Wild World

Photo Credit: Pixabay

“Life is not as easy as it may sometimes seem.  Especially when you are young and feel invincible.”

I don’t know why, but today this old song, ‘Wild World’  crossed my mind. I hark back to the original version by the great Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam). I love that tune and I love most of Yusuf Islam’s original recordings, when he was known as the artist, Cat Stevens. If you don’t know who this talented man is; please google him. When I was a very young woman, and in a serious relationship with a man I loved very much, he once told me that this particular tune’s lyrics reminded him of me. I always loved the song, but, since then, I always think of that early love when I think of this song. And, no….although I am older now, l’m not that old. The song had long been off the pop charts when I dated this gentleman in my early 20’s. Nevertheless; it resonated with both of us. He was a big music buff and we were both fans of Cat Stevens and his lovely lyrics. Not just this particular song, but many of his other beautiful recordings.

So, when I thought of this tune…’Wild World’ today, I said, maybe I should get back to writing, update my blog and write about something other than the pandemic, which has upended most of our lives for over a year now. I did feel a bit sad though, because those lyrics are so bittersweet. At the time, my then boyfriend had told me this song reminds him of me; we were having some difficulties and was on the verge of a break-up. The below lyrics particularly resonated with me.

Baby, I love you

But if you wanna leave, take good care

Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there

But just remember there’s a lot of bad and beware, beware

Oh, baby, baby, it’s a wild world

It’s hard to get by just upon a smile

Oh, baby, baby, it’s a wild world

I was young and carefree and my boyfriend was a bit older and more experienced. I guess he was trying to tell me…life is not as easy as it may sometimes seem. Especially when you are young and feel invincible. As I read these lyrics today, with decades of introspection and perspective, I totally get it. Especially now, in these difficult times. Even for us older adults, these are truly troubling times. 

I reflect on those past times and as much as it makes me somewhat melancholy, it also reminds me of happier days. Days when life did not seem so cumbersome. My then boyfriend and myself, went on to be together for many more happy years. Not because I was afraid to venture out on my own, but because we truly loved each other. Those were magical years and I learned a lot from him. 

Music and lyrics are personal to the listener. I think you can derive from lyrics whatever you feel the words say to you. Having said that, I won’t try to deconstruct the lyrics of ‘Wild World’. For me, the words spoke to me then, and still speak to me today. In a different way obviously, because I am now older. Personally, it still sends a message of caution, that sometimes we get to thinking, “we know all there is to know. ” In youth, the lack of insight and experience is called naivety. But sometimes, as we age, we become more complacent and we do forget….it is a wild world out there. Regardless of how experienced you think you are. These lyrics are beautiful and timeless.