Today seemed like as good a day as any to bring back the idea of peace.
For whatever reason, I recently stumbled across two videos of Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam’s “Peace Train.” I was fascinated at the difference between the two and how very moved I was by both versions.
My favorite comment from that post explained that the first was from a time of celebration and the other was a prayer.
I love the youthful joy of the first version and the sweet silliness of the line where he explains the song’s origin, being on a train and thinking about Alfred Hitchcock’s chin:
If everybody could, you know, love Alfred Hitchcock, I think it would be a better world, don’t you?
I’m intrigued by the stories artists tell of where particular works came from and it gives me hope to know that he created such a timeless piece from a seemingly idle thought.
A timeless peace would be nice, too.
I love the quiet maturity and hopefulness, however measured, in the later / latter version.
Wherever you are when you read this, whatever you believe or don’t believe, who(m)ever you love, whatever is your joy, here’s wishing you peace, love, and music. And maybe a little Hitchcock.
~~~
Peace, love and coffee to you, too.
How many days until October 1?!
Can’t get the videos on my phone, but the Hitchcock line is striking. People probably have more in common with their “enemies” than they realize.
Don’t discount the value of a good paper clip post.
I just made some revisions, including to the title, because I realized I don’t watch videos from work and others might be in the same position, so it makes more sense to put it in the text. For anyone reading comments, he found the Hitchcock line striking before I added the part about the chin.
Alas, until I get that new computer, I’m doomed. But your explanation is interesting. I can’t wait until my computer comes. Have I mentioned that? And have you backed-up recently?
This reminds me that I was in the middle of reading your request for names yesterday when I was interrupted by . . . (augh!) work. If anyone’s suggested HAL, I wouldn’t go with that.
I started the Great Back Up project by deleting things that I really didn’t need. Then I started looking through all of it and, to answer your question, no.
I remember your sudden disappearance and how horrified I was. But then, you returned! Joyful day. Hitchcock and Cat Stevens – a great combo.
You’re so nice. I’m glad you’ve stuck with the inanity of it all. Thanks for that.
This is great. Gotta vote for the first version of Peace Train though. Good post!
Thank you! That one’s so uplifting, isn’t it?!
Love Cat Stevens and that song. Here’s hoping your day will be peaceful. Try some chocolate — it always does the trick for me!
My office is so cold I’ve started hot chocolate season early. There’s been a steady supply for the past two days!
Imagine all the people, living life in peace
You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. . .
This is a great post. I loved both the video. Peace to you too.
Thank you for taking the time to read and watch both.
It is remarkable that this is the same song and the same artist. The first one is just plain fun and joyful. I remember it well. The second version is much more emotional and a bit sad. Perhaps it is just the day…but, that is how I saw it.
The second one is certainly more contemplative. I saw a third one this morning, where he plays just a quiet acoustic version and then a blues version. Pretty interesting how the message still comes through.
I have always loved Cat Stevens. I have always loved Alfred Hitchcock. And yet, I never knew of this connection. I think I’m going to have to come up with an interesting anecdote when some book critic interviews me and wants to know how I came to write the year’s number 1 best selling fiction book of 2013. Or maybe it’s 2014. or maybe both. Who knows? It could happen!
I hope it does! We can all say we knew you when . . . !
Thank you for this, we need uplifting on a day like this. Oh – and I like both versions.
I can’t watch that first version without smiling and tapping my toes.
I don’t have a cat or a cradle… or a silver spoon but it sure is nice talking to you, Hippie. It sure is nice talking to you.
Harry, keep the change.
Man, I think about Alfred Hitchcock all the time and I’ve gotten no songs and it definitely hasn’t made me an awful lot of money. Hard to begrudge someone that joyful and sincere, though.
Your fame and fortune are going to come from Stalin’s mustache. I just know it.
I, too, have never been so sure of anything in my life.
I really like your taste in music, HC.
I like the first one because I love hearing his speaking voice. Such a wonderful speaking voice. Though the older version takes me back years, I think I like the more recent one best. I find it gentle and peaceful, as silly as that may sound.
The Alfred Hitchcock reference? Who knew? Very random.
Among other things, A Whack on the Side of the Head by Roger von Oech (sp?), makes the case for allowing one’s brain to wander in order to encourage creativity. I like it when those whose creativity has met with success in whatever form it takes are willing to share the process.
I wonder, though, if he looks back on that and wishes he hadn’t said it. If my 20-something self were chatting it up on YouTube, I’d be cringing.
This is a really interesting pairing for me. The first version was popular when I was roaming around as a twenty-something. It always was a toss-up: listen to Cat Stevens, or Donovan?
I love the second version because it sends me straight back to Paul Simon’s concert in South Africa, with Ladysmith Black Mombazo and Miriam Makeba. If this isn’t Ladysmith backing Yusuf, I’d be surprised. I did a little snooping and saw they did back several other artists on the song (including Dolly Parton!) so could be. And the South African colors in the women’s dresses makes me even more certain.
Great post, great memories. For a little more peace and love from South Africa, there’s always this.
I found a reference to it having been recorded at Yellowbrick Studios in Johannesburg, South Africa with the Inewenga Voices. I couldn’t find any more information on the Inewenga Voices, though.
You might also like some of the music of Playing For Change : http://playingforchange.com/
Thanks for this. I’d never heard that second version before.
I like that one on a quiet morning.
I didn’t know the Yusuf Islam version, but I find it very fitting to the lyrics. Occasionally there is a good cover of a song made – funny that in this case Mr. Stevens / Islam covered himself, and managed to come up with a great song, again!
Makes me think of U2, who did an acoustic version of Bloody Sunday during some of their later concerts (http://youtu.be/DpSA3URvvfg for the video-enabled). The first, ‘rock’ version is strong and full of rage, the acoustic version sends chills down my spine…
I absolutely love the second version, beautiful. I always loved Cat Stevens he was popular when I was a young hippie chaining myself to fences for peace and love.
To paraphrase The Princess Bride there is no nobler cause than true love and true peace.
I am sad now about the loss of something I didn’t know I was missing until 3 minutes ago: vintage Debbie posts.
I’m also sad that I can’t play these clips right now, but now I have something to look forward to later!
Oh, you didn’t miss much. I pretty much figured I’d gone off the deep end when I took a houseplant hostage, complete with blindfolding it and posing it with that day’s newspaper. I started out to blog about the things that matter to me. I don’t know how it all went so terribly, terribly off course. I’m starting to answer to Debbie, by the way. It’s weird.