Stevens originally wrote this song as part of a proposed musical project with actor Nigel Hawthorn called 'Revolussia', which was set during the Russian Revolution; the song was about a boy who wanted to join the revolution against the wishes of his father. The musical project faded away but 'Father and Son' remained, now in a more general context that reflected not just the societal conflict of Stevens' time, but also captured the impulses of older and younger generations in general.