Cat Stevens – Mit „Matthew & Son“ begann seine Karriere

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 didn’t 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 can’t be late
for Matthew & Son, he won’t wait.

Watch them run down to platform one
And the eight-thirty train to Matthew & Son.

Matthew & Son, the work’s never done, there’s always something new.
The files in your head, you take them to bed, you’re never ever through.
And they’ve been working all day, all day, all day!

There’s a five minute break and that’s all you take,
for a cup of cold coffee and a piece of cake.

Matthew & Son, the work’s never done, there’s always something new.
The files in your head, you take them to bed, you’re never ever through.
And they’ve been working all day, all day, all day!

He’s got people who’ve been working for fifty years
No one asks for more money cuz nobody cares
Even though they’re pretty low and their rent’s in arrears

Matthew & Son, Matthew & Son, Matthew & Son, Matthew & Son,
And they’ve been working all day, all day, all day!

Hier ist eine Originalaufnahme aus den 60er Jahren zu sehen.