Damals in den 60er Jahren nannte sich Steven Demetre Georgiou noch Cat Stevens; nachdem er 1977 zum Islam übergetreten war, hieß er Yusuf Islam.
Der 1948 geborene britisch-zypriotische Sänger begann seine Karriere 1967 mit dem Album Matthew & Son, das Platz 7 der britischen Charts erreichte. Die gleichnamige Single-Auskopplung kam sogar bis auf Platz 2.
Der Londoner Schneider Henry Matthews soll Cat Stevens zu dem Lied indirekt inspiriert haben, denn, so die Worte des Sängers:
I had a girlfriend, and she was working for this big firm, and I didnt like the way that she had to spend so much of her time working. The riff seemed to fit the words, Matthew and Son. There was a bit of social comment there about people being slaves to other people.
Die Londoner Firma Matthew & Son war damals offensichtlich nicht sehr arbeitnehmerfreundlich eingestellt wie der Text zeigt:
Up at eight, you cant be late
for Matthew & Son, he wont wait.
Watch them run down to platform one
And the eight-thirty train to Matthew & Son.
Matthew & Son, the works never done, theres always something new.
The files in your head, you take them to bed, youre never ever through.
And theyve been working all day, all day, all day!
Theres a five minute break and thats all you take,
for a cup of cold coffee and a piece of cake.
Matthew & Son, the works never done, theres always something new.
The files in your head, you take them to bed, youre never ever through.
And theyve been working all day, all day, all day!
Hes got people whove been working for fifty years
No one asks for more money cuz nobody cares
Even though theyre pretty low and their rents in arrears
Matthew & Son, Matthew & Son, Matthew & Son, Matthew & Son,
And theyve been working all day, all day, all day!
Hier ist eine Originalaufnahme aus den 60er Jahren zu sehen.
Travelling is my life
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon