Words & Music by Mike Power

My Father & Son

I recently told an old friend that one of the advantages of getting older (and we both acknowledged there are precious few) is perspective. One of the revelations that time and experience have given me is seeing fatherhood from both sides. Two of the finest men I’ve ever known are my father and my son. They each taught me some of the most important lessons I’ve learned.

The second to last cut on Cat Stevens’ 1970 album Tea for the Tillerman is called Father and Son. The lyrics are a dialogue between a father and son at the point in their lives where the son is becoming independent and has to go away. For Father’s Day, here is the artist currently known as Yusuf Islam performing his poignant, heartfelt, and intelligent ode to fatherhood:

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?
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
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: