"It was important for me to duck out of the fast and furious life I'd been living as a pop star. I was in a different mood"

In this quote, Cat Stevens assesses his decision to step away from the hectic and chaotic lifestyle that featured being a popular musician. He acknowledges that he had actually been living a life filled with constant enjoyment and pressure, however he felt the requirement to take a break from all of it. Stevens describes being in a "different state of mind," recommending that he was seeking a change in rate and viewpoint. Perhaps he was feeling overloaded or detached from his real self. By "ducking out," he was able to find a sense of peace and clearness away from the spotlight.