The sounds of English…
a listening experience
Father and son Cat Stevens
Ibarra Historical Center, Imbabura, Ecuador
Father and son. Cat Stevens
This song was written as a dialog that takes place between a father and his son. The son feels that it’s time for him to go out into the world, leave the paternal house, and search for his purpose in life. Initially, this song was written for a musical project, with possibilities of becoming a film production, by the name of Revolussia. In this script, the son wants to join the revolution. His father, a conservative farmer, is opposed to his intentions. The song happens to be the ongoing discussion between two opposed mentalities,
As stated in Wikipedia: “The song frames a heartbreaking exchange between a father not understanding a son’s desire to break away and shape a new life, and the son who cannot really explain himself but knows that it is time for him to seek his own destiny.”
The son’s verses are in a higher, more plaintive tone. In fact, he soliloquizes as if talking more to himself than addressing his father. On the other hand, the father’s verses are directly spoken to his son, clearly stating his opinions and point of view.
Responding to the interviewer from Disc, a weekly British magazine, Cat Stevens said, “I’ve never really understood my father, but he always let me do whatever I wanted—he let me go. Father And Son, is for those people who can’t break loose.”
In an interview with the Rolling Stones magazine, he added, “Some people think that I was taking the son’s side,” the composer explained. “But how could I have sung the father’s side if I couldn’t have understood it, too? I was listening to that song recently, and I heard one line and realized that that was my father’s father’s father’s father’s father’s father’s father’s father speaking.”
The lyrics
Father and son
[Verse 1: 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
[Verse 2: 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
[Verse 3: Father & (Son)]
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
[Verse 4: Son & (Father)]
All the times that I’ve 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)
If they were right, I’d agree (And make this decision)
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
Vocabulary
Soliloquize To talk to oneself. She was looking at the mirror and soliloquizing.
A heartbreaking exchange A strongly emotional dialog. She could not ever forget the heartbreaking exchange between her husband and herself, on that last night she lived with him.
To break away In the context of this song, the expression is used to indicate the desire to leave the paternal home.. He just wanted to break away and leave everything behind him.
Plaintive sound or voice A sad sound, tone or voice.. He sang of his past in a low, plaintive voice that displayed the sadness he felt deep inside.
The Listening Exercises
Cat Stevens Yusuf Islam – Father & Son – LIVE
This rendition is an interpretation by the composer, Cat Stevens, also known as Yusuf Islam. He is seventy-year-old and still is vital, enthusiastic, and full of energy, with a brilliant and powerful voice, with a lot more to give to his public. It is a fantastic, admirable recital. The lyrics are crystal-clear and straightforward, making this a pleasing listening experience.
Father & Son Cover- Liz Gillies
Elizabeth Gillies is an American actress and singer. She started her career as an actress at a quite early age when at twelve, she began doing small parts in commercials. By the time the young actress was fifteen-years-old, Elizabeth had made her debut on a Broadway musical. At 14, she was acting on TV in an NBC series. Her musical career includes two soundtrack albums, two singles, a promotional single, six music videos, three compilations, and one other album appearance. Her vocals are clear and easy to follow. The video includes the lyrics, making it easy for the listener to follow them effortlessly.
Rod Stewart is an all-time best-selling music artist. He has sold over 120 million records worldwide. Rod Stewart had achieved 31 hit singles that have reached the Top Ten in the United Kingdom and 16 among the US Top Ten singles. In 1994, Stewart staged the most massive free rock concert in history when he performed in front of 3.5 million people in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Among his many accomplishments are to be inducted two times to the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and to be rewarded with his own star on Hollywood Boulevard in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This interpretation by Rod Stewart is an easy to understand version of Father and Son, which he sings in his own very particular style. Enjoy!
Cat Stevens – Father and Son, cover by Mylene
Mylène Farmer is one of the most successful French singers and songwriters. Born in Quebec, Canada, she moved to France, where she grew up. She is one of the most thriving recording-artists of France and holds the record for the highest number of number one hits, with twenty hits to date, eight of which were consecutive. This version is a laid back, unplugged style recording of this song. Mylène’s voice is accompanied solely by a soft guitar in a very accessible and easy to understand, slow-paced interpretation of Father and Son.
This duet by Johnny Cash and Fiona Apple is a striking interpretation by two top-level and highly acclaimed American artists. Johnny Cash is an American icon and one of the best-selling artists of all-time. He has sold over 90 million records worldwide. His recordings venture into the different venues of contemporary music, such as country, blues, rock and roll, folk, gospel, and soul. Because of his multi-genre recordings, he has been inducted into the Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Gospel Halls of Fame. Fiona Apple is an extremely talented singer, songwriter, and pianist. She has released five albums to date, selling over 10 million copies worldwide. Fiona has received a Grammy Award for the Best Female Rock Performance, two MTV Video-Music Awards, A Billboard Music Award, and seven Grammy Award Nominations. This duet by these two artists is certainly a great recording, as well as a sensational listening experience..
Father and Son – Cat Stevens Cover (Alessia D’Andrea)
To date, Alessia D’andrea has had a promising, 24-year career as a singer that began when she was 15-years-old. She has participated in different Italian Music Festivals and won various Italian Awards for Singers and songwriters. Most importantly, she has performed on different tours and recorded with the world-class rock group Jethro o’ Tull. This video includes her rendition of Father and Son, in which her powerful vocal is backed by her piano playing. As a result, this interpretation gives us an enjoyable opportunity to exercise our listening skills.
Ronan Keating & Cat Stevens – Father and Son
Ronan Patrick John Keating was born in Dublin, Ireland. He began his music career with the world-famous pop group, Boyzone. In 1999, Ronan decided to split, leave the group, and do his own thing. Since then, he has successfully recorded ten albums and sold over 10 million copies all over the world. He has also been invited to host Award Presentation for MTV Europe and MTV Asia. This video is his interpretation of Father and Son. The lyrics are clear-cut and quite easy to follow. In this cover he sings together with Cat Stevens, the composer.
ELISA CANTA LE PAROLE DI FATHER AND SON
Elisa Toffoli is an Italian singer and songwriter. She is one of the few Italian artists to sing and write in English. She cultivates genres like alternative-rock, electronic music, and pop. She has been busy and up to the moment has released nine studio albums, two live albums, 51 singles, and has sold over 5.5 million copies in Italy. In this video, she presents a live performance with the song Father and son accompanied by her piano playing. A very easy to understand version that allows a splendid exercise for our listening skills.
Father And Son Cat Stevens Street artist performance
The streets of the world are chock-full of listening experiences. I have heard excellent music performed live by street artists in the London Underground stations. I also have listened to great music in the US, especially in New York, LA, and San Francisco. It seems that everywhere I have traveled to has offered the possibility of enjoying sensational street music, and the examples above are only to mention a few of these instances. In this video, we can appreciate a great street artist doing his thing outside the London Underground.
There are a variety of different voices singing the same beautiful lyrics. Each voice with its own pace, inflection, and personality. Listen to these different versions, and exercise your English listening skills, remember that learning is fun, so enjoy!
All photographs by ©edudelcorral
Talking easy, the English lessons The Listening Exercises