Yusuf / Cat Stevens – Father and Son

Yusuf / Cat Stevens performs 'Father and Son' from his 1970 album Tea For The Tillerman, live in June 2020.

LYRICS
Father:
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, 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
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

Son:
Away, away, away, I know
I have to make this decision alone – no

Son:
All the times that I’ve 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

Father:
Stay, stay, stay, why must you go and
Make this decision alone? No

FOLLOW Yusuf / Cat Stevens:
LISTEN:
CHARITY:

#CatStevens

[funtimes]

Sounds like something only a man this old and wise could write, but yet he wrote this at 20 years old. Your music is a blessing.

[antodm]

He's finally old enough to sing the song he wrote back in '70.

[MarkusBHZ]

Dear Yusuf, my father taught me your song when I was a child. It was his way of explaining the world to me. He passed away last year but I've had the priviledge to say goodbye to him. I said to him that he could go in peace for he has raised well two brothers and he has a wonderful granddaughter. It was the last song I've listened with my father. Thank you so much for this precious gift. Be in peace!

[ManniGaming]

Seems like with higher age the song & performance just gets better and tru'er :-)

[pauljcrowley]

I listened to this song when I was the son. Now I’m the father telling my son to be patient.

[mg]

This song makes me cry every time. Cheers to everyone out there who has lost their father

[arkosen]

What a voice, Like vintage wine..nothing to write about the lyrics, this is evergreen

[muddywaters]

I am Greek. My father was the most wonderful man I ever met. I miss him. I pray to see him again someday.

[WildWestRosie]

Am I the only one who had always wanted to hear this with Yusuf and his own son? Even back in the 70s, I'd think, "He's the son now, just wait until he's the father".

[EllaSouthportfair]

Happy Fathers day to all good fathers out there.

[pbt]

He was the Son when he first sang it, and now he is the Father seasoned by the years

[scottbaker]

Yusuf ought to do one of those time-shift duets with his younger self. Get footage of his younger self to play "the son" and he, now much older, "the father". It would be beautiful. Bless you, Yusuf for this timeless rendition of what "has always been the same, same old story".

[KlaudiaAlvarez]

There is no better way to start a Sunday. Thanks, Yusef/Cat.

[joshuamercer]

My dads favorite song, he passed before I was born 18 years ago but I feel he still lives in me he loved this song and the song also helped me get through hard times ❤️🙏🏽

[scootlights]

Yusuf I don’t know if you read these comments, your music has touched so many deep in their soul. I’ve played guitar my whole life and this song almost brings me to tears. You have a gift from God we all benefit by your generosity sharing this gift with the world. God bless you

[nightfly]

Yusuf you are LOVED by many! Your music will be played a century from now!

[richardtaylor]

I have always loved this song. When I was young I was to busy being stupid. I thank God that when my father was dying I was layed off work in 2008 and I got to sit by my father for the last 3 months of his life. I got to know him better than I ever did growing up and he was a wonderfull W.W 2 veteran who was a wonderful man. I only wish I would have listened to him more growing up because he was so wise beyond his years. Love you Dad . Rest in peace Robert W.Taylor. Love ya pops.

[rohelkhan]

My father passed away, there is so much I wanna tell him of how much I miss him. Cheers to all the sons and daughter who lost their father.

[johnsmith]

Then he was the son and played the father's role, now he's the father and plays the son's one. Can feel it in his voice, I guess.

[lindasnyder]

Yusuf/Cat Stevens Sir, I listened to this song 51 years ago when we were both young and could appreciate the sons stance clearly--felt we were not truly heard, how we just had to live our dreams and that no one could truly understand the deep feelings as an artist.. Now we both are older and can better see the father's side and understand exactly what his meaning was. Thank you for providing this timeless, heartfelt and deeply emotional song. Still loving it at age 61!