Sons and Daughters is a country-style ballad and an autobiographical tale about Hunter's divorce, living near the Archway in London, and losing contact with both his first son and his daughter. The song is reminiscent of Waterlow. Ian worked semi-skilled factory work at the capstans which is a vertical-axle rotating machine developed for use on sailing ships to multiply the pulling force of seamen when hauling ropes, cables, and hawsers (thick cable or rope). Once Hunter was pursuing music seriously he divorced his first wife Diane and made both of his children, Stephen and Tracie, lonely when he left. He recognized the damage he's caused and he found a band, Mott The Hoople, to go out on tour. Stars are fools he says. He re-marries, Trudi, who may want children as well and as a result the nightmare returns like a ghost if he repeats the mistake of the past. The song is about guilt and pain and all true in Ian's case. He says you can never put it right.
There is another 1979 released version of the song as well.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capstan_(nautical)
Sons And Daughters
(Ian Hunter)
There's a place in the city they call the Archway
Where we rented three rooms for a dollar a day
and I worked semi-skilled at the capstans for years
And my wife was a good woman but the love disappeared
Sons and Daughters, Daughters and Sons
When a marriage goes down they're the loneliest ones
Sons and Daughters, Daughters and Sons
How I hope they can cope with the damage I've done
I found me a band, I went out on tour
So the kids wouldn't know I was with them no more
When they said, "Where's me dad?" She'd say, "He's a star!"
Oh if only stars knew what fools they all are.
Sons and Daughters, Daughters and Sons
When a marriage goes down they're the loneliest ones
Sons and Daughters, Daughters and Sons
How I hope they can cope with the damage I've done
I got a new contract, I got a new life
No more capstans for me and I've got a new wife
Sometimes she gets angry, says she wants a family
Then that nightmare returns like a ghost haunting me
Sons and Daughters, Daughters and Sons
When a marriage breaks up you're the loneliest ones
Sons and Daughters, Daughters and Sons
How I hope you all cope with the damage we done
| Sons and Daughters (live 5-11th November 1979) | 5:04 | This live version (recorded at The Roxy, Los Angeles CA) originally issued on Welcome to the Club, and on the compilations From The Knees Of My Heart and The Singles Collection 1975-83. |
| Sons and Daughters (live 22nd November 1979) | 4:57 | This live version (recorded Hammermith Odeon, London England) is on the 30th Anniversary issue of You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic, and on If You Wait Long Enough For Anything, You Can Get It On Sale (box set only). The latter is slightly longer (at 5:23) due to the introduction to the following track being tacked on to the end. |
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