Father: It's not time to make a change, just relax and 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 to, you can marry
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy

I was once like you are now, and I know that its not easy
to be calm, when you've found something going on.
But take your time, think a lot, 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? 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 I have to go away
and I know I have to go.

Father: It's not time to make a change, just sit down and 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 to you can marry
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy

Son: All the times that I cried, keeping all the things I knew inside
It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it.
If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them they know, not me
Now there's a way, and I know that I have to go away.
I know I have to go.

                                                                        ----Cat Stevens

第一次听到这首现在耳熟能详的歌来自于Boyzone的翻唱，几位爱尔兰少年在干净舞台上和投射灯光下，安静动听地演绎这首言简意骸充满父式关怀的歌曲，像是洗耳聆听来自父辈的劝诫(当时以为)。后来听到另外一个版本，歌声显得干涸却绕有滋味，俨然一位循循善导的父亲。了解之下才知道歌者Cat Stevens才是歌曲的原作者，而歌曲是以双簧的曲式演绎了父亲与儿子的对话和冲突，重心并不在于父亲的用心良苦，而在于儿子苦闷于父亲的不理解和心中理想的压抑，最终决定远行一闯究竟。年岁递增，我们并没有像自己以为的变得雍容智慧，只是渐渐自认平庸并自甘平庸，因为心中那曾经躁动曾经热血曾经一往无畏的少年如今已经渐行渐远。