Eskinazi 1

Tal Eskinazi

Professor Batty

English 102

16 September 2019

An Ode to Teenage Angst

To their disadvantage, children are not adults. Teenage angst and rebellion are felt by all

children and are integral in building our character as young adults; they are the immortal

shadows of the human psyche forever chasing us towards our goals. Life’s lessons are hard to

come by, and usually require us to sacrifice our childhood idealism, for a cocoon of nihilism

from which we emerge as fully formed humans; free from the bonds that hold us to comfort and

complacency. Throughout the years many artists have tried to capture this feeling, but none have

come quite as close to the early work of folk singer, Cat Stevens. In perhaps his most famous

song “Father and Son” Mr. Stevens explores and dissects this universal feeling of teenage angst

and rebellion by offering two differing, yet compelling, perspectives on the matter. A father, who

in his wise old age, warns against youthful foolishness, and his son who with youthful hubris,

warns against being warned. Although most listeners tend to think, quite correctly, that this song

is a direct reference to the artists relationship with his own father, it seems as though Mr. Stevens

has stumbled upon a much more universal story that captures the essence of what it means to be

a kid searching for concrete answers in a world full of only possibilities.

The song starts with a slow melody that introduces us to a father lecturing his son about

the values of taking life slow. The father offers his advice, saying, “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” (1-4), which in turn leaves the listener questioning. What is it exactly that we are
 Eskinazi 2

supposed to know? When will we know that we know it? These ideas are a foundational part of

what drives our teenage angst. Time inherently implies change, rendering absolutes about the

world almost meaningless. From the moment we are born, until the time we reach early

adulthood, promises of a secret knowledge have always been behind a door at the end of a never-

ending hallway. Instead of offering a generic vague answer, the father offers a more sincere

outlook on the situation, telling his son that he does not know the knowledge that he professes to

exist, only that it does. He suggests to his son, “Find a girl, settle down / If you want you can

marry / Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy,” (5-7). Again, the father makes no claim as to the

right path to be taken, instead he tries to empathize with his son, offering only suggestions. He

ends by commenting, “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,” (8-9). Afraid of seeing his son make the same mistakes

he has over the years, the father suggests seizing everyday as it comes, and not to rush into

things.

After melodic break in the song, the son starts his verse, with a harsh and angry voice.

The son’s verse is an immediate rebuke to his father’s words. In an appeal to the listener, the he

asks, “How can I try to explain, when I do, he turns away again / It's always been the same, same

old story,” (13-14). In the pursuit of knowledge and sense of self, we look to others to show us

the way but get angry when those answers come up unsatisfactory. The son disregards his

father’s sincere suggestions, seeing them as purely a nice story told to keep him from doing what

he feels. His whole life has been in subordinance to his father and he cannot differentiate

between his own wants and what he perceives as those of his father, saying, “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,” (15-17). There is no explaining that which is unknown and inexplicable.
 Eskinazi 3

The son must now go find life for himself. He knows deep down his father is right even though

he’s not able to admit it, finishing his piece by telling the listener, “If they were right, I'd agree /

but it's them you know not me,” (30). The last line shows just how skeptical he truly is to his

own argument, asking the listener for confirmation.

The story of the father and son is one that is universal, spanning almost every culture,

race, gender, orientation, and religion. Searching for meaningful answers to life is a common

quest taken up by children all over the world, though their efforts are but futile in the grand,

ever-evolving complexity of life. Our goal in life is, first and foremost, to live and ask questions

later. Mr. Stevens helps remind us of this and to keep in mind the present because there is no

right answer. Instead we must learn to live and look after ourselves because, as the father says,

“For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not” (12). Overall, “Father and Son”

is more than the title might suggest, it’s applicability to a whole host of other similar situations

faced by many in life is a true testament to its lyrics; well-deserving of a spot amongst the top

ranks of poetry.
 Eskinazi 4

Works Cited

Stevens, Cat. “Father and Son.” Genius, 23 Nov. 1970, genius.com/Cat-stevens-father-and-son-

lyrics.
 Eskinazi 5

“Father and Son” – By Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam

Father:
1. It's not time to make a change
2. Just relax, take it easy
3. You're still young, that's your fault
4. There's so much you have to know
5. Find a girl, settle down
6. If you want you can marry
7. Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy
8. I was once like you are now, and I know that it's not easy
9. To be calm when you've found something going on
10. But take your time, think a lot
11. Why, think of everything you've got
12. For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not

Son:
13. How can I try to explain, when I do he turns away again
14. It's always been the same, same old story
15. From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen
16. Now there's a way and I know that I have to go - away
17. I know, I have to go

Father:
18. It's not time to make a change
19. Just sit down, take it slowly
20. You're still young, that's your fault
21. There's so much you have to go through
22. Find a girl, settle down
23. If you want you can marry
24. Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy

Son:
25. (Away, away, away, I know
26. I have to make this decision alone - no)

Son:
27. All the times that I've cried, keeping all the things I knew
28. Inside
29. It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it
30. If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them you know not me
31. Now there's a way and I know that I have to go - away
32. I know, I have to go