His albums Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat were both certified as Triple Platinum by the RIAA in the United States; his album Catch Bull at Four sold half a million copies in the first two weeks of release alone, and was Billboard's number-one LP for three consecutive weeks. He has also earned two ASCAP songwriting awards in consecutive years, for "The First Cut Is the Deepest", which has been a hit single for four different artists.
Stevens converted to Islam at the height of his fame in December, 1977,[2] and adopted his Muslim name, Yusuf Islam, the following year. In 1979 he auctioned all his guitars away for charity[3] and left his music career to devote himself to educational and philanthropic causes in the Muslim community. He has been given several awards for his work in promoting peace in the world, including 2003's World Award, the 2004 Man for Peace Award and the 2007 Mediterranean Prize for Peace. In 2006, he returned to pop music, with his first album of new pop songs in 28 years, entitled An Other Cup. He now goes by the single name Yusuf.[4]
He currently lives with his wife and children in London, and spends part of each year in Dubai.[4]
His newest album, Roadsinger, was released on May 5, 2009.
Father & Son
Yusuf / Cat Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just relax, take it easy
You're still young, that's your fault
There's so much you have to know
Find a girl, settle down
If you want you can marry
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy
To be calm when you've found something going on
But take your time, think a lot
Why, think of everything you've got
For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not
How can I try to explain? 'Cause when I do he turns away again
It's always been the same, same old story
From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away
I know, I have to go
It's not time to make a change (away, away, away)
Just sit down, take it slowly
You're still young, that's your fault (I know)
There's so much you have to go through (I have to make this decision)
Find a girl, settle down (alone)
If you want you can marry
Look at me (no)
I am old, but I'm happy
All the times that I cried (stay, stay, stay)
Keeping all the things I knew inside
It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it (why must you go)
(And make this decision)
If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them they know not me (alone)
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away
I know I have to go
The song "Father and Son" by Yusuf / Cat Stevens is a conversation between a father and his son. The father is urging his son to slow down and enjoy his youth, to find a girl and settle down. He reassures his son that he, the father, is content despite his age. The son, however, is considering leaving home and striking out on his own. He is torn between wanting to stay and feeling the need to go. The father tells his son to take his time, to think things through, and to consider all that he has to lose if he goes. The son acknowledges the importance of his decision and ultimately leaves, but not before expressing his love for his father.
The song captures the timeless tension between generations. The father wants his son to learn from his experience and avoid the mistakes he made, while the son wants to make his own way in the world. The lyrics are deceptively simple, but they explore complex themes of identity, family, and the passage of time. It is a poignant and relatable song that has resonated with listeners for decades.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not time to make a change
Don't rush to make a decision
Just relax, take it easy
Don't stress yourself out
You're still young, that's your fault
You have your whole life ahead of you
There's so much you have to know
There's a lot to learn and experience
Find a girl, settle down
Settle down with someone you love
If you want you can marry
If you're ready, get married
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy
I've lived my life and I'm content
I was once like you are now, and I know that it's not easy
I've been in your shoes and I understand
To be calm when you've found something going on
It's hard to stay calm when there's an issue
But take your time, think a lot
Take your time and consider your options
Why, think of everything you've got
Think of all the things in your life that are important
For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not
Take action and make your dreams a reality before it's too late
How can I try to explain? 'Cause when I do he turns away again
It's hard to get through to someone who doesn't want to hear it
It's always been the same, same old story
This issue has been ongoing
From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen
I've always been told what to do and what to think
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away
I have to leave to find my own way
It's not time to make a change (away, away, away)
Don't make a rash decision, take some time to think
Just sit down, take it slowly
Relax and don't rush
You're still young, that's your fault (I know)
You have time to figure things out
There's so much you have to go through (I have to make this decision)
There are a lot of experiences and decisions to make
Find a girl, settle down (alone)
Settle down with a partner but be content with yourself first
If you want you can marry
Marriage is an option if you feel ready
Look at me (no)
Don't compare yourself to me
All the times that I cried (stay, stay, stay)
I've held my emotions in for too long
Keeping all the things I knew inside
I've kept my thoughts and feelings to myself
It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it (why must you go)
It's difficult to face the truth, but ignoring it is even worse
(And make this decision)
Make a choice and stick to it
If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them they know not me (alone)
If others were right about me, I'd agree, but they don't know me and my struggles
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away
I have to leave to find my own path
I know I have to go
I am certain that leaving is the right choice
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Yusuf Islam
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mirladanganan6739
O99l99ol9o9oo😅😅 1:56 m 1:56 moo
O
9m999😅kki
LLll
L😅9😊😅 2:15 k9lol9loo9lo😅O
O
9o9l9ll
99l99O9
ll
9
9l99o9lmo99o 2:21 o99ok😅k99o999kk99o9😅loolo99i9ooio9😅loo9
l
O999o99Oo9ooooo9999iooo9o9o9999999oo9ooo99io999o9oh
Oo
99oO
9
9h999lo9o99o99oo999o9oOo9m9oo999o999io
o9oo99 2:32 99999o😅ooo9oookk9ll9😅9o9oo😅o😅9999😅9😅oo9oio99😅99o9ilio😅o😅9ok99ooo9😅99oooo99o99999😅999ohlo😅😅o😅9o😅😅9o9h9😅999lio😅9o9hkoo9o99⁹9olooo99oooo9😅9oooooooooo9o9o999o99oo9o9999oooooll99lo99o9😊9oo9😅😊oolol😊9oooo9oo90pp9mm 3:41 kl
k9
@YusufCatStevens
Subscribe to the Yusuf / Cat Stevens newsletter here: https://catstevens.com/email-signup/
@dougthePogingguitarist
love this song
@bryanquichocho1280
This song is one of many favorites from Cat! Thx dude🤙🏾.
@ozziegreen4850
Stay blessed ; stay sane in this insanity❣️
@christianschneider4926
:)
@abdelkaderbenaricha5312
I can't write or speak English properly, but I know that passionate people like me can understand me and feel me through these little big sentences." I am a very sensitive and passionate person until I have tears in my eyes.. And when I listen to this song I think of my father, a great man who died of cancer when I was very young. Then I grew up and I think of him, when he said, my son, I am really sick buying myself a piece of cake. Life without him and his compassion is cruel. I feel very alone. .
I live with great sadness in my heart to be praised by my relatives and friends.
@jaeveena
I'm leaving this comment here so after a month or a year when someone likes it, I get reminded of this song <3
@ahmadismail6626
Reminder🙂
@AlisonJacobson77Ching
❤
@AlisonJacobson77Ching
Beautiful insight, & human being...this speaks to my Soul. 'Then' to ' Now'. From the child, to the parent, parent love for child, 'seeing' own parents,...Lifetime relevance, this Loop of Life~ moving past ' self'.. to foresight, reflection & understanding. 50 years of viewpoints for me...such an ever evolving song, in this ever evolving journey. Thank you, each & every time. 🎶❤