 Tea for the Tillerman (1970) [ larger cover art ] |
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I built my house
From barley rice.
Green pepper walls
And water ice.
Tables of paper wood,
Windows of light
And everything emptyin'
Into white.
A simple garden,
With acres of sky.
A brown-haired dogmouse
If one dropped by.
Yellow Delanie
Would sleep well at night
With everything emptying
Into white.
Ooh..
A sad blue-eyed drummer
Rehearses outside;
A black spider dancin'
On top of his eye.
Red legged chicken
Stands ready to strike
And everything emptying
Into white.
I built my house
From barley rice.
Green pepper walls
And water ice
And everything emptyin'
Into white.
| poetista | Posted: May 09, 2013 - 09:41 I used to sing Cat Stevens' songs to the children I babysat -- this was when the albums were newly coming out. Now they have children of their own and all their kids know these songs. Yay for playing Cat Stevens' ballads! I also think he had a lot to do with me becoming a poet. |
| foolsparadise (Cypress TX, via Edmonton Canada) | Posted: May 09, 2013 - 09:41 danceympls wrote: One of the most touching and influential albums in My life. From Harold & Maude to dear love sneaking this music onto my personal music player, forever moved. And let enjoy what was created in the moment, not bring judgement as far as personal choices go, please. Amen |
| mjcunningham59 (Toronto, Canada) | Posted: May 09, 2013 - 09:40 First album I owned. Still stunningly beautiful |
| danceympls | Posted: Mar 07, 2013 - 18:14 danceympls wrote: One of the most touching and influential albums in My life. From Harold & Maude to dear love sneaking this music onto my personal music player, forever moved. And let enjoy what was created in the moment, not bring judgement as far as personal choices go, please. |
| hallogallo (Raleigh, NC) | Posted: Feb 04, 2013 - 12:09 A magnificent album. Really influenced my younger life. Still listen to it now. |
| rado (New England coast) | Posted: Feb 04, 2013 - 10:30 Hannio wrote: Are you that ignorant of how Islam spread throughout the middle east and north Africa? I believe the statement was in reference to Yusef Islam the artist, not Islam the religion. |
| YourNameHere (Los Angeles) | Posted: Jan 04, 2013 - 02:14 Tamster wrote: I miss what else he could have done..................... Amen. What a brilliant writer. In my book he could have been the equal of Paul Simon. |
| Tamster (Thousand Islands Canada) | Posted: Dec 03, 2012 - 17:30 I miss what else he could have done..................... |
| steeler (Perched on the precipice of the cauldron of truth) | Posted: Jun 29, 2012 - 14:17 On_The_Beach wrote: Not a bad track on this magnificent album. Indeed. Cohesive brilliance. |
| xkolibuul (Chuckanut sandstone) | Posted: May 28, 2012 - 16:49 My favorite CS song! 10 |
| On_The_Beach (The Blue Planet) | Posted: Apr 26, 2012 - 23:19 Not a bad track on this magnificent album. |
| philipr (France) | Posted: Mar 26, 2012 - 05:52 Thanks RP So good to ear Cat Stevens again ; It seems life was better ..... and now, where do the chlidrens play ? |
| Hannio (Austin, TX) | Posted: Mar 26, 2012 - 05:51 axe_victim wrote: I suspect Islam has done more to promote peace than anyone on this board. Are you that ignorant of how Islam spread throughout the middle east and north Africa? |
| rdo (DC) | Posted: Mar 26, 2012 - 05:51 The_Enemy wrote: But thanks for posting the wikipedia info and clearing up the controversy on Cat Stevens. That does not clear anything up for me. He should have condemned the fatwa. My religion, BTW, is the first amendment to the US constitution. That, and the Democracy which it implies, is the only way to true peace. |
| Sorcha (living in the Creative spaces in my mind....) | Posted: Feb 23, 2012 - 13:27 Oh, oh, oh, how I loved playing this album, a HS graduation present in 1970. Haven't heard Into White in decades! Thanks, Bill. |
| misterbearbaby (Marina del Rey, California) | Posted: Aug 17, 2011 - 18:05 Tea for the TIllerman was the one and only album that would quiet the manic, speed-crazed asshole musicians I roomed with in college...It was magic, as if they had Thorazine shot into thier IV drips... |
| rahkinrah | Posted: Aug 17, 2011 - 17:55 and now I am flying...a classic... |
| Krispian (Vancouver, BC) | Posted: Aug 17, 2011 - 17:55 Businessgypsy wrote: Appropriate, as this is his art on the cover. Trained as a graphic designer, did some animation as well. Wow! Really? On top of mad songwriting skills. What a talented individual... |
| Art_Carnage (DeepintheheartofTexas) | Posted: Jun 15, 2011 - 17:00 I actually like Cat Stevens, but this is interminable. |
| The_Enemy (...is within) | Posted: Apr 13, 2011 - 13:09 axe_victim wrote: I suspect Islam has done more to promote peace than anyone on this board. Could we not say this about any religion? Could we not also say any religion has done more to promote harm than anyone on this board? I'm trying hard not to sound trollish but your post is.... odd and weirdly offensive. But thanks for posting the wikipedia info and clearing up the controversy on Cat Stevens. |
| AntonRoss (Living on a Soverel 36 Sailboat in downtown Beaufort, SC) | Posted: Apr 13, 2011 - 12:49 This song is just damned groovy. Regardless of who/what/where/when/how Cat Stevens became. The art IS a reflection of the artist, and as such, is to be trusted in its own truthiness. Heh. Thanks Mssr. Colbert for that lovely word. Rock on RP! Anton Leather Lederhosen-free since 2003 |
| Businessgypsy (Deepest, Darkest Florida) | Posted: Apr 13, 2011 - 12:49 vandal wrote: Agreed. Regardless of its origins, the art stands apart from the artist. . . Appropriate, as this is his art on the cover. Trained as a graphic designer, did some animation as well. |
| axe_victim (London, Ontario Canada) | Posted: Apr 13, 2011 - 12:49
From Wikipedia Following Ayatollah Khomeini's February 14, 1989 death threat fatwa against author Salman Rushdie, convert to Islam and recording artist Yusuf Islam, previously known as Cat Stevens, made statements that were interpreted as endorsing the killing of Rushdie. This generated a furor among a number of celebrities and free-speech activists in the West who spoke out about his comments on radio stations and newspaper editorials. In response, Yusuf Islam said that some of his comments were "stupid and offensive jokes" made in "bad taste,"<1> while others were merely giving his interpretation of Islamic law but not advocating any action.<2><3> Yusuf Islam also said that later in the same program he non-jokingly promised to accept the judgment of a British court if it found Rushdie innocent of any crime, blasphemy or otherwise.<I suspect Islam has done more to promote peace than anyone on this board. |
| vandal (arriving somewhere, but not here. . .) | Posted: Mar 14, 2011 - 22:51 lmic wrote: Trust the art, not the artist. Agreed. Regardless of its origins, the art stands apart from the artist. . . |
| kvmrdj | Posted: Feb 09, 2011 - 16:45 Well said Bill, I agree. Music is music. And I would like to add that before anyone offers any more judgement of the man, watch Yusuf's Cafe Session. An excellent documentary. |
| df1489 (Lake Palestine, Tyler Tx) | Posted: Feb 09, 2011 - 16:36 I'm with Bill and most of the people here, music is music! Enjoy! |
| lmic (Harmless Little Bunny) | Posted: Feb 09, 2011 - 16:35 Trust the art, not the artist. |
| vandal (arriving somewhere, but not here. . .) | Posted: Feb 09, 2011 - 16:35 Jr. HS memories. . . nice. . . |
| aelfheld | Posted: Jan 09, 2011 - 09:46 ParkerH wrote: <...> a yearning for truth that can be heard throughout his career. Nothing like calling for the murder of a novelist to express your 'yearning for truth'. |
| oldviolin (Esse quam videri) | Posted: Jan 09, 2011 - 09:42 Fundamental Health |
| ParkerH (Naples, FL) | Posted: Dec 08, 2010 - 19:53 Cat has an exquisite voice and a yearning for truth that can be heard throughout his career. No matter how he found his own truth, his search, and what it produced, is a gift to us all. I am grateful that we have his gorgeous music now to enjoy. :) |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Dec 08, 2010 - 19:34 Yanking the topic back to MUSIC now (Sorry - I'm about to crash with a granddaddy of a cold, so I'm a little grumpy and tactless...) This is one of my favorite Cat Stevens CDs. I was listening to it a few days ago, while I reached my 50,000 word quota for Nanowrimo. Amazing how he can inspire me. This post took me twenty minutes to type. Going away now. Play nice, kids.  |
| Jeff09 (Gainesville, Florida) | Posted: Dec 08, 2010 - 19:06 This is beautiful music...sentimental yes, but beautiful. |
| Dgradeworkunit (Shenandoah Valley) | Posted: Oct 06, 2010 - 12:29 apd wrote: Yeah, usually I'd agree with you but some of Yousuf Islam's personal beliefs are quite extreme. Of course not all Muslims are terrorists. The vast majority aren't. But when you think about it, the only Muslim who counts on that matter is - Mohammad. WWMD? That's not hard to find out. My advice to apologists of Muslim behavior is to stop wishing for a better Mohammad. His example is never going to get any better. |
| apd (Toronto, On) | Posted: Oct 06, 2010 - 12:14 Tana wrote: Not funny. You're implying that all Muslims are terrorists. No place for that here. Yeah, usually I'd agree with you but some of Yousuf Islam's personal beliefs are quite extreme. |
| Dgradeworkunit (Shenandoah Valley) | Posted: Oct 06, 2010 - 12:03 bachbeet wrote: Cat really had a good run and this was his breakout album. I like Mona Bone Jakon more though. I was as disappointed as anyone else to hear of his abandonment of music. Apparently Mohammad didn't like music... from an article on Sharia Law: ""r40.0 MUSIC, SONG, AND DANCE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS r40.1 (Ibn Hajar Haytami:) As for the condemnation of musical instruments, flutes, strings, and the like by the Truthful and Trustworthy (Allah bless him and give him peace), who "does not speak from personal caprice: it is nothing besides a revelation inspired" (Koran 53:3-4), let those who refuse to obey him beware lest calamity strike them, or a painful torment. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: (1) "Allah Mighty and Majestic sent me as a guidance and mercy to believers and commanded me to do away with musical instruments, flutes, strings, crucifixes, and the affair of the pre-Islamic period of ignorance." (2) "On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will pour molten lead into the ears of whoever sits listening to a songstress." (3) "Song makes hypocrisy grow in the heart as water does herbage." (4) "This Community will experience the swallowing up of some people by the earth, metamorphosis of some into animals, and being rained upon with stones." Someone asked, "When will this be, O Messenger of Allah?" and he said, "When songstresses and musical instruments appear and wine is held to be lawful." (5) "There will be peoples of my Community who will hold fornication, silk, wine, and musical instruments to be lawful ...." All of this is explicit and compelling textual evidence that musical instruments of all types are unlawful (Kaff al-ra'a' 'an muharramat al-lahw wa al-sama' (y49), 2.269-70). r40.2 (Nawawi:) It is unlawful to use musical instruments-such as those which drinkers are known for, like the mandolin, lute, cymbals, and flute-or to listen to them. It is permissible to play the tambourine at weddings, circumcisions, and other times, even if it has bells on its sides. Beating the kuba, a long drum with a narrow middle, is unlawful (Mughni al-muhtaj ila ma'rifa ma'ani alfaz al-Minhaj (y73), 4.429-30)..." |
| mbriner (So Cal) | Posted: Oct 06, 2010 - 12:01 rtrudeau wrote: This brings back such lovely memories of times past. Thanks for playing it, Bill. My sentiments exactly... I was instantly transported to some very good times. |
| Tana (Lancaster, PA) | Posted: Oct 06, 2010 - 11:56 stescott100 wrote: he's re-released this album under the new title Tea for the Taliban Not funny. You're implying that all Muslims are terrorists. No place for that here. |
| scrubbrush | Posted: Oct 06, 2010 - 11:56 tkay73 wrote: My parents gave me a taste for Cat Stevens while growing up, his music brings back the feeling of being young and I still love it today. likewise. this came out the year i was born... it's was part of the soundtrack of my early life (while the credits were still rolling) |
| steeler (Perched on the precipice of the cauldron of truth) | Posted: Oct 06, 2010 - 11:55 2 superior albums — this and Teaser and the Firecat. Wonder what could have been if he had not chosen a different path? |
| h8rhater | Posted: Aug 03, 2010 - 11:49 stescott100 wrote: he's re-released this album under the new title Tea for the Taliban TheBorgBuilder wrote: Ha ha, good humor! For simpletons. |
| TheBorgBuilder (ATL) | Posted: Aug 03, 2010 - 11:48 stescott100 wrote: he's re-released this album under the new title Tea for the Taliban Ha ha, good humor! |
| rtrudeau (Bay Area, California) | Posted: Aug 03, 2010 - 11:45 This brings back such lovely memories of times past. Thanks for playing it, Bill. |
| crockydile (Outer Spiral Arm, Milky Way) | Posted: May 31, 2010 - 18:43 A very nice song. Wasn't introduced to it until the late 80's.  |
| Verpeiler (Düsseldorf, Germany) | Posted: Apr 30, 2010 - 02:17 stescott100 wrote: he's re-released this album under the new title Tea for the Taliban Granted, that is kinda funny but also a very stupid and insulting thing to say. |
| Verpeiler (Düsseldorf, Germany) | Posted: Apr 30, 2010 - 02:16 stescott100 wrote: I watched Harold and Maude the other week, for the first time, it's an excellent film, ruined by Cat Stevens awful soundtrack. He sounds like every other childrens TV folk singer from the 1970's It´s been years since I watched this but I have very fond memories of the movie and the music. |
| bachbeet | Posted: Mar 29, 2010 - 10:34 Cat really had a good run and this was his breakout album. I like Mona Bone Jakon more though. I was as disappointed as anyone else to hear of his abandonment of music. |
| tkay73 (Near the majestic Colorado Rockies) | Posted: Mar 29, 2010 - 10:34 My parents gave me a taste for Cat Stevens while growing up, his music brings back the feeling of being young and I still love it today. |
| brander (Southern California) | Posted: Mar 29, 2010 - 10:32 stescott100 wrote: he's re-released this album under the new title
Tea for the Taliban LMAO. |
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