☝️ Key Points
- The song describes a mysterious and romantic encounter with a fascinating woman, symbolized by the 'Year of the Cat' in the Chinese horoscope.
- The woman appears mysterious and unpredictable, a characteristic reminiscent of a cat.
- The singer is led by the woman into a world of fascination and confusion, losing control and his sense of direction.
- The woman has an exotic and inviting aura that entices the singer to explore her secrets.
- The singer wakes up next to the woman and realizes that he has become completely involved in the relationship and is now stuck in the 'Year of the Cat'.
Interpretation
'Year of the Cat' by
Al Stewart is a metaphorical song that describes a mysterious and romantic encounter with a fascinating woman. The title and the repeated phrase 'Year of the Cat' refer to the Chinese zodiac, where the 'Year of the Cat' (a year of reflection and change) is actually the 'Year of the Rabbit'.
The first verse presents a scene that feels like it's from an old film, where the singer meets a woman who looks 'like a watercolor painting in the rain'. She is mysterious and doesn't provide any explanations for her presence, reminiscent of the unpredictability and independence of a cat.
In the second verse, the fascination and mystery of the woman are further emphasized. She leads the singer to a secret place and he loses the sense of direction, symbolizing the confusion and loss of control that often come with love.
The third verse describes how the singer is drawn to the woman, whose eyes shine 'like the moon in the sea'. She is exotic and inviting, and he is tempted to find out what she is hiding.
In the fourth verse, the singer wakes up next to the woman and realizes that he has lost his return ticket, symbolizing that he has completely committed to this relationship and is now stuck in the 'Year of the Cat'. Although he knows he will have to leave her someday, he will stay for the moment.
Overall, the song describes a romantic and mysterious encounter that takes the singer into a world of fascination and confusion, symbolized by the 'Year of the Cat'.