Father and Son

I was shuffling the list of songs to which I listen when I'm writing. I came across an old song called Father and Son by Cat Stevens. It's a story about a young man that's about to leave the nest. The father who obviously loves the boy is trying to offer advice - trying to say what's in his heart but the words are falling on deaf ears. Both are talking but neither is listening. And it's obvious that it will not end well. That's a strange time in a young man's life. That time when the decision is made and no words can change his mind.
There was a period of time in the early 70's after I got out of the Army and I was living at home. My hair was kept short during the time I was in the military but once I walked off of Fort Jackson, South Carolina I did not cut my hair for many years. My dad was a clean cut, clean shaven man and he DID NOT like long hair. I used my humor for a long time to fend off his displeasure but the chasm grew and I finally moved out. He did not speak to me for a long time. It's the first time I ever did anything against his wishes. In retrospect it was not that big a deal. I've often thought that I should have simply cut my hair to keep the peace but that was a turbulent time and pride stood between us. It seemed so important to me at the time to stand my ground and he had no intention of changing his mind.
My mother was the go-between and she worked hard to maintain an unsteady truce. Things did not escalate and after a time we both simply let it go. It's something we laughed about in the years that followed.
But as I listened to Father and Son tonight, a feeling of melancholy almost took root. Here are the lyrics to Father and Son by Cat Stevens.

Father
Its 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 its 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.
Its 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
Its 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-- away away away, I know I have to
Make this decision alone - no)
Son
All the times that I cried, keeping all the things I knew inside,
Its hard, but its harder to ignore it.
If they were right, Id 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.
(father-- stay stay stay, why must you go and
Make this decision alone? )