Cat's In The Cradle

Words & Music:

Harry Chapin

 

E                         G              A                       E

My child arrived just the other day, he came to the world in the usual way.

E                                  G            A                           E

But there were planes to catch and bills to pay, he learned to walk while I was away.

D          A/C#            Bm           A

And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew

          G         Bm      E             G              Bm      E

He said, "I'm gonna be like you, dad, you know I'm gonna be like you."

 

CHORUS:

        E                           D

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,

G                       A

Little boy blue and the man in the moon

E                               D

"When you comin' home dad?" "I don't know when,

    G           Bm     E          G                 Bm        E

But we'll get together then.  You know we'll have a good time then"

 

My son turned ten just the other day

He said "Thanks for the ball dad, come on let's play

Can you teach me to throw?"

I said "Not today I got a lot to do" He said "Thats OK"

He walked away but his smile never dimmed,

It said I'm gonna be like him, yeah.  You know I'm gonna be like him.

 

CHORUS:

 

Well he came from college just the other day, so much like a man I just had to say:

"Son I'm proud of you can you sit for a while?"

He shook his head and he said with a smile,

"What I'd really like dad is to borrow the car keys,

See you later can I have them please?"

 

CHORUS:

 

I've long since retired, my son's moved away.  I called him up just the other day.

I said "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"

He said "I'd love to dad if I could find the time,

You see the my new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu.

But it's sure nice talkin' to you dad.  It's sure nice talkin' to you."

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me,

He'd grown up just like me, my boy was just like me

 

LAST CHORUS:

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon.

Little boy blue and the man in the moon.

"When you comin' home son?" "I don't know when,

But we'll get together then, Dad, we're gonna have a good time then."