If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out

Cat Stevens composed and performed the music for the black drama comedy, Harold and Maude, which includs one of my favorite Cat Stevens songs, “If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out.”

The song is featured most prominently in the last scene of the film, when Harold decides to let go of his past beliefs to embrace the idea of living his life to the fullest.

And the song is about exactly that: living life to the fullest. It’s about living a life that isn’t driven by expectations. It’s a song to listen to on repeat when you feel uncertain or afraid. It’s a song that teaches us that we should life the life we want:

“Well if you want to say yes, say yes
And if you want to say no, say no
‘Cause there’s a million ways to go
You know that there are…

You can do what you want
The opportunity’s on
And if you can find a new way.”

If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out by Cat Stevens

Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
‘Cause there’s a million things to be
You know that there are

And if you want to live high, live high
And if you want to live low, live low
‘Cause there’s a million ways to go
You know that there are

You can do what you want
The opportunity’s on
And if you can find a new way
You can do it today
You can make it all true
And you can make it un-do
You see? Ah, ah, ah
It’s easy, ah, ah, ah
You only need to know

Well if you want to say yes, say yes
And if you want to say no, say no
‘Cause there’s a million ways to go
You know that there are
And if you want to be me, be me
And if you want to be you, be you
‘Cause there’s a million things to do
You know that there are

You can do what you want
The opportunity’s on
And if you can find a new way
You can do it today
You can make it all true
And you can make it un-do
You see? Ah, ah, ah
It’s easy, ah, ah, ah
You only need to know

Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
‘Cause there’s a million things to be
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are