Father and Son by Cat Stevens

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Father and Son by 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.
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.

By Javier Vedia

Music link to Radio Blog

1. Listen to the song and fill in the blanks. The first letter is given:

No, Father:
It's not t…………. to make a ch…………….,
Just r…………, take it e…………..
You're still y……………, that's your fault
There's so m……………… you have to k……………...
Find a g………………, settle d………………
If you want you can m ……………...
Look at me, I am o………, but I'm h……..........

I was once like you are n………, and I know that it's not e…………
To be c………… when you've found something going on.
But take your t………., think a lot,
Why, think of everything you've got.
For you will still be here t……………., but your d………….. may not.

Son:
How can I try to e…………, when I do he turns a………. again.
It's always been the same, same old s………….
From the moment I could t……….. I was ordered to l…………...
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go a………..
I know I have to go.

Father:
It's not t………….. to make a ch…………..,
Just sit d………….., take it s…………...
You're still y…………., that's your fault,
There's so m………. you have to go th………….
Find a g…………., settle d………….,
if you want you can m…………...
Look at me, I am o……, but I'm h………….

Son:
All the times that I c………., keeping all the things I knew i……….,
It's h…….., but it's harder to i………. it.
If they were right, I'd a……….., but it's them you know not me.
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go a……......
I know I have to go.

2. Explain any difficult vocabulary items

3. All students READ the song aloud, copying the rhythm. (Emphasis on Good Pronunciation )

4. All students SING TOGETHER.

5. Post-Song DISCUSSION: "Generation Gap"
In groups of 4 they discuss the subject: "Conflict - parents - children
adults - teenagers

a. Describe the signs of a Generation Gap

b. Whose fault is it ?

c.. Is there a solution?

d. Any suggestions or proposals?

e. Groups share their findings with the whole class.

6. ALL STUDENTS SING THE SONG: Half of the class may sing the FATHER's verses and the other half the SON's verses.

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