I know many fine feathered friends/
But their friendliness depends on how you do.

One of the frequent motifs in Cat Stevens writings are the weariness that comes along with being a pop star. “Hard-headed Woman” is an exposition on this theme. Interestingly, he began writing songs about this before he really achieved that much fame. Ultimately, he abandoned his career altogether, and would not perform for thirty years, so he definitely walked the walk.

“Hard-headed Woman” is about finding a special woman who won’t be swayed by his fame. I imagine that once you reach a certain level of fame or fortune, you may doubt if anyone really loves you for you, or do they just love the status and the money.

Cat’s voice sounds great in both the verse and chorus. Notice how he sings tenderly in the verse when he is speaking about what he wants in a woman, and then changes his singing voice when he speaks about “fine feathered friends”. He is great at this technique, and we will see him use this technique similarly in another song later in this list to an even greater effect. The guitar intro is unique and really sets the stage and says, “a serious message is coming”.

Hard Headed Woman Lyrics

I’m looking for hard headed woman
One who’ll take me for myself
And if I find my hard headed woman
I won’t need nobody else, no no no

I’m looking for hard headed woman (hard headed woman)
One who’ll make me do my best
And if I find my hard headed woman
I know the rest of my life will be blessed, yes (yes), yes, yes

I know a lot of fancy dancers
People who can glide you on the floor
They move so smooth but have no answers (ooh whoa oh)
When you ask them, “What you come here for? (I don’t know)
Why?”

I know many fine feathered friends
But their friendliness depends on how you do
They know!
Many sure fired ways
To find out the one who pays
And how you do

I’m looking for hard headed woman (hard headed woman)
One who will make me fell so good
And if I find my hard headed woman (ooh whoa oh)
I know my life will be as it should, yes, yes, yes

I’m looking for hard headed woman (hard headed woman)
One who’ll make me do my best
And if I find my hard headed woman

written by Cat Stevens