Where Do the Children Play?

Cat Stevens

About Where Do the Children Play?

"Where Do the Children Play?" is a song by British folk-rock musician Cat Stevens, opening his November 1970 album Tea for the Tillerman. The song reflects awareness of the turmoil of the late 1960s and the issues involved: war, urban sprawl, poverty, ecological disaster, and the future of humankind. The same themes and concerns are repeated later in many of his songs. The song was among several of Stevens's songs that were used for the soundtrack of the 1971 movie, Harold and Maude. The film features the song during a scene where lead character Harold is driving past a military graveyard, panning out to show a vast number of little tiny white graves, thus underscoring the point of the song. In 2005, Stevens/Islam re-recorded the selection as a duet with Dolly Parton on her album Those Were The Days. In 2017, Garbage recorded a cover of the song for United Nations charity album, Music To Inspire: Artists UNited Against Human Trafficking. 


Year:
1987
3:51
3,010 
#6

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Well I think it's fine, building jumbo planes.
Or taking a ride on a cosmic train.
Switch on summer from a slot machine.
Yes, get what you want to if you want,
Cause you can get anything.

I know we've come a long way,
We're changing day to day,
But tell me, where do the children play?

Well you roll on roads over fresh green grass.
For your lorry loads pumping petrol gas.
And you make them long, and you make them tough.
But they just go on and on, and it seems that you can't get off.

Oh, I know we've come a long way,
We're changing day to day,
But tell me, where do the children play?

Well you've cracked the sky, scrapers fill the air.
But will you keep on building higher
'Til there's no more room up there?
Will you make us laugh, will you make us cry?
Will you tell us when to live, will you tell us when to die?

I know we've come a long way,
We're changing day to day,
But tell me, where do the children play?

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Cat Stevens

Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou, 21 July 1948), commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam. more »

14 fans

Written by: Yusuf Islam

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Information
"Where Do the Children Play?" is a song by British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, which is the opening track on his 1970 album "Tea for the Tillerman."
Impact
The song has been covered by various artists over the years and is considered a classic in folk and pop music.
Theme
The lyrics of the song challenge growing urbanization and raises concerns about kids not having space to play due to the impact of technology and modern civilization.
Album’s Reputation
"Tea for the Tillerman", the album featuring "Where do the Children Play?", was certified triple platinum in 2003, demonstrating its sustained popularity.
Environmental concerns
The song lyric’s concerns towards environmental sustainability were considered ahead of its time considering when it was written and released in 1970.
The Artist’s Inspiration
Cat Stevens cited that writing "Where Do the Children Play?" was inspired by seeing kids playing on the streets in London, which made him question the lack of nature and open space in urban areas.
Unique Sound
The song is known for its folk-pop sound, a fusion of the folk and pop music genres, which was a significant part of Cat Stevens' musical style.
Use in Films
"Where Do the Children Play?" has been featured in films and television series, including the 1971 film "Harold and Maude."
Notable Covers
The song has been covered by artists such as Dolly Parton, marking its significant influence in the music industry.
Cat Stevens' Later Life
Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam after converting to Islam in 1977, included a reimagined version of "Where Do the Children Play?" on his 2020 album "Tea for the Tillerman²" to mark its 50th anniversary.

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