Father and Son (song)
"Father and Son" is a popular song written and performed by English singer-songwriter Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf/Cat Stevens) on his 1970 album Tea for the Tillerman. 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.
| "Father and Son" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cover of the German single edition | ||||
| Single by Cat Stevens | ||||
| from the album Tea for the Tillerman | ||||
| B-side | "Moonshadow" | |||
| Released | August 1970 | |||
| Recorded | July 1970 | |||
| Genre | Folk rock | |||
| Length | 3:41 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Cat Stevens | |||
| Producer(s) | Paul Samwell-Smith | |||
| Cat Stevens singles chronology | ||||
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| Official video | ||||
| "Father and Son" on YouTube | ||||
Stevens sings in a deeper register for the father's lines, while using a higher one for those of the son. Additionally, there are backing vocals provided by Stevens' guitarist and friend Alun Davies beginning mid-song, singing an unusual chorus of simple refrains. In 2021, it was listed at No. 408 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time".