

Oftentimes, songs like this one will find their way into my heart, and I feel compelled to p...

“Pluck” is the word that comes to mind when I think of Nanci Griffith and her music. In terms of stature, Nanci can be described as diminutive, or perhaps petite is a better, if overused, description. Ironically, the essence of Nanci Griffith is anything but small. She imbued her songs with a crystal clear, powerful voice and confident stage presence. In her simple way, Griffith is remem...

There is beauty within us. There is beauty everywhere in the world. All we have to do is to want to feel it and see it.

Even in the midst of darkness, this is the dawn of a new age. It may be difficult to believe or see it, but it’s happening. Nothing can deny us our destiny in love. Not doubt. Not ignorance. Not fear.

Some of us are at the forefront of this new world. Kate Wolf was one ...

In a 2009 interview, Cat Stevens (by then Yusuf Islam) is quoted as saying: “I was on holiday in Spain. I was a kid from the West End of London--I never got to see the moon on its own. In the dark, there were always streetlamps. So there I was on the edge of the water on a beautiful night with the moon glowing, and suddenly I looked down and saw my shadow. I thought that was so cool; I’d...

On a musical tour of the Western United States, Gordon Lightfoot discovered a highway sign that read, "Carefree Highway." The words on the sign led Gordon to write a song about a carefree lifestyle and a lost love.

Ligtfoot put the lyrics away in the glove compartment of his car. Eight months later, Gordon wrote the music for "Carefree Highway" after almost forgetting about the song. Wou...

Tom Paxton released "The Last Thing On My Mind" in 1964 on his album, Ramblin' Boy." The inspiration for the song came from Dave Van Ronk and Bob Dylan's versions of "He Was A Friend of Mine." This lost love ballad became one of Paxton's biggest hits. He is also known for his protest songs against the Vietnam War and other social injustices. (What Did You Learn In School Today?)

"The ...

John Fogerty wrote "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" about his brother, Tom Fogerty, who left Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1971 at the apex of the band's popularity. The departure of his brother was a sad time for John Fogerty. Eventually, the hurt healed, and the meaning of the song changed for John. In his own words, "This song was originally written about a very sad thing that was goin...

The voice I'm referring to belongs to Kate Wolf. She wrote and performed (mostly in her native California) over 200 songs. Her music comes directly from the heart and tends to be bittersweet.

A recording of Kate playing a song by Tom Paxon called “Hold On to Me Babe” drew me to Wolf’s music again. Her voice is transcendent, as it is in most of her recordings. I haven’t been listening to ...

I’ve always wanted to learn Kate Wolf’s guitar-picking style. Granted, she plays every song she’s written differently, but I just wanted a glimpse. Since Kate has mostly been an under-the-radar, brilliant singer/songwriter, no one has taken the time to create an accurate tutorial of her guitar method. That is until now. My go-to-teacher, Jerry Lamberth, best known for his unequaled guita...

Bob Dylan recorded the first version of “Tomorrow Is A Long Time” in 1962. He didn’t release it until 1971 on his “Greatest Hits Album.” Oddly, Ian and Sylvia were the first recording artists to release the song in 1963 on their album “Four Strong Winds.”

The song is about longing for a loved one, specifically Suze Rotolo, who Dylan dated from 1961 to 1964. It is widely believed that ano...

Is Marc Cohn a one-hit wonder? The answer, in a word, is “yes.” That being said, Walking in Memphis is a noteworthy accomplishment for a man who has spent most of his career steadfastly under the radar.

To his credit, Marc won a Golden Globe Award in 1991 for Best New Artist. Now, well into his fifties, Cohn is still touring with an ambitious schedule ahead in 2023.

Working on this...