Father And Son
cat stevens (live) Lyrics


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It's not time to make a change,
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
I was once like you are now, and I know that it's not easy,
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, 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,
Just sit down, take it slowly
You're still young, that's your fault,
There's so much you have to go through
Find a girl, settle down,
If you want you can marry
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy

All the times that I cried, keeping all the things I knew inside,
It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it
If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them you know not me




Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away
I know I have to go

Overall Meaning

"Father and Son" is a touching song by Cat Stevens, which tells a story of a father and his son who have a different perspective on the changes the son wants to make in his life. The father implores his son to slow down and think before he makes any drastic changes, advising him to settle down and start a family. Conversely, the son is insistent on making changes in his life, even though it might mean distancing himself from his family. The father acknowledges that they have different viewpoints on life and shows his support for his son's decision to leave. The son, on the other hand, is aware of the differences and knows he needs to venture out on his own, despite his reservations. The song depicts how the dynamic between parents and their children evolves as the children grow up and start making decisions of their own.


The song showcases the generation gap between fathers and sons, highlighting the different values and beliefs they hold. The father advises his son to settle down and start a family, while the son wants to explore the world and create his own path. The son is aware of the value of his family, but believes he needs to venture out and make his own decisions. The father, on the other hand, is somewhat trapped in his role as a parent and finds it hard to reconcile his differences with his son. The song speaks to the universal experience of growing up and becoming independent, no matter how difficult it might be.


Line by Line Meaning

It's not time to make a change,
Don't rush into making big decisions just yet.


Just relax, take it easy
Take a deep breath and calm down.


You're still young, that's your fault,
Being young means you have a lot to learn and experience.


There's so much you have to know
There is still a lot to learn about life and the world.


Find a girl, settle down,
Consider finding a long-term partner for stability.


If you want you can marry
Marriage is an option, but not necessarily required.


Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy
I have lived a full life and found happiness despite the challenges.


I was once like you are now, and I know that it's not easy,
I have been in your shoes before and understand the difficulties of youth.


To be calm when you've found something going on
It can be hard to stay level-headed in the midst of chaos.


But take your time, think a lot,
Don't rush into making decisions, carefully consider your options.


Why, think of everything you've got
Reflect on all of the good things in your life.


For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not
Your life will continue, but your dreams may fade if you don't act on them.


How can I try to explain, when I do he turns away again
I struggle to communicate with him.


It's always been the same, same old story
The pattern of our communication has been consistent.


From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen
I was taught to prioritize listening over speaking.


Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away
I have found a path that requires me to leave.


All the times that I cried, keeping all the things I knew inside,
I have suppressed my emotions and knowledge for too long.


It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it
Confronting the truth is difficult, but ignoring it is even harder.


If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them you know not me
I can't agree with everyone else if it doesn't align with my own beliefs.


Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away
Leaving is the best path forward for me.


I know I have to go
I am certain that leaving is the right decision for me.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Yusuf Islam

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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All comments from YouTube:

@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.

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@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. 🎶❤

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