the old cat and his kitten

the first time i heard to this song was in ifrane, morocco, nearly six years ago. then in rabat, in the house of mr. bachtiar, a colleague of mine, i happened to find a cd containing a collection of songs, including this same track. essentially, these conversations are based on cat steven's classic hit. a dialogue between a father and his son, which he composed into a beautiful song, called 'father and son'. recently i heard this tune again, played live by the same person who has now taken the name of yusuf islam. so the story goes like this...

the old cat:

"it's not time to make a change, just relax, take it easy. you're still young, thats your fault, there's so much you have to know. find a girl, settle down, if you want you can marry. look at me, i am old, but i'm happy.

i was once like you are now, and i know that its not easy,
to be calm when you've found something going on.
but take your time, think a lot, think of everything youve got. for you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not..."

the kitten, meowing in higher tone:

"how can i try to explain, when i do he turns away again.
its always been the same, same old story. from the moment i could talk i was ordered to listen. now there's a way and i know that i have to go away. i know i have to go."

again, the old cat: 

"it's not time to make a change, just sit down, take it slowly. you're still young, thats your fault, there's so much you have to go through. find a girl, settle down, if you want you can marry. look at me, i am old, but i'm happy.

(the kitten: away away away, i know i have to make this decision alone - no)

the kitten again, in high tone:

all the times that i cried, keeping all the things i knew inside, it's hard, but its harder to ignore it. if they were right, i'd agree, but its them you know not me. now there's a way and i know that i have to go away. i know i have to go...

(the old cat-- stay stay stay, why must you go and make this decision alone...)"

finish. that's the end of the song and the conversation. enough meowing for tonight... the cats then went to eat their fish dinner.