I take my coffee straight and black as a general rule, so Jim’s more specific coffee-related prompts of latte, capuccino and so on don’t mean that much to me – and a (fairly) cursory search didn’t come up with many songs about or pertaining to these elaborate confections.
Plain old coffee surely serves the purpose for Song Lyric Sunday, although I have already used my first choice, ‘Loser’ by the Grateful Dead, for an earlier prompt. However, somewhere in the back of my head was the phrase ‘ just a cup of cold coffee and a piece of cake’.
It took me a while to make the connection but it finally clicked. So here is some very early Cat Stevens: the title track from his first album, released on New Year’s Day 1967.
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 dares
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!
Written by Cat Stevens
the only deadhead in the hameau 
Great choice, Cat Stevens brilliant guy and he’s still going strong 💜
Of course! I wished I’d thought of this! An old favorite of mine ☺️
Cat Stevens thought that workers were being taken advantage of by the corporations and that they deserved much more than a 5 minute coffee break.
Love me that CAT STEVENS! Thanks.