# Cat Stevens "Moonshadow": what's it mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-stevens-moonshadow-whats-it-mean/608161 "2012-01-02T18:08:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-stevens-moonshadow-whats-it-mean/608161/1 "2012-01-02T18:08:14Z")
I just heard it for the first time in 20 years, and started singing along. But then I stopped and thought “HUH?” “What’s this all about?” 'Cause it just don’t make no sense… Quick summary,… with my reactions in parentheses: \*\*“I’m being followed by a moonshadow” \*\* (=nice poetic imagery, but doesnt mean much..there’s no hint about where the poem is heading) **“If I ever lose various body parts , I won’t use them”** (=-uh, yeah,…thanks for telling me) **“But the moon beam will still be shining on me”** ( =repeat the imagery, but don’t explain why, and still reach no conclusion.) So what am I missing here? Because I just don’t get it… (You can read the complete lyrics [here](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/cat+stevens/moonshadow_20028197.html) ) p.s.: the rhyme about “lose my mouth/ teeth north and south” is terrible, terrible, _TERRIBLE_ poetry And now , class, for homework, write an essay in which you compare and contrast Cat Steven’s imagery of a moon+ shadow , with Bob Dylan’s imagery of sun+shadow: > [@](#): > > Though you might hear laughin’, spinnin’ swingin’ madly across the sun > It’s not aimed at anyone, it’s just escapin’ on the run > And but for the sky there are no fences facin’ > And if you hear vague traces of skippin’ reels of rhyme > To your tambourine in time, it’s just a ragged clown behind > I wouldn’t pay it any mind, it’s just a shadow you’re > Seein’ that he’s chasing. > > …Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands > With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves > Let me forget about today until tomorrow Now _that’s_ poetic imagery! And no lost body parts, either 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-stevens-moonshadow-whats-it-mean/608161/2 "2012-01-02T18:13:29Z")
He never actually says “But the moon beam will still be shining on me” But what does it mean to you? You can’t be told what poetry means. It’s personal and if it means nothing, that’s OK. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-stevens-moonshadow-whats-it-mean/608161/3 "2012-01-02T18:17:06Z")
It’s about being an optimist- looking on the bright side and enjoying life whatever misfortunes may befall you. Seems pretty straightforward to me. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-stevens-moonshadow-whats-it-mean/608161/4 "2012-01-02T23:30:06Z")
AND: He doesn’t say that he won’t \*use \*the lost body parts. He says that he won’t have to do the more objectionable aspects, e.g., “Won’t \*have \*to cry/work/etc…” hh ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-stevens-moonshadow-whats-it-mean/608161/5 "2012-01-02T23:44:24Z")
Exactly. Glass is half full. No hands? Hey, at least I won’t have to work! No legs? Hey, at least I won’t have to walk! Etc. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-stevens-moonshadow-whats-it-mean/608161/6 "2012-01-03T00:00:15Z")
Whenever I hear that song anymore, my mind immediately calls up the opening to that old Jack Webb TV show _Adam-12_. And i mentally hear the radio dispatcher: \*One-Adam-12, One-Adam-12. we have a report of Someone being followed by a Moonshadow. repeat – Moonshadow. Moonshadow. They’re being followed by a Moonshadow – Repeat – Moonshadow, Moonshadow. \* ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-stevens-moonshadow-whats-it-mean/608161/7 "2012-01-03T00:40:42Z")
You find _Moonshadow_ confusing, yet the lyrics of _Tamborine Man_ make perfect sense? Anyway, the question has been answered . . . I kind of always pictured a pan-like nomad, traipsing across the countryside under the full moon singing this song, care-free and philosophically unattached to his body. It’s not just glass half full, but more spiritually free from his corporeal existence. What I find baffling/annoying is the short refrain: _Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light. Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night?_ . . . in a booming, aggressive voice. It’s tonally completely different than the rest of the song, _sounds_ like it’s supposed to mean something more significant, or be some sort of twist, but I’m not sure it actually is. It takes me out of the song completely. When ever I’ve played it, I always cut that part out. \*And if I ever loose my mouth, all my teeth, North and South, yes if I ever loose my mouth, awaaaaay, I won’t have to talk . . . \* ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-stevens-moonshadow-whats-it-mean/608161/8 "2012-01-03T01:25:17Z")
I heard he had been diagnosed with a serious illness, multiple sclerosis, I think, and the song was about that. But I Googled it and Snopes said nope. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-stevens-moonshadow-whats-it-mean/608161/9 "2012-01-03T01:27:54Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > the rhyme about “lose my mouth/ teeth north and south” is terrible, terrible, _TERRIBLE_ poetry It’s my favorite line line in the song. _All my teeth, north and south._ ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-stevens-moonshadow-whats-it-mean/608161/10 "2012-01-03T15:10:17Z")
Here’s the cartoon from “The Fantastic Animation Festival” (1977): [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f44i6MwjsGU)