father and son (cat steven)-general meaning

Hi

i know the meaning of every word in the song father and son by Cat Stevens but there's something i couldn't understand

1- why does the son have to go away ?
2- when the son said "when I do he turns away again" , what "he" refers to ?

the lyrics

Father And Son - 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-- 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,

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.

(Father-- Stay Stay Stay, Why must you go and

Make this decision alone?)

1 - why does the son have to go away ?
2 - when the son said "when I do he turns away again" , what "he" refers to ?
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Dear abu arab,

Of course lyrics (as poems) can mean different things to different people. But this is my clear take on it, beginning with question 2 first:

(2) "when I do he [the father] turns away again [from the son]"

(1) The son "has to go away" because he has always felt "unheard" by his father. To stay with/near the father is too painful. The son has felt emotionally alone as a boy, even with his father there. As a boy, he was compelled to rigidly listen to the father. Now, as an adult, he hurts too much be around a father who doesn't listen to his feelings.

I have lived long enough to understand both sides of this story--the young and the old. The son and the father each have so much to share; but they are not truly hearing each other. My "take" from this song: What the father has to say is important, but the son is not really listening to his father's words and meaning. Likewise, the son is sharing his feelings with his father, but his father is not listening to the importance of them.

Of course, you already know that, but . . . thanks for letting me express my thoughts on this beautifully sad song, which plays out so often in the world. It is just life. But the wonderful song you shared is meant to teach us to truly hear as well as speak to one another. I hope I heard you well, my friend!

That's Frankie!

Thanks Doug & Amethystos! Hope Abu Arab sees the response . . . (?)