Music Blog

Near Death Experience

Nancy's Notes đŸ–ŠïžđŸŽ¶

Jim at Song Lyric Sunday has informed us the suggestion for today is to write about a song(s) dealing with God or the afterlife. There are a lot of songs in this category and I considered a few but in the end I chose to write about something personal to me. And I’ve got an Elephant’s Trunk full of stories!

Fifty years ago I met and had a brief but memorable conversation with Cat Stevens. It was the summer of 1974 in the Hamptons at one of those parties where everyone was a friend of a friend of a friend. My husband was off getting us drinks and I suddenly found myself in the same place at the same time as Cat Stevens. We talked for a little while, mostly about Southampton, NY and Southampton, UK and the vast Atlantic Ocean – how, after crossing it fairly often, it no longer felt quite as vast to him as it originally did. Well, that’s what he talked about; I was swept away by his delightful accent, lost in his deep eyes and the dark curls that framed his face. After our little tĂȘte-Ă -tĂȘte, he went one way, I went the other and that was that. Of course I remember that day like it happened last week; I’m absolutely certain Cat Stevens has no recollection of me whatsoever. Damn! What I wouldn’t give for a selfie from back then!

Over the last five decades, Cat Stevens has led a wholly unique music career. After finding himself a crucial part of the early 70s singer-songwriting boom, he found faith in Islam following a near-death experience in 1976. He almost drowned off the coast of Malibu, California, and said he shouted, “Oh, God! If you save me I will work for you.” He stated that immediately afterwards, a wave appeared and carried him back to shore. This brush with death intensified his long-held quest for spiritual truth. Changing his name to Yusuf Islam, Cat discarded his guitar in favor of the Qur’an, much to the disappointment of his devoted fans.

However, it seems Cat Stevens was exploring his spirituality long before 1976 when he wrote “Lilywhite” in the late 60s. The lyrics “the dial” and “wheel of change” refer to the Buddhist concept of reincarnation, the cycle of life and death. This is also hinted at in the first line, “Back up on the mended road”.

In an interview with Mojo in 2009, Stevens remembered the “amazingly bad trip” that inspired him to write “Lilywhite”: “I was at Noel Redding’s house (Jimi Hendrix Experience), and he introduced me to this substance. That was the worst night of my life! We were in his flat. By the time it got to dawn and I was able to get to the door, it had snowed and it was like looking at an angelic gift from heaven! It was beautiful. The song represents a recapturing of that moment where after darkness comes light.”

Unfortunately “Lilywhite” has been eclipsed by some of Stevens’ hits but remains an essential part of his repertoire among devoted fans.

From his album Mona Bone Jakon, this is “Lilywhite” by Cat Stevens.

Lyrics

Back up on the mended road
I pause
Taking time to check the dial

And the Lilywhite
I never knew her name
But she’ll be passing my way sometime again.

I raise my hand and touch the wheel
Of change
Taking time to check the dial

Thank the Lilywhite
I never knew her name
But she’ll be passing my way sometime again.
But she’ll be passing my way sometime again.

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Yusuf Islam
Lilywhite lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Thanks for sharing some time with me. FYI – Cat Stevens was as soft-spoken, humble and charming as you imagine him being. A lovely man, inside and out.

See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2024

Going Biblical

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

39 thoughts on “Near Death Experience”

  1. A new song to me, too. Love it enough to share it on my FB, to my friends there.

    Always something soulful, even to his more “rocking” songs. And if I had a type (which I do!), he’d be the perfect example. 😉

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  3. I’ve never thought of the song connecting to Buddhism in any way before and thinking about that is interesting. Cat Stevens is a very rare talent in that his music and lyrics transcend simple listening. He says so much with so little. It’s very cool that you were able to meet him, even if it was only for a short time.

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  4. I don’t think I’ve heard this song before, Nancy… I was enjoying it up to a point, and was then filled with an overwhelming melancholy… ah well.
    Good that you got to meet him. 🙂

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    1. Hi Tom. Your comment is really interesting to me because in the comment after yours earlier today I mentioned that he transcends simple listening. With the simplest of words he manages – somehow – to reach inside of us. Hopefully your sadness lifted, or was tolerable enough to finish the song?

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      1. I listened all the way through, but I think the song was triggering thoughts that brought on the sad feelings, Michael. I’m quite an upbeat person, so the feelings didn’t last long. It was also Mother’s Day yesterday, so that was probably a factor too.
        He does have a way with his songs… I agree! 😃

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    1. My life has been rather ‘serendipitous‘ in that regard; I’ve no other way to explain it. Some folks win the lottery; it’s the luck of the draw. I meet people.

      Chalk it up to my outgoing nature and magnetic personality. 😂😂

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  7. It is always a treat to hear a song from Cat Stevens. We had lots of his albums and so many of his songs we practically memorized. This one I’d not heard before (or don’t remember), but it’s very soothing.

    Thanks for the prompt topic – lots of good songs today. 🙂

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    1. You’re so right! Always happy to hear Cat’s tunes come on.

      I no longer attend church and I am now more spiritual than religious. My relationship with God is personal.

      This is a topic everyone can relate to, whether they believe or not.

      It’s all about the music and not religion.

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  11. Pingback: Song Lyric Sunday. The Final Goodbye and Don’t look back. – willowdot21

  12. A beautiful choice for today, and a lovely story to go with it. I’ve met him too, some thirty years after you did, but I doubt he’ll remember me either! Total agreement with your assessment of the man whose music has been a major part of my life.

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    1. We talked about this once before, having both met Cat Stevens. That doesn’t happen very often in my life where someone I ‘know’ has also met the same celebrity. Given the opportunity, I would love to sit down with Yusuf and have a proper conversation with him. Fifty years is far to long between chats, don’t you think? 😌

      Thanks, Clive.

      🐘

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    1. Thank you, Willow. It’s nice when these opportunities arise to include a personal note.

      “Lilywhite” is a beauty of a song which has unfortunately been overlooked in favor of Cat’s more popular work. That whole album is a treasure. đŸ©¶

      🐘

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