Can't remember the name of this song!

[minnie-haha]

In the 70s, I loved this song, though it didn't get a lot of airtime. I THINK it was by Leonard Cohen. It was about a father and son. About a son thinking about his father as I recall. But I don't remember that it was all that long. Am I crazy? Is there such an LC song, or is it probably some other artist? (Maybe Jerry Jeff Walker, I'm thinking, could be the other artist. BTW: It is NOT Cat Stevens' Father and Son I'm thinking of. I like that one too, but that's not the one I'm thinking of.)

[lizzytysh]

Hi Minnie-haha ~

Might it be Leonard's song, "Story of Isaac," based on the biblical story of the father taking the son up the mountain to sacrifice him, based on G~d's command? Does that ring a bell?

If you go to the main page here, by clicking on the link at the top for the " . . . files," then go to the Song Index, in the boxed list on the left-hand side, you'll be able to find the lyrics to the whole song. Then you'll be able to know for sure.

Good luck ~ and Welcome to the Forum .

~ Lizzy

[Maarten]

Here's the full song:

The door it opened slowly,
my father he came in,
I was nine years old.
And he stood so tall above me,
his blue eyes they were shining
and his voice was very cold.
He said, "I've had a vision
and you know I'm strong and holy,
I must do what I've been told."
So he started up the mountain,
I was running, he was walking,
and his axe was made of gold.
Well, the trees they got much smaller,
the lake a lady's mirror,
we stopped to drink some wine.
Then he threw the bottle over.
Broke a minute later
and he put his hand on mine.
Thought I saw an eagle
but it might have been a vulture,
I never could decide.
Then my father built an altar,
he looked once behind his shoulder,
he knew I would not hide.

You who build these altars now
to sacrifice these children,
you must not do it anymore.
A scheme is not a vision
and you never have been tempted
by a demon or a god.
You who stand above them now,
your hatchets blunt and bloody,
you were not there before,
when I lay upon a mountain
and my father's hand was trembling
with the beauty of the word.

And if you call me brother now,
forgive me if I inquire,
"Just according to whose plan?"
When it all comes down to dust
I will kill you if I must,
I will help you if I can.
When it all comes down to dust
I will help you if I must,
I will kill you if I can.
And mercy on our uniform,
man of peace or man of war,
the peacock spreads his fan.

[johnny7moons]

or it could be "lover lover lover" - 'i asked my father, i said father change my name / the one i'm using now is covered up with fear and filth and cowardice and shame'

[minnie-haha]

I found them under his discography and listened to them on iTunes, but they're not what I remember. My memory is so vague, I'm afraid, but I'm sure I'll know it the moment I hear it. Must be another artist. Thanks for the replies.

[Tony]

"Desperados waiting for the train" by Guy Clark has that sort of theme.

[Fljotsdale]

Could be The Butcher, too. It's on Songs from a Room, a 1969 recording.


The Butcher

I came upon a butcher,
he was slaughtering a lamb,
I accused him there
with his tortured lamb.
He said, "Listen to me, child,
I am what I am
and you, you are my only son."
Well, I found a silver needle,
I put it into my arm.
It did some good,
did some harm.
But the nights were cold
and it almost kept me warm,
how come the night is long?

I saw some flowers growing up
where that lamb fell down;
was I supposed to praise my Lord,
make some kind of joyful sound?
He said, "Listen, listen to me now,
I go round and round
and you, you are my only child."

Do not leave me now,
do not leave me now,
I'm broken down
from a recent fall.
Blood upon my body
and ice upon my soul,
lead on, my son, it is your world.

[nenad]

Or maybe 'Night Comes On' (Various Positions)?

Nenad

[jerry]

Harry Chapin?


Cat's in the Cradle

My child arrived just the other day,
He came to the world in the usual way.
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay.
He learned to walk while I was away.
And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew,
He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, dad.
You know I'm gonna be like you."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."

My son turned ten just the other day.
He said, "Thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play.
Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today,
I got a lot to do." He said, "That's ok."
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed,
Said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."

Well, he came from college just the other day,
So much like a man I just had to say,
"Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head, and he said with a smile,
"What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys.
See you later. Can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then."

I've long since retired and my son's moved away.
I called him up just the other day.
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind."
He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time.
You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kid's got the flu,
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad.
It's been sure nice talking to you."
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me,
He'd grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
We're gonna have a good time then.

[lizzytysh]

As other artists go, that's an excellent guess, Jerry.

[jerry]

Minnie said her song didn't get alot of airtime and the song by Harry Chapin was everywhere on the airwaves.

[lizzytysh]

Oh, really? It didn't get a lot of airtime where I lived. Not sure where Minnie lived, either. It was clearly a song about a father and a son, and a son thinking about his father, though.

[boobumboo]

I think that the name of the song was "Daddy Dear" by Harley David & Son

"Oh, Daddy, daddy
you are so baddy
vroom vroom
get out of my room".

Please tell me if this is the one you recall.

[linda_lakeside]

I'm with Jerry, it's Cat in the Cradle. It got a lot of airplay where I'm from, but maybe not where minnie-ha ha's from (did I really say that?).

Linda.

[jazz4111]

I immediately thought of this one:
Cat Stevens: "Father and Son"
Lyrics:
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.

What do you think?
-Jazz