How Can I Tell You by Cat Stevens is a heartfelt song about the struggles of expressing deep love and emotion to someone who is far away. Stevens conveys a poignant sense of longing and the difficulty in sharing his true feelings. The song touches on themes of longing, love, and the frustration of communication barriers. Particularly poignant moments include the repeated questions of 'How can I tell you?' which emphasize his desperation and need to communicate his love.