Music of the Day, 12 May 2025

so much left to know

I was certain that I’d already featured the song that started playing on the radio station in my mind not long after I woke up. Checking my spreadsheet just in case I was wrong, I was astonished: I’ve only featured this artist once! He was a staple of my parents’ AM variety station in my youth, and both his singular voice and songcraft enchanted me.

His presence in my mind faded as I matured, and also because he retreated from music for many years. My first viewing of one of my favorite movies brought him back to my attention, and I became even more of a fan of his music. I went through a phase of listening to the albums I had at least weekly, probably to the annoyance of my kids.

So I don’t know if his emergence this morning is a signal of something—but it’s feeling that way. This song has deeply resonated with me for as long as I can remember, and it’s been a delight to immerse myself in it again.

Before starting to research for this MotD, I was certain I’d heard “On the Road to Find Out” on the radio in the 1970s; but I’m rethinking that now that I see from the album’s Wiki page that it wasn’t released as a single. I also have no idea when I first watched Harold and Maude—a 1971 movie for which Yusuf/Cat Stevens composed and performed the music—but that was very likely my introduction to “On the Road.” It connected with me in the context of the movie and personally.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved learning. If money were no object and I could find worthy instructors, I’d probably be constantly enrolled in some course or another. History, linguistics, kinesiology, chemistry, music, cultural studies, learning other languages, arts and crafts¹: I’d dip my intellectual toes in all those waters. Even though that isn’t gonna happen, I regularly derail myself to explore things online … always on the road to find out more interesting things.

I think the spiritual aspect of the song went over my head before; I even missed the likely allusion to religion in the line “pick up a good book now” because I didn’t get the previous line (“kick out the devil’s sin”) until today. No matter: “I’ve got my own spirit level for balance” and am happy to do my own thing and leave others to theirs, as long as they extend similar tolerance.

The lyrics obviously still connect with me, and so does the music. As Stevens’ vocal dynamics change, so do the instruments, with powerful effect. Harvey Burns on percussion is especially masterful in that regard. Stevens’ “oooh”s at the end of several lines are an auditory shiver; between them and the Hammond organ on the fadeout, I can happily repeat the track many times.

I did that with all of Tea for the Tillerman for some time, as previously mentioned. I could return to it and Teaser and the Firecat—or perhaps I should explore other music by him. Your suggestions are welcome.

1. I’m currently fascinated by glassblowing