“You will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.”
Does Cat Stevens look in any way suspiciously blissed out to you at all? Too happy, way too happy. He was always more sunny than solemn, huh. Father And Son is a measured look at the generation gap, something rare in pop, which deals more happily with adolescent howls of frustration that paternal concern. I think this is really one of the best songs about generational misunderstanding, alongside She’s Leaving Home, which is surely the best in that small field. It’s a sign of an open heart and an open mind to be able to write perceptively about the balance of relationships, not just romantic ones (anybody can write about those) but family bonds as well. Cat Stevens is just such a songwriter. The sympathy he has towards both the voices in this simple conversation, and the humanity that shows in all his writing is his unique gift. This warm spirituality was evident in his music all along, and so it was no great leap for him to eventually find religion. It’s all an extended journey anyway.
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