How does the speaker in Cat Stevens’s song Wild World feel about the girl he’s talking to?

[WhiteShoulder]

[soleil2666]

He is presuming she is leaving for money (?) and warning her it's a wild world out there (and that just armed with a (charming) smile you'd get taken advantage of)

At the time, going 'out into the world' for money probably was a thing, leaving your circle of people you grew up around to strike it big somewhere else (LA or NYC presumably)

[WhiteShoulder]

Yeah

[Jerre]

He is in love with her, but she is leaving him. He is warning her of all the bad people in the world so be careful

[WhiteShoulder]

Would you warn her if she was your daughter?

[Jerre]

Yes, I probably would

[WhiteShoulder]

Me too

[Duckysback]

This feels like a writing prompt for an English class and I hate it.

[WhiteShoulder]

No. I’m serious. And drunk.

Like a child girl...

[msss98]

I think he's being a bit condescending, but i looove the song hahaha

[WhiteShoulder]

I agree, but it is a pretty song

[1stranger]

Oofff... Pooffff...😫
You/song/OMG/I/karaoke/love/drunk/you/would/love/listen/sing/why/America/?

I couldn't make a sentence after hearing this entertainment.

[EnglundUberAlles]

I'd guess he's a bitter Incel who's angry about her dating other guys.

[WhiteShoulder]

Hmm. Interesting.

[SydneySentinel]

Hard to get by just upon a smile.

[WhiteShoulder]

No tears left to cry

[SydneySentinel]

Maybe it was foreshadowing of his adventures on the "no fly list."

[WhiteShoulder]

Maybe

I don’t trust him. He wants to hurt her.

[SydneySentinel]

You think so?
Definitely possible. Like giving her the warning to make it seem like he's looking out for her but really he is the one that wants to hurt her?

[WhiteShoulder]

I’ve said too much
I haven’t said enough...

R. E. M. Losing My Religion.

I’m at a karaoke bar 😊

[SydneySentinel]

Sing it girl!
Thought that I heard you sing

[SydneySentinel]

Be safe

[WhiteShoulder]

Thanks 😊

[VIVANT]

Like he thinks she’s an idiot.

[WhiteShoulder]

Shit. That’s not good.

[VIVANT]

lol I heard this when I was A lot younger And I remember trying to give it the benefit of the doubt but it seemed so tremendously paternalistic.

However, many people may not have that view. So if someone said It reminded them of you or something.. it Doesn’t have to mean they think little if you.

I’m skeptical when it comes to men singing if women... it’s often very one dimensional. If it’s a love song ok but once they try to get into what they think is a woman’s mind, it just gets absurd.

What I like the least is when guys sing about some tragic ( and it always has to be a pretty girl only pretty women can have tragedies 😁) event that really in Relative terms isn’t tragic.. it’s like just something that involves emotion really. They put all this junk into it and have themselves as these disaffected Bystanders who only feel Bc they feel bad that she’s sad. It’s like dude just gets a pair and write an honest song about the fact Something upset YOU 🙄

Anyhow.. it’s been a long while. I’ll look at the lyrics again. Ill see if I can see it more positively Than just patronizing.. I was stricter when I was a kid 😊

[WhiteShoulder]

Paternalistic is exactly the word I thought of. It’s very paternalistic but it has a very pretty melody and I just wanna make sure she’s ok and fuck they keep putting margaritas in front of me

[VIVANT]

Lolol yeah... I agree. It’s my weakness for many songs. The melody. And I have to Pretend I can't hear the lyrics

Sure is probably FINE... he’s consoling himself at her expense Bc he can't possess her. I’m sure she’s living it up and on a grade A career track. Just Bc yes remembering her like a child Doesn’t mean she didn’t dominate it as an adult.

Enjoy the margaritas.. is it karaoke?

[WhiteShoulder]

It is 😊

[Avicenna]

What VIVANT said- it's crystal clear.

[WhiteShoulder]

Thank you

[Exorcist_Rampage]

He probably loves those women.

[WhiteShoulder]

Interesting

[Jjpayne]

I have to catch the lyrics hold on...

[Melissa01979]

I enjoy it I feel it.

[COMMODOREII]

I've never seen it.

[rajkamal97]

I never seen that.

[rajkamal97]

Can we chat