Cat Stevens – On The Road To Find Out

This is about a young man who wants to see the world for himself, so he sets out on a journey into the world where he can clear his mind and see what he can discover.

“On The Road To Find Out” was inspired by a deep spiritual emptiness in the composer’s life. He was not writing about traveling in a literal sense but in finding out who he was and the purpose if any of his existence. Cat Stevens had fame and fortune thrust upon him at an early age, and like so many people in a similar position he looked at what he’d accomplished and realized it had brought him neither happiness nor peace of mind. This was one of the songs he wrote after recovering from tuberculosis, a disease that had all but been eradicated in the Western world by the time he contracted it, and which in his case was caused by personal neglect and fast living.

In 1977, he converted to Islam after several years of serious contemplation of religion. He played his final concert in November 1979 then withdrew totally from music for over two decades. In 2004, after his return as Yusuf Islam, he featured in a TV documentary where he told presenter Alan Yentob that his songs were a narrative to his life – none more so than “On The Road To Find Out.”

So on and on I go, the seconds tick the time out
There’s so much left to know, and I’m on the road to findout

Then I found myself alone, hopin’ someone would miss me
Thinking about my home, and the last woman to kiss me, kiss me

But sometimes you have to moan when nothing seems to suit yer
But nevertheless you know you’re locked towards the future

So on and on you go, the seconds tick the time out
There’s so much left to know, and I’m on the road to findout

Then I found my head one day when I wasn’t even trying
And here I have to say, ’cause there is no use in lying, lying

Yes the answer lies within, so why not take a look now?
Kick out the devil’s sin, pick up, pick up a good book now (Repeat x 2)

Yes the – answer – lies – within, so why not take a look now?
Kick out the devil’s sin, pick up, pick up The Good Book now!