If You Want To Be A Transcendentalist, Be A Transcendentalist

If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out

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

[Chorus:]
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 undo
you see ah ah ah
its 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

[Chorus]

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

This Cat Stevens song has strong ties to several Transcendental ideals and teachings of Emerson and Thoreau. This song champions individualism and is a true "Be true to yourself" anthem. It repeats several times that "you can do what you want". It is not a very complicated or deep song but it holds a lot of truth. Life truly can be that simply as to find what you want to do with your life and then do whatever you can to accomplish that goal. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true." This song goes right along with this quote, encouraging all that listen to it to simply do what they want to do despite any barriers or naysayers that may stand in the way. As the song says, "The opportunity's on...you can do it today."

This is not like the typical "stay true to yourself" tween pop song. The line "And if you want to be me, be me." sets it apart. Stevens is saying that if you don't like what you are, change it. If you want to be a different person, do it. Henry David Thoreau said, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." Stevens is saying the same thing. Pick what you want to do with your life and follow that dream; it is really that simple. The ability to change and become whatever you want already lies inside of you and all you have to do is bring it to the surface. This coincides very closely with Transcendental ideas that say all knowledge is already within every human being. Intuition is much greater than and external logic because the answers and ability already lie within us. The line, "You know that there are." is repeated many times and it is reminiscent of this inner knowledge idea. You can be and do whatever you want, but only if decide to make the most of yourself.