I let my music take me where my heart wants to go.

Spirituality and religion were recurring themes in Cat Steven’s music long before he converted to Islam. “The Wind” appears on Teaser and the Firecat, more than five years before his conversion. He seems to be searching for Truth and has come to a place where he his content…at least temporarily.  Where will this journey take him? Who knows. But right now, he wants for nothing.

He attributes this newfound contentment to the changes he has made in his life. Whereas before he lived a crazy lifestyle (“I swam upon a Devil’s lake”) he thinks he has turned the page (“I’ll never make the same mistake.”)

The guitar intro to “The Wind” is simple, but also iconic, beautiful, and moving. There are actually two guitars being played here but most of the sound can be accomplished with one. Stevens voice is so soothing. He conveys emotion without varying the volume of his voice or adding much variety to the melody. That is hard to accomplish.

Lyrics The Wind

I listen to the wind
To the wind of my soul.
Where I’ll end up, well, I think
Only God really knows.

I’ve sat upon the setting sun.
But never, never, never, never,
I never wanted water once.
No, never, never, never.

I listen to my words
But they fall far below.
I let my music take me where
My heart wants to go.

I swam upon the devil’s lake.
But never, never, never, never,
I’ll never make the same mistake.
No, never, never, never.

written by Cat Stevens