I will revive my post that Cat Steven's song Wild World is sexist

What a patronizing way to speak to a woman who is leaving you. How typical of the machismo bullshit mindset.

Lyrics:

Now that I've lost everything to you
You say that you want to start something new
And it's breaking my heart, you're leaving
Baby, I'm grieving
If you want to leave, take good care
Hope you find a lot of nice things to wear
Then a lot of nice things turn bad out there


Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
It's hard to get by, just upon a smile
Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
I'll always remember you
Like a child, girl

You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do
And it's breaking my heart in two
Cause I never wanna see you sad, girl
Don't be a bad girl
Now if you wanna leave, take good care
Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
Just remember there's a lot, I'd beware

REPEAT CHORUS

La la la la la...

If you want to leave, take good care
Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
But just remember there's a lot, I'd beware

REPEAT CHORUS

Oh baby, baby, it's a wild world (x2)

La da da...
Ooooh, mmmm, oh yeah, hey...
La da da...
Doo doo...
Mmmm, oh yeah
La da da...
Doo doo...
Mmmm, doo doo...mmmm

This is a music subject we agree on. AAARRRGGGHHH!
:yourock:

but at the time it certainly wasn't the only one. I still think "Tea for the Tillerman" was a pleasing album.

:scared:

I'm willing to give someone who's just been dumped a lot of leeway. People naturally patronize, try to make the dumper feel guilty, say horrible things they mean at the time but no time else...If I dumped someone and they gave me a "fine, go, hope you know what you're getting into" lecture, I wouldn't appreciate it, but I'll understand. (I've said some not-nice things during breakups and fights myself.)

Then again, in the context of what Mr. Stevens has become...sure, it's sexist.

It's patronizing, as many of the late 60's, early 70's songs were.

"as many of the late 60's, early 70's songs were."

Although that may well be tongue-in-cheek. Or tongue-in-somewhere-else for that matter.

I learned what that was about here! I love this place!

:loveya:

who can't take care of herself and who's only interested in shopping.

Typical stuff you'd think if you were dumped hard.

"S/he'll never survive without me."

david

Ever see a blind man cross the road
Trying to make the other side
Ever see a young girl growing old
Trying to make herself a bride

So what becomes of you my love
When they have finally stripped you of
The handbags and the gladrags
That your poor old Grandad had to sweat to buy you

Once I was a young man
And all I thought I had to do was smile
Well you are still a young girl
And you bought everything in style

So once you think you're in you're out
'Cos you don't mean a single thing without
The handbags and the gladrags
That your poor old Grandad had to sweat to buy you

Sing a song of six-pence for your sake
And take a bottle full of rye
Four and twenty blackbirds in a cake
And bake them all in a pie

They told me you missed school today
So what I suggest you just throw them all away
The handbags and the gladrags
That your poor old Grandad had to sweat to buy
Oh oh

They told me you missed school today
So what I suggest you just throw them all away
The handbags and the gladrags
That your poor old Grandad had to sweat to buy you

It wasn't patronizing at all. But your opinion is VERY important.

"in the context of what Mr. Stevens has become" - bingo!

:grr:

what the hell do you expect?

Geesh, it's actually pretty tame considering how people normally feel.

I shoulda changed that stupid lock
I shoulda thrown away the key.

david

he didn't "remember him like a child" its condescending

And I agree about Ms. Gaynor's song. That's the toughest, coolest break-up song ever, but she *is* pissed at what's been done to her.

The character in Cat's song is pissed too, but he's being an ass about it. Not everyone is as cool as the dumpee in "I Will Survive", and few people are as tough.

I'm also drawing a line between the artist and the song here, that others may not draw.

david

You probably think this post is about you.

Let's not have your hindsight tinted with knowledge of the present. This lyrics may look a little (VERY little) bit sexist, but keep in mind this was the 60's. Asymmetry in man/woman relationships was still the norm back then, Woodstock notwithstanding.

slavery was exepted in its time but it was still wrong. I concede the point that it is mildly sexist - I just find it obnoxious. By the way - I LOVE the song. Man he could write a melody.

Sure it's patronizing. But that's a lot less insulting then plenty of other dump songs. I don't see many people talking about how Tom Petty's "Don't Come Around Here No More" was sexist. (although I've heard some say that cutting into the "Alice cake" in the video advocated violence to women. That's pretty stupid though).

And isn't it a bit bigoted and hypocritcal to assume that of course Cat Stevens is obviously a sexist because he converted to Islam?

"Change my pitch up, smack my bitch up.
Change my pitch up, smack my bitch up."

That's it...the entire lyric sheet...

...you know of some lyrics I haven't seen? That's one of the ridiculous things, the song only has 6 words...

"Getting up on stage and kicking ass".

Sounds misogynist as hell, though. Doesn't it?

I think they turned it into a porno movie.

..that men have written about women and lost love. And it doesn't leave you much that aren't sexist.