Father & Son (Cat Stevens)

Lo más lógico hubiera sido dejar para el próximo domingo la Canción de Domingo, pero “Father & Son” de Cat Stevens (cuando era hijo, y ahora Yusuf Islam, convertido en padre), no va a esperar ni 5 días; ni 4 meses, cuando se conmemora el Día de los Padres por éstos lares.

La conversación que surgió hace más de 30 años con una sencilla guitarra, fue atemporal y lo sigue siendo. Me impresionó durante mi época meridianamente hippietona... y me erizó la piel cuando le presenté a Cat Stevens a Mi Hijo Favorito de los Mayores, hace 10 años. Hoy, me aterra su proximidad, pero a la vez me enorgullece ver que cada uno de mis dos hijos -Mi Hijo Favorito de los Mayores, así como Mi Hijo Favorito de los Menores- está tomando el rumbo que escogieron sin intervención patern0/maternal… aunque vayan dejando el nido vacío.

Tan atemporal es la canción, que el mensaje va para los futuros nietos de mi esposo y sus amorosas madres.

(Foto, de la Guebb)

Cat Stevens

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.

Son:

How can I try to explain, when I do he turns away again.0

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.

Father:

It's not time to make a change,

Just sit down, 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 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 you know not me.

Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away.

I know I have to go.