Cats In The Cradle
Harry Chapin
A child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away, and he was
Talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew, he said:
I'm gonna be like you, dad,
You know I'm gonna be like you
And the cat's in the cradle, and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home, dad, I don't know when
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 that's okay
And 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.
And the cat's in the cradle, and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home, dad, I don't know when
But we'll together then,
You know we'll have a good time then.
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 ya 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 ya later, can I have them please?
And the cat's in the cradle, and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home, son, I don't know when
But we'll get together then, dad
You know we'll have a good time then.
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 can find the time.
You see my new job's a hassle and the kids are the flu
But it's sure nice talkin' to you, dad
It's been sure nice talkin' to you.
And as I hung up the phone it occured to me,
He'd grown up just like me,
My boy was just like me.
And the cat's in the cradle, and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home, son, I don't know when
But we'll get together then, dad
Were gonna have a good time then.
Were gonna have a good time then.