Song writers put pen to paper or pick to string, or finger to ivory to express the extremes that life or love brings their way or the other extreme the heartache that love and life brings. It’s either cloud nine or she took my dog and pick-up truck. But what ever the message, the song helps to free the singer and the listener.
One of my favorite singers is Yusaf Islam (Cat Stevens). Back in the 70, he had a string of hits that shot him toward super stardom. Hard Headed Woman, Moon Shadow, Peace Train, Wild World, Oh Very Young and the First Cut is the Deepest.
There are long stretches of the Pennsylvania Turnpike where the radio reception is very spotty. My go to CD was always Cat Stevens Greatest Hits . Cue it up around Bedford and it was just wrapping up around my Harrisburg destination. As the sun came up over the mountains, I would be singing along with Morning Has Broken, soon I was belting out Peace Train and Moon Shadow. Those songs kept me awake and made me happy.
While Yusaf Islam’s career has had its ups and downs and some have boycotted his music because of his conversion to Islam and past comments he has made regarding Salmon Rushdie. Recently, Jeep has selected his song, If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out to provide the theme for their new election period ad.
Amid all the hateful rhetoric, we need to be reminded that we are very lucky to be free and are able to sing out.
And if you want to be free, be free
‘Cause there’s a million things to be
You know that there are
And if you want to live low, live low
‘Cause there’s a million ways to go
You know that there are
The opportunity’s on
And if you can find a new way
You can do it today
You can make it all true
And you can make it undo
you see ah ah ah
its easy ah ah ah
You only need to know
And if you want to say no, say no
‘Cause there’s a million ways to go
You know that there are
And if you want to be you, be you
‘Cause there’s a million things to do
You know that there are
My Second Act, Scene One 
I really like this song…great post 🙂
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