Cat Stevens Wild World Lyrics Meaning

by Jessica Shelton · Published December 31, 2019 · Updated December 31, 2019

The common theory is that the true addressee of “Wild World” is one Patti D’Arbanville. Patti is the lady whom Cat Stevens dated during the late 1960s/early 1970s. And it is known that their relationship didn’t end well, particularly from Cat’s perspective. And on this track, he is addressing a “girl” who has decided to part ways with him. And he doesn’t seem happy about her decisions at all. For instance, he claims that he “lost everything” to her. Moreover he is still in love.

But that being said, he seems to have made peace with the whole situation. Thus the title of the song is based on him warning her that “it’s a wild world”. Or stated, differently he feels that she is much safer by his side. Therefore if she actually leaves she will be a lot more vulnerable, specifically to unsavory characters. Thus he wishes her, arguably sarcastically, that she “take good care” and “make(s) a lot of nice friends out there”. And he also states that he’ll ‘always remember her like a child’, perhaps insinuating that his concern for her will never cease.

Cat Stevens talks about “Wild World”

But Cat himself has gone on to state, some three decades after its release, that “Wild World” is actually about his own life. That is this track is actually akin to an exercise in soliloquy. And based on his own past experiences, he is warning himself to be careful as he sets forth into the world. Thus he has gone on to elaborate that even though the lyrics may have been influenced by other people in his life, it is actually “more about” himself. And it is ultimately meant to be representative of the narrator “losing touch with home and reality” and “home especially”.

But ultimately that explanation, which he gave in 2009, doesn’t really stand.  Rather it sounds more like he’s trying to debunk the idea that the song may in fact be about D’Arbanville. After all, why would he address himself as a female?

But regardless of which particular explanation a listener may subscribe to, at the end of the day, two things are clear. One is that the addressee has decided to set forth on his or her own. And second is that in light of such, the narrator is concerned about his or her welfare. Thus he is compelled to warn this individual that “it’s a wild world out there”, and that they should be wary accordingly.

Facts about “Wild World”

“Wild World” was written by Cat Stevens. And his regular musical partner, Paul Samwell-Smith, produced the track.

This song came out on 23 November 1970 with Cat Stevens’ album “Tea for the Tillerman”. A&M Records also presented it as the second official single from that project in the US, but Island Records opted not to do so in the UK.

When it was first released, “Wild World” charted in Canada and the United States, peaking at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. And it eventually appeared on the UK Singles Chart also in 2007.

There was a bit of controversy concerning this song. A writer/musician named Jonathan King claimed that the Pet Shop Boys plagiarized “Wild World” on their 1987 hit “It’s a Sin”. He even released his own cover version of Cat Stevens’ track to prove the point. But eventually he was proven wrong and had to legally settle the Boys.

Artists who have covered “Wild World” to notable chart success include Maxi Priest (1988) and Mr. Big (1993).

Some other notable musicians who have covered the song are Jimmy Cliff (1970), James Blunt (2007) and Bastille (2018).

And Jimmy Cliff, who was personally associated with Cat Stevens, released his version of “Wild World” even before Stevens himself.

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