O' Caritas - Oh Love - Cat Stevens - Catch Bull at Four

[mightymissk]

This song thrilled me when it first came out, and it still inspires me now. it also frightens me a bit. It seems prescient.

[bibu1992]

Magnifico.

[spinningshields]

Omygod I love Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam, and always have. I think I have most of his albums on vinyl, and all on CD. It is so nice to find so many other fans here, first- and second-generation. Lotta love up in here! I think the quality of spirit of his admirers here speaks to his quality of spirit. Thank you, katydid. Studyolic, would love to see your dining room! <3

[iamearthbornami]

love always

[studyolic]

I've got the latin lyrics of this song written in gold paint around the walls of my dining room. No kidding. Every visitor asks me what the latin says. Great song.

[orangeroomstudios]

For those interested in an original English translation of the lyrics of "O Caritas", feel free to check out my wordpress blog (Foreign Language Music) for vocabulary and grammar explanations, as well as guitar chords.

[csgoldengirl1]

would love to see him do this live

[markmiyashiro]

Praise the Lord, you got to play this song as loud as possible

[Treebard]

Cat makes the Latin sound so beautiful. I was learning Latin when I first heard this song, at the age of 14. Amazing song from an amazing album, Catch Bull at Four. Thanks for posting with such beautiful images -- romanticized, "paint-ified" photographs. You must have worked hard to make them!!!

[markmiyashiro]

This album was excellent in production, the mix was great. Many great songs

[snapperjohn1000]

prophetic music

[Broblem12]

An amazing song and a personal favorite. The whole lp/cd is wonderful and this is but one of it's highlights. Thank you for this delightful sharing of the visual and of song. Blessings and well-being to you.

[annyhunnybee]

A shame such a peaceful seeming man turned to such a hateful seeming religion.

[InbictaProductionzZ]

@annyhunnybee muslim doesn't mean extremist. he is the same old cat!

[tawray]

like the phoenix Egypt will rise and destroy its enemies Oh CARITAS.

[tawray]

EGYPT IS BURNING.GOD HELP US.

[tawray]

AMEN!

[tawray]

he cried to heaven why do i deserve to die for humanity !Jesus you are to be sacrificed for man's sins O'CARITAS.

[myself30035]

oohhh! I never knew this song! I like very much!!

[mileniaman2]

Thanks so much for posting this song with translation. I am 54 now.....when I 1st heard this song I was 17 I believe..... it still puts cold chills on my arms and back... what a powerful, spiritual song....from a prolific song-writer and performer!!!!

[katmag02]

Compassion!

[APPAS5]

Étoiles. À quand l'incantation pour que le malheur s'abatte sur les hommes. Lourde est la tristesse et les pleurs, grande est la douleur, de la Terre et des Mers grande est la clameur. Ô par pitié, Ô par pitié, que l'amour soit toujours avec nous, nous qui ne trouverons le salut que dans la mort. jusqu'à la résurrection de la vie. Ah, ce Monde brûle si vite ! Oh, ce Monde ne durera pas. Je ne veux pas gaspiller le temps qui m'est imparti donnez-moi le temps de vivre ma vie.

[JudyThereza]

lindo D+++++!!!

[spiritatu]

great song....latin....

[Randompzycho]

@spiritatu greek

[snapperjohn1000]

so ethnic ,so intensley greek,so real.

[bebop58]

I love this, Catch Bull at Four ..

[carloso519]

This is the most beautiful song I've heard in my life.

[TheSelviboylum]

i am sick of this song love it beatifull

[enguwu]

nice

[Brocceri]

The very best of Yusuf.....Grandissimo!

[heavnnnsent]

Stargazer, how did you meet Cat Stevens, what were the circumstances?

[StargazerCaroline]

I got 'Catch Bull at Four' as a special gift the week it hit No.1 on the Billboard album chart. 'O Caritas' was my first favorite. Of many. I was ten and my opinion of him and his music has not changed. I've met him and there was no hassle about my obviously unveiled self. He started to reconnect with the fans he left, in 2000. An incredibly nice man; my heart nearly stopped when he smiled that smile at me. His youth and beauty came back! All it takes is the relaxation of a smile...sometimes.

[ShawDAMAN]

Great song, he was a real innovator and I've loved his music ever since I first heard it too.

[StargazerCaroline]

I hope that these comments help sway youtube to organize a Cat Stevens/Yusuf channel to subscribe to in the modern way.

Nice to hear from a fellow fan!

[ShawDAMAN]

Heh that would be great.

Like many, I prefer him in the first part of his career but I'm glad he's singing and recording again, and he hasn't lost his touch. I can't really identify with a lot of his current music though like I could with a lot of the old stuff. But even if he'd never come out of retirement he'd be a legend! My Dad passed him on to me. ;-)

[Tabalix]

Great song! ^^

[cofiz75]

Superbe.... comme toujours ! J'adore ce mec..... Quant à la chanson.... comme je l'ai déjà dit : superbe !!!! Il y avait longtemps que je ne l'avais pas entendue ! Merci !!!!!

[Thebonnie0592]

What's really amazing is that it's in Latin! It has a Spanish sound to it. Truely an amazing performance!!

[Breegha]

My favourite song on Catdh Bull. Fantastic video!

[Veralucy]

God bless you, Cat Yusuf and also all of us of this wide wild world of ours!

Muito obrigada for this gem Katy!

[Blunstonefan]

I always thought it was "Oh Carrot Ass" jk!

[atlantideales]

great video! great song!

[marcmgm]

Yes very dissapointing that he's a religious freak now.I like to remember him as he was before he became brainwashed,

[alcoholichealer]

I love the Cat of back then

we always thought these words were in greek, not in latin, back when

I wish the Cat had not gone the route he has chosen, to recede into oldthink

it is almost like he is a caricature of his own 'father-son' thinking.

however i will always love his early ways

he was no entertainer , he was a wayshower and a hope bringer(then)

[strengthnfaith]

If If he was a wayshower and a hpoe bringer then you should reconsider your own reasons to think he isnt today... Is it purely sectarian?

[alcoholichealer]

i loved him back then

but i am not fond of his current ways of viewing life from the vid i saw of him

so to me it is like he has fallen very far and cannot see it.

before, to me, he was bold and spirited and courageous.

now, he feels controlling,pejorative, bossy, since i do not believe in the god or gods he might, and so to me to hear a harangue about it is the precise 180 degrees of his prior open-toed spirituality as i saw it.

[mpolakow]

So basically you're a Christian and he's not so now he's bad.

[alcoholichealer]

thank you no i am not into religion and i used to admire the cat man for all he stood for.now that he is so deeply into fundamental religiosity i am no longer a fan of his because i don't share his worldview. christians or muslims, i am neither.

[usmanhasan]

alcoholichealer - you have so obviously failed to grasp what he is, what he does or what he stands for.

You say "he has fallen very far and cannot see it", but I think he's finally living the life he only dreamt of back then. In his own words he finally found the peace he craved.

Without wanting to be disrespectful (as you do seem sincere), whether blinkered or misinformed  - I believe it is you who "can't see it".

[antoniozart]

amen

[Platinger]

@usmanhasan Cat Stevens pities me. He used to have his own ideas of life and the world but he lost them in danger of his life and rather turned to the religious fairy-tales of others than to stick to his own strong will to survive. I always loved Cat Stevens, I grew up with his songs and still sing and play them on guitar, but to abandon your own thoughts and ideas about life to believe in non-existent spiritual overminds is definitely NOT the way to bring the world to peace, but to pieces.

[usmanhasan]

Platinger - are your preconceptions SO rigid that you can't see beyond them?

If his views are different from yours - it does NOT mean he has therefore abandoned 'his own' thoughts. Your statement is intollerance in the extreme.

Extreme intollerance is what damages peace.

[Platinger]

Correct - and it derives from religion as history proves with millions and millions of dead innocent people. Just yesterday 500 christians have been slaughtered by muslims in Nigeria. Same happend vice versa: christians had their bad time, too and I don´t think those times are over.

As long as people insist on being chosen races or having the only true belief it will bring war and death to the world.

I am a free human being. I don´t need no gods - I believe and trust in myself.

[Randompzycho]

@Platinger You mean that you pity Cat Stevens, I don't think you would have any way of knowing if he pities you or not, and Islam is the best religion in the world.

[Platinger]

@Random I apologize for my bad English - it´s only one of the languages I speak and not my first language. Thank you for correcting me! Still, I can´t agree with you on your religious belief. There is no best religion. All gods and religions are inventions of humans. It´s the same everywhere: If one believes in invisible invincible beings he´s called brainsick, if many believe it it´s called religion. But I can see no difference. I mistrust any religion/community whose first aim isn´t PEACE.

[Randompzycho]

@Platinger Well all religions are just different interpretations of the same thing, but Islam's priority really is peace, Islam literally means submission (i.e. to god). The beginning of Islam was marked by much violence but the message of Quran is one of peace. *Not trying to instigate anger or any ill feelings between you and I.

[hamsa005]

You should do Novims Nightmare!

[pfunkballer]

I just want to say that this song rocks!!!!! Goose bumps motha fooker!!! (I know, just let it settle.!)

[GeansShow]

Such a powerful song. Stevens was ahead of his time, for sure.

[thiaanthony]

And his songs are timeless.

[viavero1]

super great song!!!

[katydidscorner]

Thanks Al, I had some fun using graphic filters and plugins, and now I'm obsessed with Photoshop.

[PeaceTrainHati]

Thank you, Katie!!!

[pocuddm2]

What a delight to find this after finally getting power back on after 4 days! I never knew what all the words meant until now. Thank you again Katie. Liz

[Jonathanjzero]

Oh you've done a wonderful thing here!

And O'Catitas has always been one of my all time favourites of Cat Stevens!

Powerful and moving and 100 percent meaningful - and like Peace Train, O'Caritas is just as relevant today, sadly...

Nevertheless, a strong and excellent message of a song!

Thank-you!

[justapeon2003]

Jon, I couldn't agree more. It feels almost like a case of foreseeing the future. Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam seemed to know, and we listened back in the 70's and didn't quite see where we were heading. We are here.

I don't want to lose it, here in my lifetime.

Peace & Love, work toward it daily. I know Yusuf still is!!!!