Side comment here, not one taking issue with Sting, but just another aspect of song writing, if I may:
I have no way of knowing if you have children, I have two myself. For me, one of the greatest moments in my life was the first time I held my first son. The love, the feelings, the joy were all feelings welling up inside of me.
How many people over the ions have felt the same? A countless number I am sure.
Dylan did the same, he held his son for the first time and turned those feelings into a song, "Forever Young", he wrote it in about 90 seconds, the words going straight from mind to paper. It is apowerful song that captures that moment quite well.
My personal favorite version of that song is Rod Stewart's. Listen to that version and then I would welcome to hear back from you on your thoughts imagery and the expression of love from a father to a son in song.
Yes, the Rod Stewart version is great. And it’s a great song.
To flip that back at you, I recommend Sting’s Soul Cages album. It was written to help him get over the death of his father. I have never heard more interesting musical grieving and commentary on the process. Listen well to the lyrics (you won’t need a cheat sheet).
Don’t know what your tastes are vis a vis bluegrass, celtic and contemporary acoustic, but Tim O’Brien put out a record 10 or so years ago entitle Red on Blonde, all Dylan covers. His version of Forever Young is really fine. Farewell Angelina is pretty incredible as well.