Father And Son

by Cat Stevens
Download
Loading sheet music
Building your awesome sheet music
Up nextMATTHEW AND SON
Download Sheet & MIDIPractice this songPlay on GuitarLearn to accompany
How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

Start the lesson
Personalize the finger hints for your handsPick your hand size and we'll re-suggest this song's fingering to fit you.Personalize
More ways to play
Super Simple Drum previewDrums
Super Simple DrumTry it
Melody Tab previewGuitar
Melody TabTry it
Simple Piano for Kids previewKids
Simple Piano for KidsTry it
Sing this song instead — backing track for “Father And Son”
Backing track + lyrics — toggle the vocal, change the key, practice singing over piano.

Other arrangements of Father And Son

Pick a learning view or switch to the backing-track version.

Sheet MusicBar NotationSimple SheetLead SheetKaraoke · LyricsEasy NotesFalling Notes
Also available as a piano backing track
Sheet Music · BackingBar Notation · BackingKaraoke · LyricsFalling Notes · Backing
Lyrics

It’s not (G)time to make a change; just re (C)lax, take it eas y.

You’re still (G)young, that’s your (Em)fault.

There’s so (D)much you have to know.

through.

Find a (G)girl, set tle down.

If you (C)want, you can (Am7)mar ry.

Look at (G)me: I am (Em)old, but I’m (Am)hap py.

I was (G)once like you are (D)now and I (Am7)know that it’s not eas y to be (Em)hard, when you’ve hard er to thing ig ing (D)nore it.

But take your (G)time, think a lot.

Think of ev ’ry thing you’ve got for you will (G)still be here to (Em)mor row, but your (D)dreams may (G)not.

How can (G)I try to ex (Bm7)plain?

When I (C)do, he turns a way a gain.

It’s (G)al ways been the (Em)same, same old (Am)sto ry.

From the (G)mo ment I could (Bm7)talk, I was (C)or dered to lis ten, now there’s a (G)way, and I (Em)know that I (D)have to (G)go a way, I (D)know I (C)have to (G)go.

It’s not they know, not (Am7)me, now there’s a (G)way, and I (Em)know that I (D)have to (G)go a way, I (D)know I (C)have to (G)go.

Father And Son — Classic Piano Sheet Music

18 people have learned this song

Read "Father And Son" by Cat Stevens in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of G. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 80 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

Try other practice modes:

Falling NotesBeginnerLead SheetBar SheetSimple SheetKaraoke

About “Father And Son”

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Father And Son"?
Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature G. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "Father And Son" by Cat Stevens played in?
Father And Son is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Father And Son"?
The arrangement plays at 80 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Father And Son" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Father And Son"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Father And Son"?
"Father And Son" was originally performed by Cat Stevens. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Father And Son"?
This arrangement uses 7 chords: Am, Am7, Bm7, C, D, Em, G.
What other songs by Cat Stevens can I play here?
Try "MATTHEW AND SON", "WHERE DO THE CHILDREN PLAY", "WILD WORLD". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "Father And Son" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature G, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
Yes — slow the tempo from 80 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
Why can I click a note in the score?
Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.