About the song
Father & Son by Yusuf, formerly known as Cat Stevens. Now that’s a song that transcends generations. Released in 1970 on his iconic album Tea for the Tillerman, it’s become an anthem for the ever-present struggle between tradition and youthful rebellion.
Yusuf, a singer-songwriter with a voice as smooth as honey and a knack for introspective lyrics, wasn’t always Yusuf. In his early years, he was Cat Stevens, a rising star in the British folk-rock scene. Father & Son reflects this period, with its acoustic guitar and melancholic melody. But beneath the gentle surface lies a powerful story.
The song depicts a tense conversation between a father and son, a microcosm of the generational clashes that defined the late 1960s and early 1970s. The father, a voice of reason and experience, pleads with his son to slow down, to follow a more conventional path. We hear lines like “It’s not time to make a change” and “Find a girl, settle down,” reflecting the established societal expectations of that time.
But the son is restless. He feels a yearning for something different, a pull towards a path less traveled. The lyrics “How can I try to explain, when I do he turns away again?” paint a picture of frustration and a communication gap that feels all too real. The son yearns for independence, a chance to forge his own identity. This internal conflict is beautifully captured in the repeated refrain: “Now there’s a way and I know that I have to go. Away, I know I have to go.”
Father & Son isn’t just about a single family dynamic; it’s a universal story. It speaks to the inherent tension between generations, the desire for stability clashing with the urge for exploration. This timeless quality is what has resonated with audiences for over five decades.
The song’s impact extends far beyond the music charts. It’s been covered by countless artists, featured in movies and television shows, and referenced in literature. It’s a cultural touchstone, a reminder of the complexities of family relationships and the universal human experience of growing up and finding your own voice.
Video
Lyrics
“Father And Son”
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
[Son:]
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
[Father:]
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
[Son:]
All the times that I cried
(Decision, decision, decision)
Keeping all the things I knew inside
It’s hard (Why must)
But it’s harder to ignore it
(You go and make this decision)
If they were right, I’d agree
(Alone?)
But it’s them they know not me
Now there’s a way and I know
That I have to go away
I know I have to go