Cat Stevens And Alun Davies: A Musical Journey
In this song, Cat Stevens is singing to a woman he yearns for in a Human form. On another level, he may be singing, aware or unaware, to the Divine Feminine. In either case, the object of Stevens’ love is unattainable in the present. Yet, I believe, the admirer (Stevens) continues to yearn for his beloved in the hope that he will, one day, meet his perfect love.
There are many interpretations of “How Can I Tell You.” In my view, the song is hopeful rather than despairing. However one interprets “How Can I Tell you,” I feel the song is filled with incredible beauty that cannot help but shine through.
Stevens first met Alun Davies as a backup musician in a recording session. He liked what he heard. After another session, Stevens recognized that Davies was an exceptional talent. In a following private session, Stevens played something like fifty of his original songs for Davies, whereupon Davies decided Cat was an equally exceptional talent. He agreed to accompany Stevens on an upcoming tour. After the tour, Davies became Stevens' permanent 2nd guitar until Stevens stopped playing music with his conversion to Islam in 1977. When Stevens began performing again in 2003, the two artists reunited.
Here is a new version of "How Can I Tell You" with me playing and singing Davies' now famous second guitar part.
Sam How Can I Tell You That I Love You?
Speaker A: Sam how can I tell you that I love you? I love you But I can't think
Speaker B: of right words to say
Speaker C: I long
Speaker A: to tell you that I'm always thinking of you I'm always thinking of you
Speaker B: but my words just blow away Just
Speaker A: blow away it always ends up to
Speaker D: one thing, honey I can't think of
Speaker B: right words to say.
Speaker C: Wherever I am, girl I'm always walking
Speaker A: with you I'm always walking with you But I look and you're not there
Speaker C: Whoever I'm with I'm always walking to
Speaker A: you I'm always talking to you But I'm sad that you can't hear Sad that you can't hear it always adds
Speaker D: up to one thing, honey When I
Speaker A: look and you're not there Whoa,
Speaker C: whoa.
Speaker A: I need to know you need to
Speaker C: feel my arms around you Feel my arms surround you like the sea surrounds
Speaker D: the shore
Speaker C: each night and day I pray and hope that I might find
Speaker A: you and hope that I might find you because hearts can do no more can do no more it always ends
Speaker D: up to one thing Still I kneel upon the floor.
Speaker C: How can I tell you that I love you? I love you and I can't think
Speaker B: of right words to say
Speaker C: I long to tell you that I'm always thinking of you I'm always thinking of you.
Speaker D: It always ends up to one thing, honey and I can't think of right
Speaker B: words to say Whoa,
Speaker D: whoa, Speaker E: Sam.
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